KaliNOwsky INVITED, SAYS ‘NO’ … DOUBLING DOWN ON THE WRECK OF THE TITAN … RICKY RUMPUS ASKING FOR $640K in ‘FREE’ CASH
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 26, 2023) — THE PLANET invited councilor-at-large Karen Kalinowski to be a guest for a one-hour, unscripted filmed discussion. The purpose of the broadcast would be to give Kalinowski a platform for her mayoral candidacy. We sent the invitation Saturday evening, June 24.
The next day, she responded, and we quote: “Thank you for the invitation, but I am going to decline.”
THE PLANET then followed up with an invitation to a private meeting, over coffee.
Her response, in full: “No thank you.”
THE PLANET: You might want to reconsider. Our coffee is made from beans hand-picked by Juan Valdez high in the Bolivian Alps. It’s dee-lish!
No reply.
When the phone doesn’t ring, we’ll know it’s Kalamazoo NOT getting back to us.
We shall comment on the councilor’s declinations Wednesday.
———- ooo ———-
In our previous column, one item concerned the now imploded submersible Titan.
Here’s what we wrote:
Blub Blub Blub — Thinking of paying $250,000 to plummet 12,500 feet to look at a rusting pile of oceanic junk on a tiny submersible with safety issues? Best advice: Don’t. Sorry, but those rich folks onboard asked for it. Remember what happened to the S.S. Minnow on its “three hour tour. A three hour tour.”
The words speak for themselves. We take nothing back. We do not apologize.
We double down.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before:
- Last selfie taken before tragedy struck — a teenager balancing from the ledge of a skyscraper.
- The skier ignores the “DANGER!! TRAIL CLOSED!!” signs, skies into a ravine, and dies.
- The skydiver’s parachute doesn’t open.
- The extreme tourists die trying to climb Everest.
- The moron drives his pickup onto the lake despite “thin ice” warnings.
You get the picture.
The four passengers who paid the pilot’s company $250,000 each for dangerous descent to the rusted wreckage of Titanic belong in this category. Each signed a pile of waiver forms a mile thick. Each ignored quality issues concerning the design and construction of the Titan, a carbon-fiber capsule directed by a $30 video-game controller.
They did this so they could glimpse through a small circle of window a pile of rust more than three miles beneath the North Sea, where the environmental pressure is 400 times surface readings. In addition to being an allegory on the boredom of the superrich, the disaster calls to mind a reflection on hubris and stupidity.
Each time THE PLANET reads of another “daredevil” dying in a foolish stunt, we say “Good. You happy now? You wanted an extreme thrill, and you got one.”
This is to say nothing of the countless millions spent searching that involved resources from all over the globe. Would-be rescuers scoured an area of rough ocean twice the size of Connecticut in cold waters up to three miles deep. Doing so put their own lives in jeopardy. It was the most comprehensible oceanic search in history.
Private companies can attempt to get reimbursement (but from whom?). American taxpayers aren’t so lucky. U.S. law prohibits the Coast Guard and Navy from collecting reimbursements for search and rescue operations.
So you wanna know who paid for the fool’s errand?
Gotta mirror?
———- ooo ———-
Our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council meet tomorrow night. It’s the last meeting before the council goes into snooze mode for July and August. Only one meeting each of those months, which could explain why those months seem to pass so quickly.
The one item that caught THE PLANET‘s interest was a request from Ricky Rumpus to abscond $630,000 from “free” cash for upcoming winter operations.
“Free” cash is the amount Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski OVERPAID in FY23. Every cent should go back to them either in the form of tax cuts or direct deposits. The operating budget for FT24, just passed, should have handled this item without depleting “free” cash.
Welcome to Picklefield.
————————————————————————
“We all drink our own Kool-Aid, and far too often our thirsts are unquenchable” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2023 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. 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. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. 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, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
CITy
I “expect” noting at this point of a long career where I’ve see it all. That said, those seeking or gaining public office have an OBLIGATION to make themselves available to the press. Those who don’t display a form or arrogance and disregard — for the electorate. Doom.
