INEPT GOVERNMENT PRODUCES A CITY GONE WITH THE WIND
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 23, 2022) — Over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, THE PLANET appeared along with writer Paul Kocak in Auburn, NY for a talk and reading at the Octane Social Club. It was a great success, meeting-and-greeting, selling and signing books. We and MRS. PLANET stayed in downtown Syracuse, our hotel cozily centered in Armory Square, celebrations everywhere.
Each morning (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), the city had clean-up crews in yellow-green fluorescent vests picking up the empties and other trash from the night before. This work kept the downtown immaculately clean, especially for a city of half-a-million, a city with the same pressures and challenges that face cities of all sizes anywhere in the U.S.
We also noticed no potholes. They take care of their roads.
Amazing.
Heading back to the Berkshires, traversing the poorly lit, chaotic Pittsfield streets, we were immediately reduced to playing dodgeball with gaping potholes, orange construction barrels and cones, and confusing paint markings that went against the apparent objective of making driving safer. God help the visitors who have to travel these byways without having local knowledge.
———- ooo ———-
If John Lennon had written “A Day in the Life” based on driving the roads of Benigno Numine, the lyrics would have been like this:
If read the news today, oh boy. / Four thousand potholes there on Tyler Street. / And since the holes were rather big, / I couldn’t drive my rig.
He blew the tires out on his car. / It didn’t matter that the lights had changed. / A crowd of people stood and stared/ They’d seen this well before.
Nobody was really sure if Ricky’s Rumpus destroyed another car. / I’d love to turn this car.
The evidence mounts every day that the majority of office holders in the city — elected and appointed especially — simply don’t care about the struggles of ordinary citizens — you know, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Here are just some of the exhibits:
- Third Thursday moved to the Common: Gets it off North Street, where it became a magnet for mischief and mayhem.
- Public safety: Recent shootings, armed robberies, stabbings, and vandalism.
- ARPA money: Sent to the charge of Deanna “John Evan” Ruffer. Not a cent will be used to reduce the financial burden of ordinary citizens.
- Every city service declining while costing more in taxes and fees: Your public dollars (not) at work.
- Poor lighting (North and Tyler): Dim to the brim.
We stop there. It could go on and on.
———- ooo ———-
Before we go any further, allow THE PLANET to summarily dismiss two moth-eaten objections raised by The Suits when we provide such diagnostic columns, free of charge, we might add.
The first is the old “You can’t keep wishing GE would come back.” As if anyone does that. Since the early ’90s, the “legal crime syndicates” who run the city have insured that no new businesses of much consequence would bother with the county seat of The Beautiful Berkshires. Thanks, guys.
The second is to take such remedial, optimistic columns such as this one as “personal attacks.” Thus, we again state the obvious: “Be it Resolved: THE PLANET grants that all persons in public office are good, well-meaning souls.” That, of course, misses the point, which is what these “good folks” do once they “get in.” Even at the local level, the lure of office proves stronger than good will and benign intentions. It’s the old political formula that has been sandbagging humanity since the caves at Lascaux: power + money = corruption. There’s a boatload of it going on in good ol’ Pittsfield.
At the level of small-town politics, the power comes from the “Barney Fife Syndrome,” or what often occurs when a weak, unsure person wins office. The money comes from you, Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, the people who get up early, hold jobs, work hard, obey the law, pay their taxes, keep their dwellings and persons in decent shape, and who pray they can survive from one month to the next the bludgeoning they receive from mayors, councils, and urban department heads.
There’s no need for Pittsfield to have sunk so low. Sadly, utterly inept “leadership” had turned what was once one of America’s finest little locales into a city gone with the wind.
————————————————————————————
“I should have never surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive” — Geronimo.
LOVE TO ALL.
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Interesting to note that the mayor of Syracuse, who ran as an Independent, won 60% of the vote over both Democrat and Republican challengers.
Yes. Ben Walsh won a campaign no one thought he could win. Great mayor.
My theory about Pittsfield politics 35-yearlong race to the bottom with no bottom is that City Hall wants all of the teen pregnancies/welfare caseloads and social services agencies and non-profits and Level 5 public schools and “Kapanski Ka$h” tax dollars it can get its greedy hands on from the federal, state (administered), and local taxpayers. I call my Pittsfield politics theory, “Perverse Incentives”, which makes the state and local one political (Dem.) party’s vested interest groups money, while leaving the people and taxpayers in the proverbial ditch. To illustrate, when I – Jon Melle (I turn 47 this Summer of 2022) – lived in Pittsfield as a young man two decades ago, I felt that I had better odds at winning the state lottery jackpot than finding a full-time living wage job there. Those were horrible odds! My odds of winning the state lottery jackpot were slim, while my odds of finding a living wage job there were none. Meanwhile, the career politicians and their backers whom I mostly despised all enriched themselves at the public trough, while I – Jon Melle – pounded sand.
