USA Today RANKS PITTSFIELD #4, BUT POLITICS HAS THE CITY STEPPING IN #2
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 24, 2021) — USA Today recently ran a story on cities that should fare well and poorly after the COVID-19 pandemic retires. The article asks what will happen to workforces when more companies continue or initiate the option of working at home? Where will the population shifts benefit and hinder, now that more people can pull up and work wherever they want?
The paper looked at 403 metro areas. For once THE PLANET can report good news.
Well, it’s good news and bad news.
First the good.
The survey found that of these 403 metro areas, Pittsfield ranks #4 (behind Daphne, Ala., Eugene, Ore., and Ithaca, N.Y. … Port St. Lucie, Fla, is #5) in places that should benefit from the “work at home” thrust.
The report says of Pittsfield, “The vibrant art community in the heart of the Berkshires has lots of green space. It’s at the 53rd percentile in affordability and 90.9 percentile in quality of life.”
Beautiful, right?
The city should be poised to attract telecommuters.
It should be, but will it?
Now the bad news.
Based on recent developments in the generation-long run of poison politics, the answer is “no,” best expressed by the U.S. Census in 2020, which showed Pittsfield among the Top 15 in population loss (out of more than 19,000 cities, towns, and villages), losing about 1% of its population every two years.
The outlook is grim. That “vibrant art community” and those beautiful “green spaces” of the Berkshires have been there for at least a full generation, and little has happened. And it’s not like telecommuting is new. Yet in that time the population have dropped 30%. Pittsfield tried art, which is at best an ancillary to a healthy economy. It can’t carry an economy alone. Pittsfield has “green spaces,” but what has it done to them? Springside Park, anyone? The cluttered destruction of Clapp, Deming, and the Common?
Why is it this way? What’s holding Pittsfield back?
Why, for example, has PEDA not been able to sell the 52 acres, center city, lakeside, adjacent to rail lines? Why has the downtown deteriorated into a littered, non-traversable maze, dangerous to motorists and visitors? Why did the city fall into state receivership? Why wasn’t a downtown mall built? Why was there no Route 7 bypass? Why won’t manufacturing move there? Why is crime out of control? Why so many gangs and drugs?
Answer: Politics.
Politics has kept sanity and common sense rope and tied, setting up public office as a prize for the greedy, underperforms who eventually book town and leave Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski holding the bag.
That’s the collateral damage done by such nonsensical clan feuds such as Moon v. Harrington, the failing public schools, an inability to handle the problem of the “houseless” (a non-word coined by council VP Peter White), overspending and over-taxation, a failure on the water upgrades, the bike-lane botching of that hedge maze known as downtown development, and the chaos of the city’s handling of the COVID-19 vaccination, which is approaching scandalous status.
These are the things that keep Pittsfield living on the fumes of that bottle of Cologne knows as “The Berkshires.”
Politics matters.
For that, THE PLANET invokes the heavens.
God help us all.
————————————————————————————————————
“All that you touch you change” — Octavia Butler.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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I have followed Pittsfield politics for decades. I find Pittsfield politics to be totally predictable. Every year, City Hall raises municipal taxes by around 5%, increases fees, increases borrowing by at least $10 million or more, and hides other liabilities. In short, Pittsfield politics’ finances always defers costs, debts and liabilities into the far off future, while passing record setting budgets that drive away the ever shrinking tax base. My theory about why Pittsfield is so severely economically unequal is that Pittsfield politics makes more money off of social services and public education dollars from the federal and state government than investing in the working people and living wage jobs. I call it Perverse Incentives because Pittsfield politics counts the working poor and Level 5 inner city public schools as a lucrative source of revenue. The politicians who ran and now run Pittsfield politics always shut out the people from state and local government. When one tries to participate in Pittsfield politics, he or she will certainly face retribution if they don’t toe the line. Pittsfield politics is a one political party (Democrat) China-like system of state and local government that answers to the big political bosses in Boston. Massachusetts is a one political party (Democrat) state where Beacon Hill lawmakers spend taxpayer dollars like drunken Sailors on leave. I have long asked, where does all of the taxpayer dollars go? It certainly does NOT go the working people who live in the post industrial and economically distressed Gateway Cities. Pittsfield is going to receive tens of millions of Biden Buck$ over the next 2 years. Where will all of Pittsfield’s Biden Buck$ go? Where I live in Southern New Hampshire, some municipalities are having public input sessions on how to spend their respective communities’ Biden Buck$, but not in Pittsfield, of course. I read that Biden Buck$ go directly to the munipality, which means that the Lovely Linda cannot say that she has to follow state and federal mandates. Lastly, I liken public administration the the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” where George Bailey invested in the working class, while Henry Potter exploited the working class. In George Bailey’s Bedford Falls, the working class were kind and lived in nice homes, while in Henry Potter’s Pottersville, the working class were hostile and lived in Potter’s slum apartments. Instead of George Bailey and Henry Potter, Pittsfield only has corrupt Pittsfield politics where the working class are either overtaxed or perversely viewed as a revenue source from social services and public education state and federal aid on Matt Kerwood’s digital spreadsheets.
