TIME HAS COME FOR FULL AUDIT OF CITY’S NON-PROFITS … PILOT PROGRAM ROBS TAXPAYERS OF MILLIONS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 19, 2020) — Boston is going to do it. Why not Pittsfield? THE PLANET asks. We think we know why.
What is “it?” From the Boston Herald two days ago: “Boston will conduct a ‘full data review’ of all the college, medical and nonprofit properties that have been making voluntary payments based on decade-old assessments instead of paying taxes, according to a letter from the city.”
Nonprofits reap huge tax benefits denied to homeowners and private businesses. What they don’t contribute to the “fair share” has to be made up by someone. That’s how taxes work. If A gets a tax break of X dollars, B’s taxes rise by X dollars.
Some questions:
- How many organizations have nonprofit status in Pittsfield?
- Why is it such a state secret?
- Can we have a list?
- Is there even a list, or it the nonprofit status another of those unmonitored, no-accountability issues?
- Is each granting of non-profit status in Pittsfield justified?
- What are the criteria for nonprofit status? Who decides?
- What is the process for taking away an organization’s nonprofit status?
- Who decides how much money a nonprofit pays in the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) arrangement?
- Which Pittsfield nonprofits are legit, and which are silly tax-avoidance schemes?
- How much valuation is taken off the tax rolls by nonprofits?
If an operation can make strong case can be made for non-profit status, it should not object to a top-to-bottom review. If not, nonprofit status should be revoked and properties returned to the tax rolls. This would ease the heavy burden shared by a shrinking number of participants who comprise the city’s tax base. This includes residents and businesses, each of whom are struggling.
It’s interesting that Boston the city, not Boston the capitol, has decided on the nonprofit audit. Pittsfield could do the same — assuming there’s the political will. Ah, there’s the rub.
Boston runs it not-for-profit structure through its assessment department. Is this how Pittsfield handles it? Is that reason for confidence or worry? If not through the assessor’s office, then which agency determines nonprofit status? Typically, not-for-profit programs are based on a formula. Factors include the amount of property owned by the applying agency, assessed value, use, proposed construction costs, or — if the buildings are pre-existing — the market valuation and maintenance/upkeep costs. What is the formula used by Pittsfield to determine the legitimacy of not-for-profit status?
It’s also time to bring the PILOT program out in the open.
- How does it work?
- What is the formula that determines an organizations “voluntary” contribution in lieu of taxes?
- Do individual nonprofits decide on their contributions?
- On what basis?
- Do taxpayers have input?
- If not, why not?
- Who monitors the PILOT amount?
- Who determines if it’s fair or not?
- Since PILOTs are “voluntary,” can nonprofits contribute nothing to the city for the services they eat up?
- Are any Pittsfield nonprofits doing that?
THE PLANET recommends creation of an independent PILOT task force. This group would audit each nonprofit and establish minimum PILOT requirements: financial support in lieu of taxes equal to at least 25% of what they would owe if they paid fair-share taxes to the city. Just as a comparison, let’s say Company C pays $40,000 to the city in lieu of taxes. That figure is less than 1% of the $5.6 million it would pay if its property were taxable. The 25% contribution would mean $1.4 million for the city or an extra $1.36 million taken off the backs of taxpayers.
After a forensic audit, the city should review of every nonprofit organization. These are the two most pressing issues facing the city. The third is the punishing tax rates, which are driving people from their homes and shutting small businesses.
The city loses millions each year because certain groups get comped on taxes. Today’s economics have rendered that situation unacceptable.
———————————————————————————————————
“There is nobody more dangerous than one who is humiliated” — Nelson Mandela.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information, hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer. Copyright (c) 2020 by Dan Valenti.
It might be a lot like taking a class in money laundering.
But getting an study of any such things in Pittsfield would be like trying to pry a gun from Charlie Hestons cold dead hands. The mayor and treasuer have a lock box on all things financial and a council who will help her fight off the curious.
A forensic audit might sweep up the non profits in its own deep dive so let us do a top to bottom oversight and start fresh. In his heart Kerwood really wants to do it just to remove all the suspicion hanging over the city.
It takes money to run a city.Tax all of them.Churches should pay taxes like they pay electric bill.You need to help too.