I believe that the Ruling Elites from Boston to Pittsfield mockingly laugh at the common people and taxpayers who live in distressed rust belt cities such as Pittsfield because the corrupt career politicians get to use their regressive taxation schemes, such as the state lottery and high per capita municipal property taxes and fees, on the powerless and unknowing residents to give the people and taxpayers who live there substandard public services, Level 5 public schools, the nearly 24-year-old polluted PEDA debacle with millions of dollars in growing debts/liabilities, countless potholes on crumbling roads, violent crime three times higher than the state and national average, political corruption, and severe economic inequality with Mayor Linda Tyer living in a mansion valued at over $800,000 where she parks her Lexus luxury car at night in Pittsfield’s elitist millionaires-only Gated Community that is only a few feet from the Hancock border.
Lastly, I am happy to read that Michael Lavery of Becket will be running against 20-year Beacon Hill corrupt career politician State Representative Smitty Pignatelli of Lenox, as well as Paula Kingsbury-Evans of North Adams will be running against the nearly 40-year career politician State Representative John Barrett III of North Adams. I hope that a would-be candidate from Pittsfield will run against “the do nothing for one-decade political hack” State Representative Tricia Farley Bouvier of Pittsfield, as well as a Berkshire County area would-be candidate – NOT Nuciforo! – will run for State Senator against Paul Mark of Peru. I pity the would-be candidate who opposes PAC Man Richie Neal, who has been in the Swamp for 34 years, after the homophobic smear campaign that the mean-spirited Boston-based state Democratic Party used to defeat Alex Morse in 2020.
Blah blah Melle wtf
By zip code, Downtown Syracuse (13202) has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the entire state – 209.9 per 1000 females
They are not potholes, they are the pits of despair of the Pitts.
My bicycle is my main form of transportation; between the lack of street lights and the potholes I now am housing three dead bicycles in my apartment due to pothole damage and am working to keep a fourth one alive but it is a losing battle on these streets.
The upshot is that I am riding less each week.
I challenge the lovely Linda and Pete Marchetti to bicycle to work everyday for the month of April.
I have read posts like this for a while and am dumbfounded by them. Three bikes? All destroyed beyond the point where you can ride? I read another comment on Facebook where the person had lost 8 tires to potholes, yes 8! I have lived here in Pittsfield for many many years, and yes there are potholes, at certain times
of the year big ones that pop up overnight, but when do people learn that they have to pay attention and maybe slow down? You lost three bikes to potholes? Maybe you shouldn’t be riding a bike if you can’t see a pothole in front of you. It might be too dangerous to you. Maybe if you lost four tires then it might just be your stupidity to lose four more? Sorry, accidents can happen and I have hit a few surprise potholes like the ones under the super dangerous underpass on Hubbard Ave but I learned where they might pop up and myself like most of you probably have the same or mostly similar routes that you travel on a daily basis. You have to take some personal responsibility for your actions. Don’t blame the city for your third bike that you ran into The same Pothole. It just makes you look dumb.
It was not the same pothole, repeatedly, and as any cyclist in Pittsfield will tell you a street that is safe to ride this morning may have a pothole appear overnight and if you are cycling at night which I do out of necessity and you don’t know it’s there, that’s a problem.
And if you have been reading the same story from multiple bicycle riders, all about you have been negatively affected just like people in cars, donated service is a real problem and not just the problem of one disgruntled cyclist.
It appears, based on his reply to pothole, that Outfox expects the city to fix potholes that pop up overnight before he hits it the next morning. So unrealistic. Give me a break Outfox, open your eyes and take some personal responsibility. And I did t Shane you, I pointed out that you must be blind or dumb, and I stick by that.
Take good care of what we have before a spending spree by Tyer and her CC incompetent cult of yes.They don’t pay our bills
How do you lose a tire, no less an entire bike from a pothole, are you blind? Did you not wear a helmet the first time and crack your skull open to have it happen two more times? Watch where you are going.
Not blind, , do use a helmet, you would be insane not to on the streets, and as bicycling is the low income solution to transportation in Pittsfield, a blown tire and vent rim replacement cost for me the difference between eating and not eating for several days. So if one is using their bicycle to get to a side hustle, which is one of the main things I use my bicycle for use of my bike means the job I’ve lined up in the little bit of money it brings in.
Mr worldwide, your worldview strikes me as rigid, no strike that, it’s not existent.
Shaming low income people work in a town that is mostly low income is never a good look.
People that don’t have to cycle regardless of weather when pot holes are disguised by water won’t understand or care. In addition because the roads rarely get cleaned the amount of junk is plentiful which add to the the hazards.