Turn out the lights Melle nobody is listening to you
I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves….
This is what you get when you let the Democrats run thing…the Pitts!! What you have found in New Hampshire is a two party state and one that still believes in freedom of speech! They continue to have town meetings where the citizens are allowed to speak
Please ask the Lovely Linda to hold public input sessions about the tens of millions of Biden Buck$ Pittsfield politics will receive in direct aid over the next 2 years. Where do the people who live, work, pay taxes/fees in Pittsfield want the stimulus money to go towards? What does the Lovely Linda plan on doing with the funds? Why does the Lovely Linda support Matt Kerwood’s +$10 million slush fund? – that should be in the pockets of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski? Why does the Lovely Linda pass record setting municipal budgets with a shrinking municipal tax base? Will the Lovely Linda ever solve Pittsfield’s homeless crisis? Pittsfield politics needs public input sessions! The Lovely Linda is out of touch with the proverbial Kapanskis!
The New Republicans run things really well like Americas overthrow on 1/6/2021
Actually before the China Flu and the big steal the economy was humming and all citizens were benefiting stop trying to rewrite history
unitard
The roads in the city are worse than ever this year. Potholes even deeper and more treacherous. Local politicians like Tricia Farley are more worried about drivers licenses for illegal immigrants than the fact that the city is moving backwards. Telecommuting would be great, but many local employers have only allowed it during part of the pandemic and where are the local jobs that will allow full time telecommuting in the future? There aren’t many. Or they are in the secret job market that only those in the know are allowed to hear about. It will have be outsiders who come here because they can bring their jobs with them and work from home. Sadly, many also bring their far left politics with them especially if they move here from the New York area which some are doing. That will still leave Pittsfield politics ruling over everyone with their far left dangerous agenda.
Ironically there is a huge crew working to refurbish the skate board park near PHS (in March) Since Tyer was elected, parks and playgrounds have soaked up much more money that road repairs. I guess that kind of cognizant prioitization of citzen needs is why she gets paid over $100,000 a year with benefits and back scratching bennies.
And despite all the money spent on parks, they are an absolute pigsty and the city has looked the other way while the bums camp out and shit in the parks and school grounds year in and year out. And now the damn fools want to put signs up telling the bums to move along, rather than removing them, pronto!
It’s pretty bad when you have to dodge the dog poo while walking in the parks, but dodging human poo on top of it is even more disgusting. Who knows if the UK variation of the Covid won’t be in that poo?
Potholes in this City are ridiculous. I live on a street that has never been paved in lakewood. It has only had tar and stone through the years. Now it has deep potholes from the beginning to the end. They throw their patchwork down evety year and drive away. Councilor Caccamo is useless. 5 years ago he said Herie Avenue was on the list. The List???? As a taxpayer in this City there shouldn’t be a list . It is a right to have your street in driveable condition.
Also, check out East Street from the top of the Hill at the Elm intersection to Fenn Street. It’s one of the city’s major arteries, and it’s in disgraceful shape. But bike Lanes? Smooth as silk.
Dan ,I remember potholes as a kid.They will always be a part of winter thaw.
Caccamo lazy.Hand no interest in sidewalks in his ward
Tried watching last night’s Pittsfield Clownsil ZOOM meeting but I only lasted about five minutes. This Clownsil is shameful, if they were an actual television show they would have been cancelled a year ago. There is not one inkling of professionalism by these elected officials especially during the Open Mic time when citizens can attempt to voice their opinions on issues in the City. These elected officials sit in their hidden room, some looking like they are in the pj’s, eating, texting, playing with their phones, some look like they are taking naps, and basically looking angry and totally bored. The biggest highlights is when PeePee Petie or Houseless Pete hit the mute button to shut off a citizen trying to speak on an issue. They both evidently get their rocks off doing this. Has always amazed me how one of these elected clowns can babble on and on with no time limit but if a taxpayer is speaking very intelligently and informative they are cut off, and very rudely. Goes to show that these elected officials could care less what the taxpayer wishes are! Hope each and every one of them gets voted out this fall, it is the only way Pittsfield has a chance of making some what of a comeback. Our CC council is currently nothing but a group of lazy unprofessional narcissistic beings with almost free health insurance and also a paycheck. What have any of them done to help the taxpayers of Pittsfield?