There may be more business s and non profits getting tax breaks than there are people paying taxes in Pittsfield. It is simply not ethical that the rest of us have to make up the difference for what special interests gt away with non paying. And they should be ashamed of themselves. And they probably are which is why their identities are such a well gaurded secret at city hall.
We need a city government that is there for all the people not just those who control the power. Start that forensic audit NOW!!!
The MA Corporate Database is a resource:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/cor/corsearch.htm
Names of Board Members listed here
Hydroponic lettuce – the exact same equipment & supplies needed to grow cannabis flower.
Your genius is showing
Dan, from the IRS website: “State law governs nonprofit status, which is determined by an organization’s articles of incorporation or trust documents. Federal law governs tax-exempt status. The Internal Revenue Code specifically refers to exemption from federal income tax.” So, unless there’s something I’m missing it seems the city has little or no input in determining g or confirming no -profit status. Perhaps a municipality can petition the state to remove said status? I would maintain that the single most pressing issue facing the city is still, after 20+ years, the giant sucking wound left by the departure of GE and the subsequent utter failure of the city to replace any of those decent jobs.
MR G
Thanks for the information. It’s not clear where the jurisdictions lie. From my understanding, Boston the city is undergoing its audit of nonprofits unilaterally. Perhaps they had the OK from Boston, the capitol. But there are provisions for home rule. If a city wants to engage in such an audit, it can. In a sense, it doesn’t matter about the details of the mechanism that allows such an audit. The point is that there IS such a mechanism. If honest government is to have a chance in Pittsfield, the city needs (a) an completely independent forensic audit of every department and (b) an audit of all the nonprofits. The latter would bring millions into the city treasury while expanding the tax base. It’s a no brainer. The legitimate candidate who proposes these two measures would win.
I agree that any such audit could prove useful and very…telling. It just seems to me that it might lack teeth…at least in revoking a non profit’s status for failure to comply with whatever measures the city was trying to take. But even without the availability of punitive measures to enforce the audits would seem a no brainer.
And I think the taxpyers have the right to know who pays taxes and who does not. Who gets breaks and who does not. Because I am guessing that some of these non payers are sure as hell using the services and Joe paycheck is picking up their share. So if we are going to do it we should be able to know whose load we are carrying on our sore backs. Every freaking year after every freaking year while all these silly non essential frill projects keep popping up.
Also, I would love to know how much money the city of Pittsfield poured into its park system in the last five years and contrast that with how much money we put into our roads. Compare the two figures and include all the time and labor city workers worked on the parks.
Not right silly boy.
The city collects taxes on property and inventory and fixtures, that’s where the money is and in MA there are a lot of steps to get to that exemption, unless of course you know someone in the corner office.
If you are a NFP in MA first you get your 501c3 via the IRS then you get your state not for profit status. You file with the AGO’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division.
Once you do that you have to register in the city you own assets in, that’s every City and Town.
Why? Because once registered, you can apply for exemptions from paying sales tax, from paying property tax, and from paying personal property tax, and any corporations tax.
You must still file a 990 with the IRS and a form PC with the State.
If you want your property to be exempt, like the Colonial, the Museum, and BTG properties, you must file an initial application with the city and then file a 3ABC form. If you want your personal property excluded, like theater heated seats, concessions stands, lighting, computers and all the other items used for business you have to file a corporate form of list and claim the exemption.
If you own vehicles as a NFP, you must file an abatement within 30 days and prove your state NFP status.
So no silly boy, the city has tremendous input on where the real money is, property taxes. The assessors can deny an application of the 1B3 or 3ABC or MVE abatement and then you have to pay taxes on all those things.
If you are our friend, you don’t even have to have any of that and you’ll get city contracts and we will pay your rent on Tyler Street (I’m going to petition to have it changed to Tyer Street)
You’d know this if you were an accountant of sterling reputation in Berkshire County. Booo to Melissa you are mean!!!
BIKE B
Great information. Thanks for posting.
Yeah, I agree with Dan. I had NO idea on any of that stuff…primarily, I guess, because I am not an accountant! I am also not mean at all.
I would love to know how many organizations/businesses on North St right now are paying taxes. It would also be of interest to know of those that don’t, how many of them took the free COVID handout.
You can’t have the forensic audit here because then you remove the. Fail safe mechanism. It’s just like the theatre owner,he wasn’t going broke….ever. And Kufflinks is being told what to d,or else.