To be a Mayor of Pittsfield politics, one has to have sat all day and night on a barstool, or one has to have called violent crime in Pittsfield an “aberration”, or say he has a “rolodex” full of (shit) “Good Old Boys” such as Cliff Nilan and Angelo Stracuzzi, or be a manager for Montello, or live in an elitist Gated Community within a few feet of the Hancock border. Karen Kalinowsky doesn’t have a tagline. Peter Marchetti’s tagline is “One Pittsfield”. John Krol’s tagline is that he was not unemployed, despite the rumors. Craig Gaetani’s tagline is that he is only a few years younger than Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Perhaps if Dan Valenti gives Karen Kalinowsky a tagline, then she would feel confident enough to sit with him over coffee or possibly an interview. I have a suggestion: “Pittsfield’s Kop-Knight Karen Kalinowsky fights for the Kapanskis!”
Karen you must develop
a thick skin to remain in this game. For seven years I have had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at me and I am still standing strong. I anticipate more spears to be thrown at me but none will wound me. I am a decorated soldier of the viet Nam war and I never give up. If I don’t become mayor so be it. I will still stay in the game trying to make life better for the kapanskis and disabled. Don’t miss the opportunity to be on Dan’s show and show us your thickend skin. Good luck with your hopes to become mayor.
Wise advice, CG.
How about Appalachian Trail. As opposed to Election.
Jonathan’s nickname was “bottomless pockets.” He got this name for being known for cutting the bottoms off of his front pants pockets. This made it easier for Jonathan to become the Mass high school state champion pocket pool player.
Oh, leave Jon alone.
Hey Jon, there is no elitist Gated Community within a few feet of the Hancock border.
How many times did Tyer, Marchetti, White, Persip or Lampiasi agree to discuss local happenings with you Dan? Seem to remember Tyer saying she would have an open door policy and everything she would do would be out in the open. She is still laughing about that one today. She wrapped herself in the special interest cocoon and avoided all SERIOUS questions about what was going on.
The fact that Krol is a chatterbox word salad aficionado will indeed sway a few of the less informed voters but I think the majority of us are onto him by now. Y’all need to find a work around for that drag.
“Chatterbox word salad aficionado.” Add in “hand movements to make up for substance” and you describe the boy perfectly
I guess it doesn’t matter that RN can’t spell.
Right, you can’t expect Kalinowski to accept an invitation from a decidedly antagonistic source.
Why not K?
I get that you and your ilk don’t like debating people with opposite views. It’s a tough task when all you can toss out on the table, are opinions, emotions, and conjectures.
Facts tend to Trump (pun intended) all of those, as I have demonstrated on you many times on The Planet.
I’ll post a link backing up my story/post.
You’ll post a word salad, that ultimately ends up with you say something like, “I’m not here to do your work,” or a catchy phrase, that ultimately proves this post.
Amma I right K?
Hmmm…well, Markus, as far as Kalinowski is concerned, she knows that Dan would not give her positive press no matter what she says, so she just passes on the invitation. As for the rest of your post, a lot of it is wrong, like when you say ‘you and your ilk don’t like debating people with opposite views.’ I actually love debating. Also you have deluded yourself into thinking you’ve gotten the better of me. The best you can claim is that you have held your own, while I would say that I have left you in the dust, as Rush would say, with ‘one half of my brain tied behind my back to make it fair.’
It would be on video K. Let me guess, Dan’s going to alter the video?
Another difference between you and I. I don’t back down from a fight. I’m not talking about junior high fist fights either.
You and your ilk like to hide and state why you shouldn’t fight. That’s cool. It’s a coward in my book, a non-fighter for the working person, taxpayer.
We have a non-fighting mayor now.
KK should accept the offer, state her points, and answer any of Dan’s questions.
It only hurts her, not the other two.
Leave me in my dust….maybe in collecting ARPA money, my friend.
Kalinowsky does not have to debate. That’s a rather modern political invention. Some people rather not debate actually. Some may even have a principle religious not to.
Lying to the public is what should be on your radar.
Dan seems to agree with kalinowsky’s stance on most issues
Yes, and I have given her tons of credit when called for. She has some kind of block, though. THE PLANET is always open to hear from her and anybody that wants to talk.
You seem to know why she won’t accept the invitation. Have you spoken to her? I think you just have an overactive imagination.