Politicians computer keys don’t have Mute labeled on them, they have FU labeled on them. You’ll never see them hit a mute key when campaigning or fundraising though.
Maybe Jesus Christ himself John krol will save the day? that is until the beans are spilled
Your comments are absolutely correct about each and every one of these City Councilors. This is the worst unprofessional bunch to sit on the City Council ever. They are split down the middle. They are attrocious and offer nothing to this Community. They need to be voted out in every ward in this City.
The greatest show on Earth!
The Pitt still rains supreem as ‘Heart of the Berkshires’ and remanes the destination of smart money.
Got the smart money part right. They know they can come and get them some money for nothing and then leave.
Does anyone care how the process is going at the sewage plant? Because if it’s like the water plant your other foot will join the one already out the door if it isn’t already.
The only ones who care are the taxpayers, no one else.
Not the mayor, or Kufflinks.
Speaking of smart money, word on the street is that Pittsfield is going to be renamed MILLTOWNOPOLIS.
It would be an improvement.
True
Pittsfield, a third world shit hole in the heart of the Berkshires.
Its a great city with dummy politicians who wont fix sidewalks
Melle is that you in sarcastic mode? It all makes sense now!!!
They won’t fix potholes or sidewalks but they’ll fuck up traffic on North Street and Tyler for these idiotic pet projects.
The rare few times I’ve ridden on north street since the bike lanes, there are more bikes riding on the sidewalk. I’ve yet to actually see someone use the bike lane.
but vibrant and dynamic!
I guess the idiots in GB don’t know what their actual job is. Hey Pruhinski, Davis, and Bannon guess what? You now have a snowball chance in hell to get the racetrack property.
You can’t force someone to talk to you, you can maybe force them to sell but that’s going to take linger than Bannon has to live. He’ll be dead of old age before a deal goes through.
Douche bag GB.
Yes Leigh Davis, they are a not for profit, so they don’t pay taxes, that’s the way it works.
ACLU getting paid and throwing people under the bus.
Asked for his name not to be revealed, ACLU sends out press release pictures with his name and address.
Everything is going back to normal in Pittsfield. Thank god that damn Covid thingy is a thing of the past right mayor?
OR MAYBE NOT!!!
Deming Clapp and the Common are fantastic transformations.All 3 are heavily use by the Taxpayers and kids.The parks in Pittsfield are awesome.
You need a transformation. Then run for silly council.
Try going to these 3 parks.They are great.The parks sucked for 50 years.
Exacly! When the market is DOWN you BUY. I do’nt mind making $$ off of this.
The Warren Buffet Method. When they’re selling, I’m buying. When they’re buying, I’m selling.
Berkshire Eagle continuing to downplay the surge in virus cases in Pittsfield. They use the term “uptick” but the medical commnity would call it a SPIKE. Check out the cities own graphs. Does that look like an “uptick” to you? Also, the U.K. variant has been found in Pittsfield and is much more dangerous than the original. I know two people who have been careless as hell for the whole last year and have just now gotten sick. And they are not seniors.
Protect yourself and do not rely on the people who may benefit from keeping you ignorant of the dangers around you. Money is to be made by keeping you in the dark.
So why would anyone want to downplay such a serious matter? What would be the motivation and who would be driving it?
The Ex President Trump and family Do Not Pay Taxes because elite Republicans write Tax Laws
Unlike John “Swifthoat” Kerry the Democratic Gigolo, registers his yacht in Rhode Island where excise is 400,000$ dollars lower. But he was absent the day tax laws were written.
Or warren buffet who’s millions in campaign donations, are being repaid , by the stoppage of pipeline- resulting in his trains getting the cargo at 3 times the price! It’s all Trumps fault, can you believe he did it all in 4 years?
TDS is real-
I remember that nonsense and the RMV “Do you know who I am” after being called out for trying to cut the line.