Don’t pay any attention. All of these not for profits are legitimate, my wife says so.
Maybe they aren’t really 501c3s, maybe they aren’t registered with the state, maybe they don’t file 1B3s or the 3ABC form. It’s fine it’s really fine because they our “friends of ours” in a senses for the word.
Just like our friends at Flavors. Took that good city money and some PPP money and had to close anyway. Sorry to see them go, they were a contributor to the campaign. Maybe we can put some parklets and a bike parking garage in there. So many bikes, so little time.
ISO women’s size 14 manolo blahnik hangars I kitten heel sling backs —— asking for a friend
United Way
Taconic Foundation
Berkshire Museum
Norman Rockwell Museum
and how many back yard churches?
Maybe they’re ALL using Goodwill’s 501c3
Bravo, Dan! This topic is as important (maybe more) as any other subject pertaining to the taxpayers.
There are more phony non-profits in this city than those that are legit. And even the legit ones are taking advantage of the tax benefits they are receiving.
I would love to see a list of all who receive these benefits that the rest of us taxpayers are paying for. And also the amount they are contributing to the city. Any chance that will happen?
It makes you wonder, if the cry of a forensic audit is growing louder and louder in the corner office? The suits fear a “dark horse candidate,” coming out of the woodworks and proposing an independent audit. What is the response of the suits? Bring back Ruberto-lite, John Krol. Krol will say all the “right,” things until he gets elected, but behind the scenes, he’ll keep it status-quo. You know it, the suits know it, and I know it.
Another situation that remains unresolved, Simons Rock. I find it ironic that Andrea Harrington was so shocked and disturbed over the bale of hay incidents. Setting those on fire was 100% wrong, I’ll be the first the admit, but the black female at Simon’s Rock staged kidnapping/assault, all under the guise of racism.
After numerous independent investigations, it was a hoax. Why is she not charged? A complete and total waste of police resources, that YOU/ME, the tax-payer paid for. A white guy who set hay on fire, no chance of catching a structure on fire, gets held on no bail, but a black female, who caused harm (emotional) to the entire white student body at Simons Rock, gets a “It’s ok, sweetie, just don’t do it again, ok?”
If you enjoy progressive DA’s, this is your result. All white men charged with a crime, will bring the full force of the DA’s office. A person of color commits a felony, well, the DA will just blame it on all the past transgressions this person of color, has or has not, true or made-up, against white people.
What a joke.
Markus – I couldn’t agree more!
MARK
Great observation. Some bales of hay torched, and its a nationwide dragnet. A young woman makes false claims of racism, sets an entire community on fire, gives her school a black eye, and … oopsies. Nothing to see there, folks.
….and some people ‘resigned.
Squeaky never met a progressive cause that she couldn’t use to advance her career. Maybe this is the guy that stole Edgerton’s signs?
It sure beats working.
She doesn’t know what is happening, she’s just going with the flow. Or the opposite direction. Legit, she doesn’t even know.
See the thing is, that person does not exist. It’s fake news ! A cover-up for the real story. Just, wondering was it EXACTLY one year after the DA was sworn in ? That is the duration of time allowed before public disclosure is required. One year to the day ? Former DA declined to prosecute a C 265 S22A. The perpetrator is an elected/appointed official. Southern Berkshire. Mount Everett not Simons Rock. White people. Does NOT Matter.
That there be a nasssssssty charge!!!
“Whoever has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child under 16, and compels such child to submit by force and against his will or compels such child to submit by threat of bodily injury, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years.”
Who is the accused?
The last person I told on October 7 was from Boston Globe – are you sure you wanna know ? Did you read about the Black Hawk incident.
& 66 Manville Street Great Barrington. Registry of Deeds. The DA’s office will not prosecute.
Two cases are not one tiny bit similar expect in your Racist mind. This man is evil just ask his victims. Not like the puff piece the Eagle did on the Farmer calling this lunatic before they had all the facts which seems to always be the case. The former(s)voted out in a landslide that is fact and like it or not it will happen again. One Question?speaking about the past if you make an illegal left hand turn out of the DA’s office and cause a accident it should be on a report correct? asking for a friend.