You are so full of yourself
All of your ethics and transparency throughout the years would you prided yourself on besides being a great book writer you’re towing against Kopanski by promoting those two for mayor
A candidate can’t afford to turn down free media appearances. The only way voters will see that krol and Marchetti are just the empty suit twins is to appear with them frequently.. Kalinowsky is one of the few councilors with a heart and mind that’s in the right place. Why on earth won’t she do an interview for a public that by and large wants to hear from her? Does she think that appearing on a d
PCTV forum moderated by Bob Heck will help her get her message out? Marchetti and Krol are ticketed pink they won’t have to face her. They can just rope a door each other.
“Why on earth won’t she do an interview for a public that by and large wants to hear from her?”
Because she doesn’t want to speak to that portion of the public that identifies with this venue. The contributors largely support her candidacy, but Dan does not, and he’s asking the questions.
So, what on earth could he ask her that would damage her?
“A candidate can’t afford to turn down free media appearances.”
They say there’s no such thing as negative publicity, but I’m not so sure.
Lol, you think this blog is going to get her message out??
Not by itself but she has a good message that needs to be heard and an interview won’t hurt
HT
Correct. Not only will an interview help. Refusing to do the interview will hurt. Up to her, though. We don’t force it on anyone. Some have the tough hide to do it, and others don’t. Those who don’t and who aspire to be in politics are in the wrong business … and that’s why she has refused. Her term on the council has convinced her that her efforts are futile. Running for mayor but not campaigning for mayor is KK’s way to exit with grace. When you hide from the media, however, its more “dis” grace.
Maybe you should tweak it Dan to make it fairer to her. Like, you could sponsor the event but have someone else ask the questions. Like, Sir Charles.
Exactly.
I sooner trust a sub made by Angelina’s.
Leave Angie out of this. Great subs by the way.
I’ll always support a sub made by Angelina’s
Exactly what is the reason city councilors cannot show up for more than three hours a month during summer? Kinda suggests to me that perhaps what they do is not that important? Should’nt their pay be adjusted for that schedule?
And that would be the message that THEY are sending as they voted for the touch and go schedule themselves.
The Simpsons predicted everything.
Best post of the year!
Ayn Randed, nearly branded convalesed …
The people on the sub earned the Darwin award.
“I’m not saying let’s kill all the stupid people……let’s just do away with all the warnings and let nature sort things out”
Ricky has a two month window of oportunity, to fix the ,moonscape of Holmes rd while the bridge is closed. Unless the mASSHOLE DPW needs full access to the bridge. Rumpus should be coordinating that rather than raiding the “piggy bank”, that the city elected/appointed swine use as their feeding throgh.
Crazy drivers in a hurry on south street?Imagine the road rage because of this project. Talk about accident waiting to happen.
Traffic was backed up from Dan Fox Dr to W Housy this morning.
Someone from DPW took down/changed the detour sign on Holmes Rd southbound in Lenox, it was directing traffic to Holmeswood Ter, a dead end street.
Bad news…
Karen Kalinowsky for mayor! I believe you are spelling her name wrong Dan Valenty.
Not surprised in her declining your offer after your insults. Looking forward to a 3-way debate between candidates, closer to the election.
Karen questioned Ricky over his management of the DPW after the Dec. snowplowing fail and seemed to indicate that planning & budgeting were not his strong suits. I hope the councilors grill Ricky over this request for more funding.
Karen has to toughen up if she wants to be mayor. Criticism is part of being in politics or it should be. Does she think that since she’s a Democrat she is above criticism? That’s not a good sign. I was going to vote for Karen, but her not wanting to speak with Dan shows a lack of transparency on her part.
Come on Pat. You know the drill.
Sadly, I do know the drill. Hide in the basement as long as possible to avoid facing questions about your policies.
Yup. It’s the “Biden Way To Win An Election.” Except in this case, she won’t even place, let alone show.
Ouch!
It’s just that Dan would use the interview to make her look bad, and she knows it.
How would that go. He’s going argue with her about her in defense of Kerwood and Morales? Pull you head out and take a breath.
So Pat, just which one of the other “transparent” councilors are ya favoring and why?
And do you know that you come across as a bit of a misogynist? Pretty sure I am not the only one who thinks that way.
I am a woman so, no, I don’t hate women. I’m not a fan of Kroll or Marchetti, but at least they showed up to voice their opinions although there was very little difference in their policies that I heard. I have always liked Karen on the council, but she can’t hide out if she wants to win. Maybe she will do lots of other debates and public appearances to make her case. I hope so.