Worth mentioning, if bike lane supporters actually rode bicycles, they would know that tires blow out really easily. Like, hit a toothpick and pop! And replacing them isn’t attractive either if dough is tight.So, given the city’s love for bikes, you’d think the potholes would be the very highest priority.
Sounds like if you are in the business of selling or repairing bikes in Pittsfield your business might do well.
Are there any figures on how many bikes were stolen in Pittsfield last year? Was the number closer to 200 or 500?
March 23, 2022
Hello Patrick Fennell,
Thank you for replying to my political email about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. On the legal issue of pedophiles and child porn, it is my understanding that she upheld the law and used her judicial discretion that she is entitled to use. All criminal acts of violent rioting should be treated equally under the law. I believe in nonviolent protest when the government is wrong and/or indifferent.On the issue of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson being a black woman, I am not a fan of quotas and affirmative action, but I am happy to see a black woman being nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time in U.S. history.
Patrick Fennell. How’s it hangin?
Dan, your last paragraph sums up the title, and the cities demise could not be more aptly described. If ever a city cried out in the night for a forensic audit it is Pittsfield, Mass.
Ironically, the Eagle is always pointing out failed leadership and hidden agendas in other governments, even within Berkshire County, but hardly lays a glove on the city it runs its business in. Very curious because the oversight of a responsible media could have mitigated the damage in a large way. Are they really much different than the united 6-7 city councilors who show up to the council meetings in body only? I certainly have not witnessed the Eagle as any kind of corrective care to the city’s spiraling problems and it is hard to believe they do not see it.
Pittsfield government is obviously more efficient than Syracuse. Instead of maintaining the roads and providing other basic services which is very labor intensive, it simply hires a public relations contractor. https://shoplocal.berkshireeagle.com/places/view/16076/city_of_pittsfield_.html
Only $150k, and the entire city management can live a life of leisure, very cost-effective
CRAZY TYER
Glad you had a nice time away Dan. It is always nice to go somewhere else and see how a caring government takes their jobs seriously and makes sure the citizens money goes to where it should. Here in the Pitts, who knows where it goes and why. Suggestions are made on how the city could run more efficient with less taxes but it falls on deaf ears. I know individuals and businesses that are staying out of the city due to these issues. Well I have to get up and back out to Ricky’s Rumpass, wish me luck as I wish you safe passage as well.
Once you leave the confines of Pittsfield and get out and see a little bit of other places, you get a better perspective on how badly local government has failed.
Dan can we post some pictures of the mayors garbage on here? She seems proud of it so surprised she is not doing it on her home page.
Sure. Anyone is free to post photos. The garbage situation in the city is appalling. It’s a signal that the leaders either don’t care or have given up.
Bloomberg news telling people how to avoid high food and gas prices: Get rid of your vehicle (they love that one), take the bus (not a good option for the elderly as well as spreading COVID), eat lentils instead of meat (they way to wean everyone off meat because of climate change). Pittsfield encourages people to ride bikes even on icy roads, but even the bike riders can’t navigate the roads.
For many years the problem in Pittsfield is the School Department leadership.Dr Travis and Dr Camrron were the last real leaders of our schools. Eberwien and Curtus resulted in hiring followers of their DATA agenda and leadership disappeared.Leadership can not be found in the Pittsfield school system.We just built a 125,000,000.00 million dollar High School that is at 690 students in 4 grades.Athletically dropping from division 2 to division 5 a former division 1 school…..It is by far the worst run School system in the state of ma.It burns money and plays games with budgets.We need to deal in reality with those 13 principles and their Administration who are absolutely WASTING money.Even the Catholic church consolidated.Add on to Taconic and shut PHS that does not have parking or playing fields.This will save millions.
Currently 832 students at Taconic.
The Tyer administration has destroyed North St. As you said Dan, the confusing markings, cones, cement barriers have created an ugly mess. There are so many roads throughout the city that need immediate attention due to potholes and patchjobs gone bad. Mayor Tyer, where are you?
I was driving down North St yesterday and couldn’t believe how ugly it looked. Whenever I come to town to visit family, I give thanks I no longer pay taxes here – as obviously the city isn’t using the money to maintain basic services.
Will be OK when he comes back again everything will return to normal in the meantime just put up with these pansies and make it look like they’re doing the job and all the complaint on here must’ve worked about the Oak Hill Partridge Road they actually did some pothole filling yesterday.
Is there a reason you left out all the garbage the mayor seems to like seeing all over the sides of the city roads? I guess it shows visitors to our city that we like to have a good time. We be the party city after all.
Barry took his plungers away and is using them at home. Now it’s orange crack pipes.
They’ve stolen a dozen or do already.
The Orange Pimpernel rides again
“Former Community Development Director Deanna Ruffer said the agreement wasn’t a tax break, but the city “waving some of the future taxes they would pay once development occurs to allow them to have access to cash in the early years to facilitate the development.”