Yeah right, because I expect a white or a person of color, to be charged for filing a false police report, than I guess I’m racist. Actually, I would call it equal justice. I’m not a person who is going to apologize for something that happened to black people, long before my grandfather was even a gleam in his father’s eye.
If I’m so racist, did you know that the justice department ruled that Yale University, was using racist tactics allowing black students admission, over better qualified Asian (Helen Moon) and white students. And correct me if I’m wrong Yeah, but Yale is not known as a Bastian of Conservative minds, last I knew.
Like I said in my original post, a black female feloniously and falsely accusing a few white students of kidnap and aggravated assault, is far worse of a crime and insult to humanity, than some guy who torched a few bales of hay in a field. Against a house or structure that put lives or property in jeopardy, different story, but the FACTS are it wasn’t.
I don’t remember Megan Whilden shedding any tears for those students who were wrongly accused. But she did for bales of hay?
But then again, “You ain’t black,” if you don’t vote for Biden, right? That’s not racist because……..? I won’t hold my breath waiting for an answer.
It didn’t happen. It’s a lie.
While I agree that the person in the Simon’s rock case should be charged, after reading the background of the guy who lit the bales on fire, it’s a damn good thing they finally had the common sense to keep someone locked up.
Yea, lock him up but it’s okay to play catch and release with the so called protesters burning out cities left and right, and people like Kampala bail them out.
Commie-ala. China Joe’s running mate.
Guess I hit a liberal nerve? Commie-ala is left of AOC.
If Downtown Pittsfield Inc were a truly viable non-profit they would not get 30k/year from the city. Check the budget its in there like clockwork every year.
Reason number 23 for a forensic audit. Curious how does the Berkshire Eagle feel about a forensic audit in Pittsfield? As a large business I am sure they are keenly aware of the importance of knowing where the money is going. They themselves having been cutting wasteful spending and reinventing the way they do things. If they got behind pushing for this long overdue audit I would subscribe to their paper. Perhaps they will do a story telling us why they agree with the mayor that it is a bad idea to reveal in detail where taxpayer money goes.
Hello Boston Globe newspaper,
Beacon Hill politics and Massachusetts state government is a nightmare!
I read your news article, below, by Matt Stout about Beacon Hill’s state Legislature’s over 2.5-month-long and counting vacation. I would like to know what these do nothing political hacks do all day? Why are they still getting paid? What do their constituents think about their State Representatives and State Senators not holding even one single formal legislative session at Boston’s Statehouse since the end of July of 2020? How will public services, and local government and their public school districts all be impacted by a belated fiscal year 2021 state budget?
Here is a riddle: Please guess who this person is. It is fall in Massachusetts. The cold nights have frost advisories all across the Commonwealth. We are in the worst economic recession since the 1930’s. We are in a COVID 19 pandemic. Over one million workers throughout the Commonwealth lost their jobs and health insurance. So what did this person just do? He unilaterally ended the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for low income and no income citizens as of midnight on Saturday, October 17, 2020. He said he did it because he did not want these at risk homeless individuals and families to go too far into personal debt.
Here is the answer: Governor Charlie Baker.
In closing, I would rather go too far into debt and have a roof over my head and sleep in a safe bed than freeze to death on a cold Autumn night or get beaten to death in a public park where I had to poop behind a couple of trees if I survived the cold Autumn night because I didn’t have access to a toilet and running water. What the Hell is Governor Baker thinking?
In Truth!
Jonathan Melle
He probably is telling you what you’re Green New Deal will look like.
INFORMATION FOR AT-RISK HOMELESS:
Unlike the [recently expired] Massachusetts moratorium, federal rules allow landlords to assess late fees on missed payments and to file eviction notices in court, and they don’t require landlords to notify renters about their legal rights. To claim protections under the CDC’s rules, renters must provide their landlord with a sworn written declaration that details specific financial conditions and circumstances. Many renters are also unaware that it is illegal for landlords to change locks, move personal belongings, or interfere with their tenancy without a court order.