But some woman do hate woman. Marjorie Taylor Greene and her misfit counterpart Lauren Boebert are currently engaged in a public pissing match. Apparently they both have too much male testosterone but are too embarrassed to get the necessary operations.
OH my!
Some women hate women so much they dress like men and chop their boobs off. I see you approve of self inflicted mutilation.
For children too?
MTG and Boebert are good looking women, not deranged gender confused mental cases.
Must you be so crude, MT?
I’m not the one chopping boobs/peckers off because of mental illnesses.
Snarky brought it up and seems to approve of such mutilation of ones body. It hasn’t answered yet if so deemed OK for children too?
Deal with it.
Grow up
Glad you aren’t embarrassed and got the operation
As previously noted, Pat gets away with being a misogynist because she is female.
And you get away with being low IQ and low information because you’re a democrat
Agree.
I completely disagree Pat. Councilor Kalinowsky just declared for mayor a few weeks ago. Give her time to get her campaign and platform together. She’s done a good job on the council and I can’t say I blame her for not agreeing to interview with Dan after all his slings and arrows. This site is not high profile and I think she would be better served debating the other candidates in a more mature and professional setting.
When have you ever heard Dan come up with a degrading label for Krol?
Equal treatment – not!
CATHY
All the more reason to agree, actually. Or do you think that candidates for public office should only agree to appearances with those outlets who kiss their butts? You know, the way Biden does.
Dan, do you think this will turn into a dirty campaign? Do you think Marchetti and Krol will have to get nasty to disparage Karen Kalinoswky? And if so is it because they really do not have much of a record to stand on themselves?
And if they feel desperate enough to get nasty how do you think that will play out? Will they do it through social media? Which medias do you think they might be?
SNARK
All campaigns get dirty before the end. No, neither Pete nor John will “get nasty” with respect to KK. They won’t have to. She has no chance. Wait until you see Wednesday’s PLANET. You will learn what one of Karen’s supporters says is the “real reason” she’s running for mayor. We also hear from others who have had professional experiences with her, off camera.
Sounds like it will be YOU who is going to bring the nasty Dan. And something tells me you are not doing this on your own. Hmmm. Which candidate might need to go low to try to get votes and will that say more about them than their opponents?
You hit the nail on the head, snark.
SNARK
“Sound like …” What, we’re playing “Charades” now? Let me be direct to the two points you make: (1) I am not going to “bring the nasty.” I’m going to bring the truth. There’s a difference. (2) I do this ENTIRELY on my own. THE PLANET remains independent in every conceivable way.
So Dan are you saying that your column tomorrow will not be mistaken as a hit job? Fair and balanced? Same tough questions as Marchetti and Krol?
Awesome.
Dan asked Marchetti and Krol tough questions. Watch the Debate!
ELIS
So true. This is a fair-minded remark. People hear and see what they want to hear and see. Thanks!
Could you list 4 or 5 of the tough questions or are you talking out of the seventh planet?
I agree with the Snarkster. Dan has a tendency to focus on the negative, especially when he is targeting the Left in his sights.
SNARK
I’m saying what I said. And no, it won’t be a hit job. It will be sharing some truth. Whether that truth is harsh or not is out of my control and not my affair.
Sounds like a hit job to me, but I’ll reserve my judgment until I see the final product. I mean, you did get pretty irked when she wouldn’t dance for you.
Both Krol and Marchetti are low values politicians who have nothing to contribute to the city. Matchetti thinks he’s Winston Churchill. He has the leadership ability or a Winston cigarette butt. And Krol. Pittsfield has so much potential. But it wasn’t potential that Krol tapped when he was a councilor. Win or loose Kalinowsky and Gaetani truly care about the city. Only a fool would try to make a case for the empty suit twins.
‘Wait till you see what I’ll do to her on Wednesday. ‘
Unnamed sources?
I’m sure neither of the other Candidates is worried about Kalinowski!
Not what I am hearing or seeing. Freaking out is what I am hearing.
You must believe the election is going to be rigged
Dan can you please ask Mr Krol why he left his employment for Berkshire Health off his Resume?
Sure.
Dan: host a debate!