“ The term tax break refers to a benefit the government offers that reduces your total tax liability. Tax breaks are made possible by tax laws and typically come in the form of credits and deductions. Other tax breaks include exemptions and excluding certain types of income from your state or federal tax return”
The real problem is, the way Pittsfield structures TIFs, they are absolutely tax breaks and Dumb Deanna doesn’t know it and is too stupid to realized she just said it.
“Waiving some future taxes” = Tax break
Absolutely spot-on correct, DUMB. Why this woman still has her mitts on Kapanski Kash is “the Great Beyond.”
She went to the kerwood school of fine accounting
What is Tyers fixation on Ruffer running things for her.High pay short hours
Was there really an armed robbery at the Lipton-Mart on North st over the weekend as reported on some tv stations or not? Did the Eagle say anything about it and if not why not?
The article was in the Eagle yesterday.
I did not see it in todays on line issue. Guess it was not important enough to leave up for two days.
Dan,
You really give Adam Hinds our Senator and Smitty the do absolutely nothing State Rep a pass. These two have brought absolutely nothing in the way of new business, jobs or anything else for that matter to the Berkshires. Adam Hinds has been MIA for a year on the campaign trail and Smitty well he continues to go to let me think Nothing!
How about a little deep dive into what these two men have contributed to the area.
With Hinds, you are correct. I think Smitty belongs to south county. In Pittsfield, we have the illegal immigrant champion, Tricia Farley-Country Buffet (D), as our “rep.”
Much like Hinds and Smitty, Farley-Country Buffet (D), is just as useless. I’ve looked for any meaningful legislation that she has authored to help the average taxpayer and found nothing. And she too has been in office for over a decade.
Oh, Marcus, you are too hard. TFB did a fine job getting us in Berkshire County to pay more to use I90 to pay her bosses in Boston. Further, she did even try to get us a much worse deal such as mileage surveillance so we would have the pleasure and civic satisfaction knowing each time we turn on our cars and go to work, TFB would have done her job making us pay for every mile.
“Gone with the wind”. Great line Dan, and a great finish to your piece. And a great title too. Perhaps this can be the city’s new motto. Sounds better than down the shitter, but means the same thing.
I was thinking the same, although “Crappy Govt as Shitsfield Circles the Drain” also speaks to me.
Last night’s City Clowncil meeting was beyond pathetic. With all the atrocious issues in the City of Pittsfield there is basically complete silence from these elected officials that are suppose to be a voice of for taxpayers. The meeting did not even last an hour and except for a couple of questions by Kronick and Kalinowsky, by the way both did not receive answers, just another snap comment from PeePeePetie. Warren stands up and walks away, Conant staring at the ceiling, noticed Dina moved her chair so the camera no longer picks up her rolling of eyes at Kronick. After White’s uncalled for comment at the previous meeting that he would rather be out at a restaurant eating and listening to a band, glad he could fulfill his dream last night. Also could not believe how the Mayor yelled out at Tony M. at the last meeting. What pathetic behavior by the Mayor, if she acts that way on camera, imagine her anger behind doors. Going into this Clownsil’s fourth month in office and not one of them has questioned Tyer, Morales or Kerwood about their plan to fix every road in Pittsfield. Not one question about cleaning the garbage ridden streets, not one question about the increase in crime, not one question as to where our Excise taxes are going, not one question on how much pot tax is being taken in, not one question about why there is such a decrease in police officers and why no one wants to join the PPD. In watching all their body language last night they all looked bored, defeated and fed-up. Might as well just do away with this Council for the rest of their term, they have done ABSOLUTELY nothing for the taxpayers of Pittsfield except raise out taxes.
Just imagine if Pete Arlos was still alive and serving on the current City Clownsil By the time he got through berating Tyer, Kerwood, Morales and the rest of the CC for their lackadaisical attitude toward the state of the City they would not be able to stand up and walk out of the Chambers. This is the type of person we now need on the Council, not these 6 woosies that constantly kiss the Mayor’s big butt.
“Outcomes?” Hey DA Harrington, this is not your business! Your duty is to protect us from this group that commits the most crimes.
DA Andrea Harrington @harringtonforda
13h
18-25 yr olds have worse outcomes in adult court than any other group. Treatment + wrap around services during young adulthood wld transform lives + community. W/ population decline, we are hit especially hard when young people don’t have the tools to contribute to society.
You hafta (NOT) love it! “Outcomes.” How ’bout take ’em out back and shoot ’em? Thas a good outcome. Solves the problem of punks gett’n way with it.
The irony is fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death in 18-45 year olds. I wonder what outcomes a district attorney could get for the community in a court room if they weren’t outcome incompetent? I wonder how many negative addict outcomes?
Interesting story in Worcester, which has had 6 diversity officers resign because they had absolutely nothing to do and were bored out of their minds. As one of the last put in his letter of resignation, “A job needs more than a title” (per MassLive).