The Baker administration this week also announced approximately $170 million in new “eviction diversion funding,” including a substantial increase in aid for short-term emergency rental assistance through the state’s Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program. Income-eligible families can now receive up to $10,000 — the previous high was $4,000 — to be used for rental payments, past-due payments, utility bills and/or moving costs. To find out about eligibility, contact a regional Housing Consumer Education Center. Military veterans who receive aid through the state’s Chapter 115 program can also apply for these housing support services.
credit: Anna Schleelein Richardson and Sarah E. Roxburgh are the co-executive directors of Veterans Legal Service, located in Boston. “Resources available for veterans in need of housing support”. Op-Ed, The Boston Herald, October 18, 2020.
This is absolute non sense – nobody is helping me pay my mortgage and outrageous property tax that has risen 15 percent in three years under Tyer. Why should my taxes pay rent and Moving expenses for others?
Because the mayor thinks your money is her money and she does not really care how you feel about that
Apparently Effing not Johnny, and that’s why I’m pulling up my tent stakes and getting the Eff outta dodge and I ain’t never coming back. The only sad part about that is i won’t be able to vote against her if she is dumb enough to run again. Even Bianchi can beat her next time around. The curtain has been pulled on the wizard!
I am happy for you. You are following thousands of others who have found a way out. Pittsfield will be only stems and seeds soon enough. A mere shell of a real city with a parasitic government eating it from the inside out. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
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Propaganda station run by Chartock is too.
DiNapoki (NYS Comptroller) is talking about their state tax sink hole. I can imagine MA is in a less bad place but ugh. Out here in the sticks in Berkshire Co – where we take lots of public money – everyone is going to feel the pinch more.
Society is going to see debts of a European post WW2 level (thanks to Covid) and somebodies going to have to pay them. We are not going to be able to afford these crazy expensive municipal departments and the schools are probably going to see leaner days. You can’t spend forever and not pay for it.
On the Schools and any other city department current mployee,all future employees must live and pay taxes in Pittsfield. This will be my first order as Mayor. And all administrators and police employees must live in the city
M P G A
Trump is cancelling Christmas in Carson City if Biden is elected. Melanie,on the other hand says who gives a f… about Christmas decorations.
Democrats hate Christians.
Don’t worry if Joe Biden wins he will tax us into a Depression which they want to do anyway to tank the economy. China sent Covid-19 to start the takedown of our economy and Biden/Harris will finish the job. With Biden’s close ties with China and all the financial schemes he had going on with them, he owes China and has no problem with making them the #1 power in the world.
Donald Trump has done so much for America (making it great again and stuff) and has pretty much single handledly saved the world from itself so how could he not be reelected? You can tell by the size of his rallys that he is beloved by so many that there is no way he can lose this election…Stop worrying Pat. He has already put tarriffs on China so they know better than to fool with American anymore or else. You can pop the champagne Pat. He is a sure thing thanks to the support and dedication of people just like you. MAGA
And that A hole Aikeman, badmouthing military flyovers and saying a “Kamala/Biden” administration wouldn’t allow it. Another out of touch liberal A hole who has no idea how the Air Force, or the real world works. God I hope somehow Trump pulls out another win. And who knows, with Hidin Biden back in the basement two weeks before the election and Trump burning it up on the stump and telling it like it is, you never know.
Who is Aikeman?
Use to be quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Is an announcer now.
The sissies who kneel down for the national anthem?
I heard they are going extinct like the rest of “pro” sports.
Tony Romo: Good QB, great color analyst. … Troy Aikman: Great QB, good analyst. … Don Meredith: Average QB, Best analyst ever for entertainment value. All ex-Cowboys.
Don’t sweat it. You can close half of city schools, sell the land, lay off half the staff, cut the budget 50 percent, and still the kids will be no worse off.
I do not know if you are joking or not but I believe what you say to actually be true. Pittsfields school budget is a grifters budget. Too many people and business s getting rich off the hugely bloated excess which contributes nothing to educating children.
It is a huge pot of money gathered by overtaxing the people and then redistributing it in all directions.. If the school committee was a legitmate government entity they would call for an forensic audit of their own budget. But that is not why they were recruited to be on that board.
Heh! That made me laugh and it’s terrible too. It’s an equal opportunity bankruptcy. I can’t find the euphemism/phrase Cuomo used for finding new things to tax. NYS has a 15 billion dollar deficient, it already has the highest property taxes in the country. These states are going to searching under rocks to find things to tax.
Cuomo will tax the dirt under the rocks double.
Cuomo just gave the OK for ski areas to open in NYS.