Well spoken, ChattyCathy
Ya because it’s Pittsfield Tonight has listeners and is honest lol. That Mike Daly is a bully and a joke.
Mike Daly of it’s Pittsfield Tonight has a current Go Fund Me page up and running with a $5 thousand goal.Something about raising money for change’s he needs to make to his studio for the upcoming political season and debates etc.. Personally I believe he maybe moving to fast with his new studio and thus the need for a GFM ask.
Yeah, Bill Surgeon and Bob Heck were out buying marshmallows and pillows for krol and Matchetti for their forums
PHUNNY, 4Q!!
It’s not a lack of transparency, it’s not wanting to serve as Dan’s target practice.
Maybe you should talk with her before giving her advice.
Let’s not forget the snow plowing blunder and over budget raid on free cash that happened last winter? Ever notice that account is always added to whether it is plowing to be done or never plowing to be done. Our councilors always say people tell me I want roads plowed I want this,I want trash pick up blah blah.Vote these Councilors out,they haven’t delivered on basic services they brag about. Oh,by the way the plow account is the only account the city can add to. How convenient.
The city should have saved more than that from the mild winter than he is now asking for. What in the hell happened to that money?
Tip. Don’t ask any bankers cuz they don’t be knowin stuff like dat
You are correct she questioned every department head. Voted against many budgets. That is why she will lose in a low turnout primary. City employees vote!
So are you saying she should start shouting about giving everyone more raises? Do we want a leader like tyer who had no self control and knew that her council president was not going do his job and check her? Is that a good way to run government? Is that good for the taxpayers and is that good for the city? Just how high do you think the cities debt limit should go or do you think there even needs to be a limit?
No I didn’t say that. I’m saying the elderly and city employees vote in the primary.
Trust me, the only elderly that are going to vote for Marchetti or Krol is their parents. The special interest machine, of which they are an integral part, does nothing for the elderly.
Their dead parents.
I disagree and we will soon see the results!
The only grilling that crowd is going to do will be at the barbecue they have to celebrate Ricky getting his pot of gold.
If you want the special interests to back and guarantee your election as a city councilor you must agree beforehand NOT to ask any probing questions. Rubber stamping has become an art form on Allen street and they have just enough bobble heads to continuously shaft the city.
Good morning Dan, I just wanted to comment on the request by Ricardo Morales for $630,000 from the free cash account. The DPS and DPU departments have had a business manager for over a year. This was a new position created by the Tyler administration even though former councilor Morandi and myself voted against it. Never in the history of Pittsfield has such a position existed until now. When the city had 60,000 residents the department (without this position) functioned efficiently. Obviously someone is not doing their job correctly if such a request is being made just a month after the budget passing. Thanks
Right on Chris another bureaucratic way of throwing money out the window.
The idea is to use up as much of the free cash as possible in case someone with fiscal responsibility gets elected mayor and ends the grab bag of taxpayer money.
Did this just come out after Karen decided to run for mayor?
Chris Connell, That – not doing one’s job correctly – is how one is rewarded in the government. If the government worked correctly, we wouldn’t have to pay for all of the corruption and phony shell games that makes the career politicians and their wealthy backers so much money. The real reason why one “works” for the government is to CASH IN!
Coming from a serial check collector such as yourself that is a priceless statement.
I have to laugh at the ward six councilor. She states she is for safety,clean streets? On the road she travels everyday along with the mayor, by the way,what Is seen is continued accidents at least three since the crosswalk death. But these people that are not from around here will also walk right in Front of your car because they don’t know the basic rules I guess? Thursday nights and Friday in particular are unsafe driving on West Street from the Park all the way up to Churchill st. Going both ways. You will see many cars going well over the speed limit both ways.
Another item is by the Church check out that storm drain only ,a mouse could enter the drain it’s chalk full.Problem is that isn’t the only block drain in the ward.
“Thursday nights and Friday in particular are unsafe driving on West Street from the Park all the way up to Churchill st.”
It’s pretty clear from 8-11 in the morning.
Thanks, CC. Yes, you cite another example of a “make-work” position that does nothing except enrich someone who’s “connected.”