Now there was a fair share proposal from the same players which would give funding to schools from people who make a million or more a year? Hell no. What these groups should do is repeal the pickpocket tax and revisit why arpa funds, why they (apar) cannot go toward tax breaks because the water- sewer is not eligible. But at the meeting cc last night it was ok to do three amendments concerning a t I f for the hotel on south street with very little opposition?
Kavey prompted discussion that Buffer sic…stated it wasn’t a tax break anyway. Right, the hotel pays taxes but gets that back if they stay open and employ ? Either way they will make money with or without a t I f because the most important process is the banks will get their money. It’s sort of like a mortgage from someone who applies and the mortgage loan is contingent on the buyer having a cushion of cash in their account.
Deanna, dear, It’s a TAX BREAK. At least admit to what it is. Ah, but this public official can’t even do that. It’s called bought and sold.
Water and sewer can be taken out of ARPA. Go to the Treasury webs and read wha5 ARPA can be used for, water and sewer are right there. BTW if I stay open at my house and remain employed can I get a tax break?
Diversity pimp is more apt. Think of the money that could go to helping communities of color instead of diversity “conversations” audits and training BS.
You mean they didn’t take that specialized training that our very own Cultural Tzar, Shirley Edgerton, puts on?
And to think, Shirley’s been doing this to taxpayers for about a decade now.
They quit because they were “bored,” and had “nothing to do.” Our gal Shirley makes about $80k, give or take a few $$, to do what exactly?
Never forget the Trump conspiracy of 1/6/2021….He came very close to Marshall Law and if given another chance he will do it
Marshall Law was very good for Europe, totally saved everyone West of the Iron Curtain, and indeed, the USA did well with it too prior to Bidenomics. I don’t begrudge your hatred for the former president – that is absolutely your sovereign right and generally I agree with your comments.
It was the certification of the election process that was stopped and except for the VP belief in our honest fair democratic election the question of Marshall law or in this case the Coup that was planned to intimidate our VP to not certify and send these state delegates back to those state houses to change that voter result in order to keep the Putin admirer in power with Marshall law confiscating the voting machines so the count would be altered and in any case our government would have become a Authoritarian Trump led new regime…..That use of Marshall law would be a game changer in America.No comparison to its use in after WW2
I thought martial law had been imposed for the year(s) following 1/6/21 with physical iron curtains erected and national guards patrolling the Capitol. I didn’t hear of any martial restrictions prior.
Garland is sweeping the USA for anyone who can be identified present at the 1/6 ruckus event. If a face is captured at any resolution, the USA will identify it and locate its current position. As such, it appears that Garland won’t rest until he gets the entire lot in prison.
Where in the world is Ray Epps and megaphone man?
Biden is Putin with a low IQ and dementia.
https://youtu.be/FBvoU-UiW84
2+2=5
Happiness is Pittsfield in the rear view mirror.
Has anyone ever talked to anyone that relocated elsewhere and regrets it?
Yes I know of one. His name was Angelo.
Paul – Is it typical for people to relocate and regret it?
?
Ahhh, I believe Angelo moved because of the shame he brought on to himself and his family with his unhealthy and ILLEGAL appetite for young boys.
I once stood in line behind Angelo at a now defunct Chinese restaurant in our vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive, city. When Angelo asked for his favorite dish, “kream of young boi,” I guess that should have tipped me off.
Just tell’um Angelo sent ya.
And you just know the former Pittsfield City Councilor/City Council President/Bank President/Parade Grand Marshal pillar of the community was not the only celebrated dignitary with an unhealthy appetite for kreme filled Sum Yung Bois. Rumors has it that many of Pittsfield’s finest possess a predilection for Sum Yung kreme filled Bois.
A dark cloud followed the entire career of one such dignitary [Boys Club Camp Counselor, Public School Teacher, Court Probation Officer, City of Pittsfield Liquor License President?, City of Pittsfield School Commitee Member, 30 PLUS YEARS BERKSHIRE COUNTY SHERIFF, a Trusted Trustee on several boards right up to his death, which wasn’t even acknowledged with an obituary. NO FUNERAL, NO OBITUARY! Infamy is Forever!
How about Pittsfield: If you lived here you’d be gone now
One thing making things worse is Andrea Harrington. She’s coddling offenders aged 18 to 20 while ignoring that this age group represents many of our most violent criminal defendants. Why would she spread this propaganda right when prosecutors are trying a violent criminal age 19 right now in Superior Court? Harrington is too busy testifying for the interest group she belongs to. These groups lobby for offenders! They include the Sentencing Project, ACLU, Innocence Project, Fair and Just Prosecution, Citizens for Juvenile Justice etc There are a huge number of them!