I was thinking good for the skiers but I guess northern Italy ski centers were the Covid hot zone that set it all off for Europe. Goodness aren’t we all sick of Covid. I don’t know how they are going to pay all the govt debts and Trump has us in a big public deficit already. Remember Clinton left a surplus? How did that happen? Can we do that again?
Dan,
I wasn’t aware there was an actual PILOT program in Pittsfield. I do know that there are certain non profits that make pilot payments, but I believe the compliance and the amount, are of their own volition. At least that’s the way I recall it, but things may have changed.
The idea of an enforced PILOT program was explored several years ago. I believe the end result was that the city decided that the contribution (not cash) the non profits made to the community by being in the city, outweighed the benefit of collecting the tax. At least that’s how I remember it, though a quick google search only turned up an article outlining the start of the process. I disagreed somewhat with their conclusion and felt that at the very least, non profits that generate revenue should be paying something.
By LUCAS WILLARD • JAN 9, 2013
Midday Magazine
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The City of Pittsfield is in the process of forming a committee to explore a Payments in Lieu of Taxes – or PILOT – program – aimed at local non-profits, in order to possibly generate additional revenues for city services.
The city’s new PILOT task force follows an example set by the city of Boston in 2010, where a citywide PILOT program was recommended. In 2011, Boston took the panel’s recommendation and began collecting revenues from tax-exempt organizations
Michael Supranowicz is President and CEO of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, which manages its own Nonprofit Business Network. Supranowicz said that the possibility of local PILOT programs have been on the minds of area non-profits in recent years.
Supranowicz, who said he has communicated with city officials on Pittsfield’s PILOT task force, said that non-profits in the city and Berkshire County as a whole make up a large portion of the local economy.
Supranowicz also added that in Pittsfield, many of the properties that aren’t taxed in addition to 501 c3 charitable organizations are churches, state and federal buildings. But he also said that a fine balance must be found between the revenues city residents and commercial businesses pay, and how everyone benefits from city services.
Last week in Holyoke, Mayor Alex Morse sent a letter to the recently opened Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center requesting that 25% of the city’s existing commercial tax rate to be paid to the city for services.
While Pittsfield’s PILOT task force is still being formed and has not yet produced any recommendations, Mayor Bianchi said he’s eager to see what will come out of it.
JD
Thanks for the information. I’m not sure if we can call Pittsfield PIOT system a “program.” As I understand it, the nonprofits decide their own “voluntary” contribution in lieu of taxes, BHS/BMC, for example.
Unless things have changed, that is correct. I believe a true PILOT program actually enforce predetermined payments.
Being that the Simon’s Rock “victim”, turns out was not in fact a victim but a “fraud”, the “victim rights” that legal protection does not apply to that person. The records would essentially become available to the public per FOIA ?
Stayed @ a holiday inn xpress
Agree above. As Pat says on here for years the President has done so so much. And look at those rally*s he really packs them in,doesn’t he. A wise person once told me a person has gone as far as he/she can when that resort to name calling. Good luck President Tump,no stimulus today and you’re in hot water. Stupid Mitch.
We are having an attempted Marxist revolution in our country and a presidential candidate Joe Biden in bed with Russia and China. All ignored, covered up and called a conspiracy by the corrupt media, Twitter, Facebook and the Marxists in this country. It’s so obvious what is going on and it’s not good. Chris Cuomo said that we have to accept deaths when there is a revolution going on. He let the cat out of the bag.
Has anyone used the TrackMyBallotMa.com site to see if their ballot was accepted? And if so did it mention anything about your presidentail vote at all?
As the last known “journalist” in world history, I was able to use Chairman Shifty’s Ouija board to contact the ghost of Senator Joe McCarthy. Ol’ Joe related this info:
“Prostitutes peeing on hotel beds, ladies and gentlemen, gives you somewhat of a picture of the type of individuals who have been helping to shape our foreign and domestic policy–and dictating the script of Fox News. In my opinion the Trump administration, and most of Trump’s appointees throughout the federal government, is thoroughly infested with Russian agents.
I have in my hand 579 cases of individuals who would appear to be either members or certainly loyal to the Vladimir Putin Double-Secret Kremlin Trump Campaign, but who nevertheless are still helping to shape our foreign policy and steal the election–again.