Good point Dan.FUDD the Councilor says give the die officer a chance and most said then evaluate it. Another councilor said watch the Morning Drive show interview with Obie. My opinion is to not fund the position and let Taylor the h r director be evaluated and do the job himself, which he should be doing anyway.He is die qualifier himself isn’t he? He is for of die initiative is he?
Yes Taylor should be doing his low energy job and the DIE job concurrently. He is qualified by DIE and other preference qualifications. These two jobs combined will take only 3 hours a day of somewhat real work. These are basically no work positions which I will eliminate when I become mayor. There are many other no show or low show jobs that the overburdened tax payer is on the hook for. In a Gaetani administration there will be a plethora of personnel reductions in all departments. The number of city positions are at least 30% more than need be. This is how the disgraceful budget will be reduced. I will examine every position in city government and those that are not necessary will be eliminated. This is how I handled things in the private sector. What I was left with was a lean and very competent work force with everyone pulling their own weight. The days of Robing the overburdened tax and ratepayers will soon come to an end. These are just a few of my ideas of making our city a lean and mean and very competent operating machine. Phonies and pretenders will be eliminated from the work force with great efficiency. Pittsfield has many good days coming in the future. If you agree please consider me for mayor of our soon to be great city
They’ll hire a consultant, maybe Leadership Academy, to conduct a cost benefit analysis.
Lol. Now that is the second best post of the day. Good one Charles!
Chris, yeah you see it too. I noticed that the great brains running our departments suddenly need millions of dollars of unbudgeted expenses for 2023 that must be paid one week after 2024 ‘fake’ budget was passed.
2023 was a fake budget. 2024 is a fake budget. There are in fact two budgets.
The Fake Budget
The Council pretends to pass the main budget. It’s an opportunity for the spineless to beckon to reason while not goring anyone’s ox. You are encouraged to look good so long as you don’t mean business. The ‘wise’ get to pontificate in meaningless gibberish why they are serving up the best budget in the city’s history “Don’t touch a thing, you fools!” Company men. A few hopefuls can break their teeth trying to question so much as a dollar. That’s as meaningful as a free ticket to a shitty circus. And then there are the scurrilous wretches who carry the Mayor’s water blocking every cut and blunting every criticism, and then go ahead and vote with the minority with ‘no.’ They will claim in October that they opposed the budget. (This is the worst sort that sits on the podium. They are willing to demean themselves as they bet on your stupidity.) That describes the fake budget that the Council is allowed to play with.
The ‘other budget’:
The Mayor maintains a separate ‘running tally of expenses’ that are budgeted ‘off the record’ then announced at the last minute of the fiscal year with an appropriation from Free Cash. These expenses are known from day one. They generally come about from say, running a municipal water utility or a police force where the labor overhead is 90% OT and 10% flat rate. For example, wastewater treatment plant is running on one piston. The failure of the hardware jacked up the overhead. It’s no one fault – just a fact. The Commish knows this, but ‘just discovers’ it today. And another one: the Mayor suddenly needs a million for 2023 overtime for the PPD. These two requests on their own prove that the Mayor has institutionalized the fake budgeting process with the bloated Free Cash account that is allowed to swell from the excesses siphoned off the Fake budget.
City Council doesn’t pretend to pass that other budget, but they do get to pretend to deliberate over the request.
Chris, let’s take some bets today: who will say what. You should be able to predict exactly what each councilor will say on these Free Cash draws.
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
The revised fiscal year 2023 municipal budget will be voted on tonight in Pittsfield politics’ endless spending of taxpayer dollars in return for “a shit sandwich” full of Level 5 public schools, violent crime, and so on.
Ward 2 City Councilor Charles Ivar Kronick asks if we can predict what the 11 City Councilors will say tonight prior to their vote(s) to spend so-called “Free Cash” to balance the books that end on Friday, June 30th, 2023.
Here are my predictions:
6 of them will say that Mayor Linda Tyer is right to spend the city government into financial oblivion.
2 of them will say that the revised budget should have happened over one year ago.
3 of them will say that they will vote against spending so-called “Free Cash” because it belongs to the taxpayers instead of allowing the Mayor to play financial shell games with the budget.
I predict the City Council’s vote will be 8 in favor and 3 against the spending of so-called “Free Cash” for the revised fy2023 municipal budget that will end in 4 days time.
Best wishes,
Jon Melle
Too general. To bet: you predict what words & phrases (detail) + arguments (substance) each councilor will utter.