They all share the beliefs that
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/harrington-to-speak-at-raise-the-age-briefing/article_8a9b53fa-a949-11ec-9980-5f1c6717bf1a.html
I hope any of the puff reporters who interview DA Harrington on raising the age of criminal accountability (that’s you Josh Landes) present the other side of the story. Here it is:
Criminals are rational actors. Gangs often use juveniles to sell drugs or carry guns, knowing that they will face minimal criminal punishments. When 18-to-25-year-olds realize that they can deal drugs on the streets of Philadelphia with impunity, they will do so. And when they start wandering around the city strapped with firearms and arguing over drug territory, more carnage will be the inevitable result.
https://www.city-journal.org/why-is-larry-krasner-giving-young-adults-a-free-pass#.YjtYDll87-Y.twitter
There is a reason why there appears to be a “huge number” of these criminal rights organizations. Have you ever heard of astroturfing? It’s a way to create the impression there is widespread support for a message like “reform” when these organizations are actuall being created and funded by a special interest.
Well, that looks like a sucker punch to Nick’s probation officer dad.
Also, that useless shit imported from the Middle East/Syria, Adam Hinds, paid to allegedly work with high-risk youths at risk of being involved in violence and gang participation, was an expensive failure as far as curing youth/gang violence in Pittsfield. And now the overpaid, underworked, over budgeted, but intentionally understaffed PPD were recently gifted $396,000 to allegedly fight youth gang violence in Pittsfield. Will Chief Wynn be using some of this $396,000 gift to travel to Israel, AGAIN, to swim in the Red Sea and receive blessings from a rabbi, all of this of course, in his plan to cure/eradicate youth gang violence in Pittsfield.
I don’t believe rabbis give blessings.
Howard Stern calling the GOP the wacko party supposedly for lifting mask mandates, but people can still wear masks if they want to, nobody is stopping them. The bigger issue is Howard Stern being so cozy with the far left. His earlier career had lots of exploitation of women usually featuring women he brought off the street and then asked them lots of embarrassing questions about their sexuality and totally humiliated them. Yet, nobody has ever called him out for it as long as he caters to the far left agenda. Playboy has recently been called out for their abuse of women under Hugh Hefner in an excellent series called “The Secrets of Playboy” showing that sexual liberation didn’t work out very well for women. Many were drugged at the Playboy Mansion then raped. Everyone knew about it, but nothing was done.
Howie Hamptons , sold his soul years ago. He had to go with the libs, so he wouldn’t be called out for the hundreds of N bombs on his shitty radio show.
His shows were total sleeze. It’s all about the money for Stern and he will cater to the far left agenda to make sure he keeps earning lots of it. So many across the country are doing the same thing. Shutting their eyes to what is happening to our country from this far left agenda so they keep their wealthy lifestyle.
It’s hard to stay in a republican party if you are not a racist. Those that to stay have made the choice or brainwashed by FOX/ RUSSIAN media.
The other side is one floor above you
G man apologizes for the high water rates,he felt he could have done more but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway,minds were made up from the consultants to the mayor on down. He also states he’s certain the water plant yet to be determined doesn’t need much updates but couldn’t get into the plant to see and specifically the broken damn at Ashley Reservoir.
He also believes the money he could have saved could have helped pay for other capital projects and a new police position. Dan,the bottom line he states is every year we get a water quality sheet which states the water is perfect and has been for years. Imagine someone water rate payers shouldn’t complain because we haven’t had many increases in thirty plus years? That’s the reasoning? One other tidbit,the more the project the more the consultants benefit in your tax dollars.
So what are Police supposed to do if a mentally ill person comes at them with a knife? You can’t have it both ways. How is the Officer supposed to know if a man or woman draws a knife,act after he or she is stabbed. We’ve fallen off the cliff Dan.
Career politicians = DISSERVICES to the people and taxpayers! They all have big egos and speak lies. To be clear, they are all about money and power. – Jon Melle, Pounding sand about it all.
Putting Jake Eberwein in charge of a project to see if two school districts should merge is like putting the pimp in charge of the whorehouse.
Jake is an, on his knees, yes man with a reach around. He has and will come up with a solution that he’s paid to come up with.
Jake ruined Pittsfield schools.Then he got fired.Then someone hired this educational jackass
It’s innovative how the police question the disabled person in the presence of their abuser. FUCKING RIDICULOUS
You lie
Hello Boston Globe Editors,
…. I read about Governor Charlie Baker’s administration’s mismanagement of the Holyoke Soldiers Home, as well as the one in Chelsea. Governor Baker never took any responsibility for all of the deaths there from Covid-19 that occurred over the past two years, nor has he apologized to the families of the deceased Veterans. I see Governor Baker’s actions as a failure in leadership. What ever happened to the old sang, The Bucks Stops Here? Then there are the Beacon Hill lawmakers who have done nothing about the debacle for two years and counting. It is unconscionable to do nothing while so many Veterans died of Covid-19 from the public health mismanagement of the state’s two Soldiers Homes.