One thing to remember in discussing the Russian agents in our government is that we are not dealing with spies who get 30 pieces of silver to steal the blueprints of new weapons. We are dealing with a far more sinister type of activity because it permits the enemy to control our Orange Man president and take over our election process.”
Thanks, Joe.
Well spoken!
Hey cats and kittens. I wanted to give you a couple updates.
The parklets are going like gangbusters! We’ve had a lot of clients use them! There’s homeless Bill, he used one as a toilet. Crazy Cora she’s been seeing clients on the one by HoN aka Spice aka Shabadabadoo aka the Press Box aka Jae’s Spice. If you are smart you’ll change the name of your business every few months and ask for tax breaks until you sell your business.
Junkie Jeff has been storing needles and selling his wares. If you go right now you’ll see they are being used as needle storage racks. Huge success!
Amtrak is cutting service to Pittsfield because of lack of traffic thank goodness we have the airport to bring tourists in! Not sure how this plays out against the call for east west and NYC trains but I’m sure it will be ok.
The bike paths are amazing! Three car accidents already because of them! The traffic on North Street is worse! Bikers love looking at the protected bike lanes while they ride on the sidewalk! Two kids almost got killed triaging to get out at the boys and girls club because they have to get out into the street! It was a DPW truck so dodged a lawsuit there.
I’d say for $265k it’s money well spent! Huuuuuuuuge success.
BIKE B
Glad to see how “vibrant, dynamic, and collaborative” it’s all working out for our “vibrant, dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive” city. Keep up the good work.
With all the awesome ideas this mayor is coming up with we may need to change the charter so she can run for four more years. Actually, why not give her a lifetime appoinment.
going to have give her a big pay increase or we will lose her to Microsoft
She is not term limited.
But she IS limited in her capacity to run a city in a respectable forward thinking manner. She has taken a dying city and shot ten more holes in its badly bleeding carcass.
Noticed today the new configured North Street traffic pattern has some new attractive decor. Stop signs held up with sandbags. Guess the “hidden traffic study” must not have pointed this out to the City. All the “beautiful” parklets are now covered with leaves. Great tripping hazard. Money well spent Mayor.
Assinine idea promoted by azzholes.
So Dicenzo won freedom from punishment after stealing close to 4 million from Greylock Credit Union. Never saw how much he stole from other organizations he was in. Bet his health will improve immensely within the next few days. Meanwhile, Lonnie Durfee had a breakdown because of his son’s death and burns some hay bails and he is stuck in jail for who knows how long? Judge states he doesn’t like his decision, then why the hell did he impose it? Sickening.
D O W up today,it’s be stimulus good news. If not start selling
There should have been an addendum to the sentence. If his situation improves he goes to jail.
So,open season for stealing four million and up. You now have president for zero time,if you can get a Doctor to sign off.
Dan,great message to send out to business professionals of the future, steal four million get a good lawyer, and if you get caught you don’t have to worry about doing time. What a beautiful Country we live in.
Just tell them “Angelo sent you!”
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/massachusetts/articles/2020-10-20/former-credit-union-official-spared-prison-in-fraud-case
TRAPPER
THE PLANET couldn’t have said it any better!
hee hee. He knew he would never do time and so did allhis friends in high places. Whenever it gets dragged out something is going on behind the scenes.
https://berkshireeagle.blogspot.com/2011/04/cover-up-eagle-ceo-barredreporting-on.html
I remember it well, as Chevalier sang.
Lonnie Durfee had a criminal history far predating his son’s death. The guy sounds like a whack job so let’s be happy someone got lucked up for once before they killed someone.
As for Dicenzo, while I might have agreed with you, I saw him at the nursing home and I didn’t even realize who it was until I saw the name on his room. The guy was in a wheelchair, could barely speak, could barely move, had suffered strokes and was a complete mess. And I saw him multiple times over a long period. There was no way he could have been put in a prison and if he was, the taxpayers would have gone broke paying for his medical.
Dicenzo got nothing. Wow.
Trump is in full humiliation mode and very dangerous.Vote for craziest man in the country for 5 more years of this crap.
I will be proud for a true patriot who has, again, taken on the deep state with all his might. We are supposed to live in a democracy and the deep state and the main stream media) are conspiring again to assure he doesn’t win.