BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017) — For the second day of spring, we dance the dance of wonder. We wonder why Mayor Linda Tyer would fall for it. Why would she take the bait? THE PLANET had Two Cents read our thoughts when the latter posted yesterday here:

Mayor Tyer is about to make a serious rookie mistake by calling a news conference tomorrow to defend herself against a critical letter to the editor. In the eternal words of the immortal Peter Arlos- and a quote cited often by Dan Valenti-“Never Chase Criticism”. What would have never become a matter of public discussion or debate will now become one. It’s a purely emotional response that never ends well for an elected official.

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Neither THE PLANET nor 99.99% of anyone would have had reason to criticize or laud the city’s “hiring practices and diversity efforts” (quotes from mayor’s press release) if not for Tyer’s rube rsponse to a letter hardly anyone read. Ordinary people are too busy figuring out how to make ends meet in a city without a functioning economy and a punishing tax rate. Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski would much rather hear about the mayor’s plans to cut blubbering fat from the obese Pittsfield School Department. Or how about a press conference on helping the truly discriminated against? Small business owners could certainly use a boost.

Two Cents is correct. The Aging Greek God gave us that sacred advice from high atop Mt. Olympus when we were first stepping out onto the public stage: “Never chase criticism.” We took the advice to heart and have since passed it on to countless acolytes, neophytes, tyros, and rookies. Some heed and profit. Some “know better” and let emotionalism get in the way.

The mayor’s overreaction indicates the letter hit a nerve. Is it because Tyer is a liberal Democrat? Is it because she has white person’s guilt over inequities from the deep historical past? Is she acting on orders from higher up? Who knows.  It is a shame, however, that she should waste her time, talents, and the public’s treasure on this non-issue. That’s correct: NON-ISSUE.

The word “diversity” from Tyer’s press release explains everything. It means if you have a job, if your white, if your male, if you’re not politically Connected, and if you’re not a lock-step “Massachusetts Democrat,” you’re a bad person — definitely a racist, sexist, capitalist, agist, psalmist, and whatever ever else “ist” you can name.

Tune In, Turn On, and Drop Dead

Speaking of “diversity” and its bastard cousins …

If you never tune into PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION, make an exception tonight at 6:30 p.m., channel 16, PCTV, Time-Warner local access. PVTV, with a huge co-hosting assist from Supercitizen Terry Kinnas, absolutely tears apart the bat-shit, libelous letter from Pittsfield Supt of Schools Jake “JIV” McCandless. At best, the letter insults every person whose ancestors came from foreign lands into this country THE RIGHT WAY, legally, prepared to start from the bottom, work hard, and assimilate into becoming Americans. At worst, JIV has jeopardized millions of dollars in federal funding.

Here’s a copy of the letter, so you can follow along with the television autopsy:

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A Letter from Superintendent Jason McCandless

Dear Pittsfield Public School Families,

The Pittsfield Public School District is committed to the safety of our students.

From ongoing bus driver training, to professional development in cultural competence for all staff, to practicing safety drills, to our partnership and dedication in working with the Pittsfield Police and Fire Departments, the PPS knows that students learn best when they are cared for, cared about and kept safe.

This urgent need and moral mandate to protect children extends to every child in our district and larger community, including immigrant students. Like most of you, the first generation of my family to live and be educated in American public schools were immigrant students. Our connection to newly immigrated families, regardless of status, is clear and strong. These students are owed the same opportunities that our families were given. Federal law prohibits public schools from even inquiring about immigration status. Like the PPS, the Federal Department of Education believes that students are students–and that every single child deserves and has a right to a free, appropriate public education.

The PPS, in its commitment to ensuring that students are comfortable and safe in the schools they are required to attend, want to assure all families that we do not allow legal investigations to occur within our public schools for non-school related events. This practice applies to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions that may occur in our community. Federal law prohibits enforcement actions to take place at “sensitive locations,” including schools, bus stops, pre-schools, places of worship, public demonstrations, hospitals and other medical facilities, and other locations and events. More information on “sensitive sights” may be found at Sensitive Locations FAQs.

In the Pittsfield Public Schools, we believe one of our greatest strengths is our diversity. We are a city and a school district that understands our differences should be recognized, respected and celebrated. We believe we have much to learn from the cultures, histories and the experiences of people who come from different places and see the world through different lenses. We also believe our common aspirations, hopes, dreams and dedication to freedom, equality and justice are what bind us together as Americans. These bonds are strong and serve as the common link between us and our foremothers and forefathers whose courage, intellect and dedication to freedom created our over 240-year-old experiment in, as President Lincoln called democracy in the Gettysburg Address, “government by the people, for the people.”

If you have questions or concerns, I encourage you to call me at 499-9512. It is an honor to serve our community through education, and please know the voices of our community are heard and respected by the Pittsfield Public Schools. Sincerely, Jason McCandless, Superintendent PPS

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Love that phone number. You can be sure that if you call, JIV “will be in conference.” You will leave a message, and when the phone doesn’t ring, you’ll know it’s JIV not getting back to you.

Tomorrow, THE PLANET peels the skin off of this disparaging document, a ribbon at a time. We want to reveal a fake and want it to be done as s-l-o-w-l-y as possible, so JIV can realize the damage he has done.

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“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” — Albert Einstein

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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