Jonathan A. Melle
—–
“Two years after COVID-19 deaths, still no systemic reform at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke”
By The Boston Globe Editorial Board, March 22, 2022
In March 2020 — two years ago — an outbreak of COVID-19 struck the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home with devastating consequences. By the time it was over, at least 77 veterans had died of the virus. …. Two years later, the Legislature still has done nothing to upgrade professional requirements for the superintendent’s job, or to address the deep structural chain-of-command problems between the facility and Beacon Hill. That means tragedy could strike again. ….. Why has nothing happened? ….
—–
The person from America who should be apologizing is Fauci, he the one who was funding this research and didn’t suggest shutting down International travel in December 2019. China should also be apologizing and paying for the Pandemic. I now am questioning all the other bat flu’s that have been coming here since 2000, were they man made in China as well?
Zoom needs to go now.Don’t know the players can’t see the faces or names and the print on any info sheets that are shown are unreadable. And if the stooge political and arts shows are still on cancel him. Bad enough we had to change the radio station during his lame hour. Today stooge has bridgette bardeau on,another has been. .
Pittsfield City Council voted to support the “Fair Share Amendment” that put a surtax on millionaires in Massachusetts; Ward 2 City Councilor Charles Kronick was the lone no vote.
Pittsfield City Council Supports the Fair Share Amendment / iBerkshires.com – The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
There around 20 Pittsfield taxpayers who earn more than $1 million per year.
The Boston Globe last Spring of 2021 reported that the corrupt Beacon Hill lawmakers give their politically connected big business big campaign donors in Massachusetts $17.8 billion in state tax breaks per year. Don’t you see that the proposed state surtax on millionaires’ earnings pales in comparison to the $17.8 billion per year in state tax breaks for big businesses? It is nothing more than a disingenuous political stunt than making the wealthy pay more of their earnings in state taxes during a gubernatorial election year!
Charles Kronick voted no due to the fact that he had highly intelligent inquiries on this “Fair Share Amendment” but, as usual, there was no one present at the Clowncil meeting to answer his questions. How convenient of this useless Administration! In other words how dare anyone question their actions!!!!!!
Why would the administration have anything to do with a citizen petition?
Your comment verifies what I have thought all along. This Administration wants nothing to do with the citizens…we have no voice.
He gave 150 million to a failed GE.They cleaned nothing.
Dan it might be interesting to see both the total number of thumbs up and thumbs down as the overall may not show just how unpopular something really is.
If Barry and Pete could cobble together a bunch of the rubber stampers and their political allies they could dump a batch of thumbs down on any post that was negative to their cause skewing the true public opinion of any given subject. You know they would if they could because they are horribly embarrassed by their total lack of responsibility right now. They have done an effective job of keeping bad news out of other media and so it is logical they would like to tamp down any oversight where ever it might appear.
Anybody with a brain doesn’t need to have a thumbs up and thumbs down with the two Pete’s. Puppets are dummies anyway they wouldn’t understand what it meant
Something tells me that comment went over your head.
Sent back to the bench, “caught looking.”
I’m not sure if Pete’s been a regular on here? I’m sure others could verify.
As far as Barry, I know he has been on here. He’s been called out before. He did post under his legal name: Barry Clairmont-Tyer, but he has posted under other names too.
When he used to post under his real name, Barry Clairmont-Tyer, he once talked about making a video depicting “how safe” Pittsfield is. He accomplished this by shooting the video at 3AM at the Cumberland Farms (1st St) on a Monday morning.
Of course once he started getting called out for being a wu$$y. Why not walk down Columbus Ave on a Saturday late night, or taking a leisure stroll in Dower Square at 3AM, was asked of Barry. He went silent. Then all of his “defenders,” came on and posted with the same sentence structure, almost saying the same thing, but several different ways (a lawyer trick), it was obvious it was Bare Bare.
After he humiliated himself with that stunt, he doesn’t post much on here that I know of?
What’s going on with his lawsuit?
He won it. He was awarded free pasta for a year at Mazzeo’s
I hope Mellissa prepares it for him.
It’s being delivered via Pony Express.
Rumor has it, Helen Handgun Moon’s police report documenting her arrest is on that same delivery that Barry’s lawsuit results are on.
Queer enough, for quite some time, not a week went by that there wasn’t a report in the police log of suspicious activity on Lillybrook Road.
A good street for drug deals. The cul de sac is away from any houses. Someone should set up a trail cam.
frOM IBEKRSHIRES
Pittsfield School Committee Sees $72M Budget for FY23By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:20AM / Thursday, March 24, 2022Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee on Wednesday got a first look at the proposed $72 million school budget for fiscal 2023.