Agree,it is wrong
Anyone get the feeling we are in the Hunger Games? DC has fences up and the government leaders are playing with people’s lives, on the boarder and with everyday life. Printing free money with more coming while they obliterate our freedoms, which made America the beacon of light for the world. I just heard all elementary school and middle school students are getting 2 meals to bring home every night and an EBT card!!! It doesn’t matter the income level. Are they’re doing this for our senior citizens or just future voters? Get them primed look to big government for handouts instead of personal responsibility and capitalism.
People in the border towns are being harassed by the influx of illegal immigrants during a pandemic which I think is grounds for impeachment of both Biden and Harris for allowing and even encouraging what is happening. The locals are afraid of violence because the illegals are asking for handouts. The far left is wasting no time in destroying our country. President Trump set them back 4 years and they are making up for lost time. The far left Progressives have been spreading their poisonous politics in Europe for many years now and America has been blind to their plans for the entire world.
When has big goverment ever helped the masses
This must have been the plan all along. They are never prepared for anything, but the sewer testing kits, they made sure of. How much relief money will they get for the UK strain ? #2 in the park – no wonder theres a plague. Barbaric.
Our mayor knows alot about number two. She has been shoveling it at us for several years and seems to have an endless supply of it.
Melle’s favorite rep Neal is coming to Pittsfield to tout the 30 +million the city is receiving this Friday. Hinds, Tricia and mayor will be present also. Get’em JM.
Money for votes. Your money. Tired will play this as a big win. When in essence it’s another government taxpayer funded bail out.m I want to see what happens when all this debt is sorted out? Locally we definitely need a forensic audit.
No No No. That’s Stooges favorite by a. Landslide. Bootlicker to the,a I u . Include Paul Mark,Adam Hinds
,Andrea Harrington,Tyer,gawd,all the Arts people and New Yorkers, Mele looks like an amateur Bootlicker compared to this slob.
Biden has either dumbed down on the Kings English or just doesn’t give a damn about his incoherency. Clearly a problem. Every time he talks I have to sort out what he really means on almost every sentence.
Is this transparent city government going to inform we the Kapanski’s what their plan is for this money? Or are they just going to do what they want and not tell the citizens?
Joe Biden wants to run for president in 2024. Is everyone excited? Today he said he came to the United States 120 years ago. It just feels that way to most of us. Changing the voting laws so that Democrats win every election is mandatory and Republicans are taking voting rights from others if they do not sign the outrageous Biden bill according to Joe. Giggling Kamala is now in charge of the border crisis. Is everyone confident about that decision?
Maggie Habermann is rivaling the mayors huge head.
Da was at b c c today for vac. Brought a kazoo and played it for a couple seconds when people started shouting shut the f…up
Lol
Doesn’t Biden look like the character Snow in Hunger Games? Eery
Refreshing, right? Perfect, nope. But… We, not me. No gaslighting. Did not refer to a female as “nasty” and storm off after being asked a question. Did not call a reporter “terrible.” Didn’t suggest we inject ourselves with household cleaners. Never claimed he knows more than generals. Didn’t throw a tantrum. I’m good.
As a female, I can be totally honest and say that some females are “nasty”. Some reporters are terrible. Like the ones who asked Obama hard hitting questions like “What enchants you?” and “In this fatherless world, where did you learn to love?” Biden just lets COVID positive illegals into the country which is fine with far left Democrats and Biden does have a nasty temper. We have seen it numerous times.
As a female, I can assure you that many females are “nasty”. Not all females have halos over their heads contrary to popular belief. Many reporters ask stupid questions. My previous post should show up soon about this. Biden is allowing COVID infected into the country and housed together by the hundreds with no social distancing. Where is AOC clinging to a wired fence and crying about the “inhumanity of it all”. Where is the liberal media so worried about the treatment of the children?
Pat, there was a couple comments that he made today that made me think he does not realize that he is already President. One time he said “I am running” and then explained the issue. Also, first President in my life time that needed notes to answer questions. Sad yet scary that he is our President.
YES
Mayor admitting serious Covid problem but apparently now afraid to upset her buddies by shutting anything down.
Now that’s leadership.
No. That’s tooting your horn to early and dancing around the problem.
Stooge says she’s doing great. Who’s lying?
Pittsfield the child porn capital of Berkshire county.
The adults are smart enough not to include the DA on these things, they don’t even give her a heads up until it’s done.
There are nice tailwinds but, indeed, no match for the power of Pittsfield politicians to screw it up. I have lived here 5 years and couldn’t understand the cynicism of the few sensible people I met since then, but now, sadly, I do.