The budget of $72,398,262 is a 7.56 percent, or $5,086,562, increase from this year. Most of the increase is in contractual obligations.
There will be a School Committee budget workshop on Monday and, later that day, a joint meeting with the City Council followed by a public hearing for the budget on Wednesday.
We need to get ahold of our budgets.We need a plan.Every year seems to be an emergency budget.Add nothing as we must learn to manage what we have.We have never proven that our leaders can do this.Pittsfield taxpayers are not credit cards that Tyer Marchetti and Cameron continue to believe……just because you can afford it you need to understand the average SS check is 1400 per month….stop your ignorance on this fact
Why on Earth would Pittsfield politics’ School Committee increase its district budget by over 7.5% when Pittsfield public schools are rated among the worst performing public school districts in the state by Boston at Level 5? Pittsfield politics municipal and school district keeps increasing local taxes by 5% or higher each and every fiscal year, and in return the people and taxpayers receive substandard public services from City Hall. It would be like me charging you for gold but selling you fool’s gold instead. It would be like me charging you over $800,000 for Mayor Linda Tyer’s mansion in her elitist Gated Community but selling you a room at the Pittsfield YMCA. Pittsfield politics is nothing more than a bunch of disreputable used car salesmen charging consumers top dollar for lemons. Pittsfield politics is the biggest scam out there short of outright theft. Who the Hell do Mayor Linda Tyer, Peter Marchetti, Bill Cameron, and company think they are by always pulling this shit on the people and taxpayers who live in Pittsfield? If I am a public entity, business, and so on, and I take your money, then I better be honest and give you a good and/or service deserving of your money, or else I am nothing more than a career politician or the someone similar to a career politician screwing you over to feather my own nest egg. I hope that there is a horrible place in Hell for career politicians and other scam artists!
211 is The United Way.
The mayor is an example of the “Peter Principle” as is Joe Curtis Peter White and PeterMarchetti
What’s the Peter principal?
Promotion to the level of your incompetence. Someone who gets promoted until he reaches the point he is not competent and forever rest there happy as a clam.
I the example above it’s promotion well beyond your competence level.
Pee Pee, Houseless Pete, Fat Tyer, and JoJo are examples of people who aren’t even fit to clean toilets.
Cleverness of the phrase is “promotion to your level of incompetency.”
I wanted TSC to answer. I think he’s to dumb to understand what he’s writing about.
Oh. Sorry. Couldn’t help it.
Right after the Peter Principle comes the Bozo Explosion after Peter surrounds him or herself with people just as dumber or dumber. See: District Atty Harrington’s office.
This Marxist has no place on the SCOTUS.
https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/24/how-can-ketanji-brown-jackson-rule-in-sex-discrimination-cases-if-she-cant-define-woman/
Where is Clarence Thomas? Last report on 3/20 was that he was hospitalized for an infection. Hopefully he is recovering….
2021 one of Syracuse’s worst years for homicide deaths: 32 dead
Yah, but how many people are still alive?? HUh? quite a few. You need to get both sides of the story.
It is true. there were at least a140,000 people who DID NOT GET SHOT.
(so far)
Same from shooting case
https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/north-adams-woman-sentenced-in-assault-and-battery-case/
Hurrah – Trump sues Clinton for 24 mil!
https://nypost.com/2022/03/24/trump-sues-hillary-clinton-dnc-over-unthinkable-russia-plot-in-2016-election/
Who hasn’t Trump sued?
You’re safe. He doesn’t sue low level buffoons.
Hillary’s about to get her ass RICOed
Before the state’s police reform law took away Stockbridge officers this town had plenty but now they’re gone. The chief asked for a replacement but Select board chair Roxanne McCaffrey said nope, maybe down the road. Stockbridge residents should make themselves heard in support of police offiers as a proven crime deterrent. Meantime, I woudn’t wish violence on anyone but karma would be cool.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/stockbridge-police-wants-money-to-hire-officer-reforms-caused-loss-of-reserves/article_979385fc-ab8b-11ec-9863-9789c1a39366.html
Stupid is as stupid does
Mama din raise no foo
Nick Carnevale‘s parents are going to ruin the trial and Andrea Harrington is so incompetent she’s going to let it happen.
We know the Carnevale’s, they are good people, but their son has no memories of what happened, he has substantial cognitive problems, suffers from seizures, headaches, pain, motor function loss. He can barely remember both short and long term things, it’s all a jumble. It’s well known among friends and family.
His injuries happened during the event he allegedly “remembers”, he has no real memories of the event, only what he’s been coached to say by his well meaning parents. Any brain injury or head trauma or neurologist would destroy this poor kids credibility.
I’m embarrassed that Andrea would allow this, I’m sad that the parents would try and find justice this way. When you make your kid purger himself on the stand, it’s not justice.