It’s not hard: only 8 are willing to utter anything. Only 4 are likely to. Choose as many as you see fit.
BTW, MARCHETTI voted for this ridiculous, uneeded position
It’s the crummy circus I speak about. Used to be a comic theme that only academics experienced. Then the class of 1991 graduated and became not just professors, but CEO and politicians too.
Actually I would like to see a list of all mayors initiatives that Marchetti voted AGAINST. Can we get a printout here please? Anybody?
No? Not gonna happen ya say? Aww shucks.
To get off track a bit how and why are the fire guys out directing traffic. I know a few years back approved flaggers where passed but now the fire guys making $58 dollars an hour. The police unions all over the bitched about flaggers but about the fire department out there. Double standard right there.
As I recall Planet made fun of former mayor Bianchi all the time yet Bianchi did a debate with Tyer.
I have some experience with Kalinowski. Not only professionally but personally. Professionally she is the laziest cop that Pittsfield has ever hired. She only fills a quota. When I heard she was running for mayor (of all things) I laughed out loud. When she became a city councilor I couldn’t believe it. Nobody knows who she is, for one thing, so for you to have given her an opportunity to explain what she stands for is an opportunity she’ll never be given anywhere else. Since the Eagle doesn’t cover real news anymore, that’s it. You’re it. You’re the news. The truth. And she brushed your hand away. Big mistake. Politicians in the past learned that lesson the hard way.
her brain doesn’t run on intellect. It runs on ego. She made a big mistake. I don’t know who she thinks she is….but no one else does, either.
Well, this post shows me that indeed this will be a desperate and dirty campaign. Either Krol or Marchetti or both are in panic mode. Obviously they could nip this in the bud if they wanted to but don’t hold your breath. They are running scared.
Nobody is concerned about Kalinowski. Her own campaign knows she can’t win!
The Eagle covers the news just fine. The difference is they don’t present it with an overly negative spin.
The Parrot is so far left it’s a foul ball.
They fawn over overevery thing leftist/woke, but are critial/hostile/negative to anyone else who doesn’t share their veiwpoints.
Have they covered the mess the Flat Tyer has made of Pittsfield?
The Eagle represents the main stream media.
Fake news. Sometimes fabricated altogether45%juuui
It is what they don’t cover that concerns me.
Correct.
They make it up….especially Scott Stafford
This post is from one of the empty suit’s campaign
So your new law and order DA clown shoes Shagrue has dropped more gun charges in the latest case before his office. I thought the streets were going to be free of the meth heads Zombie beggars, drug addicts, petty crime? ” We will not drop any gun charges Zero” yeah Timmy
The office has a disastrous record in Superior court..My prediction that we will resign in two years might have to be reexamined. But hey Krol will clean it all up with his new Chief of staff Moon…yeah she is behind the curtain of his campaign.
The Supreme Court has just weakened the clean water act significantly. In short many wetlands that were protected by the clean water act will no longer be protected. What this means is that previously protected by the clean water act rivers such as the Housatonic will no longer be protected. We spent 90 million to upgrade our sewer plant to meet clean water standards and now we may not have to worry about discharges into the Housatonic
The new plant hasn’t been treating the effluent at the sewer plant to date. We must insure that the sewer treatment plant predates to clean water standards as we paid a fortune to make it abide by clean water standards. The city govt must insure that this plant operates to clean water standards. I see big troubles coming with these new standards. The mayor should take note and insure that the city consultants delivers to the city a plant that can meet clean water standards. The onus is on them now.they must deliver a plant that meets the now old clean water standards and not the new weakened standards
Obviously someone important recently purchased wetlands. The ones who own DEP. EPA.
Does Pittsfield have back up generators at the Waste waste treatment plant?
Wetlands now will become very expensive. Prior to new law many restrictions were placed on homes built near protected wet lands. Now with new laws it will be easy to get approval to build homes or complexes adjacent to now unprotected wetlands. This is a severe blow to environmental groups and a boon to home construction firms. I do not support this new law as it opens the doors to all kinds of shady operations who will not do voluntarily what they had to do when the former clean water act was law. I predict this will be a disaster for the environmental movement. Time will tell what occurs. Many of the rich will get richer and the kapanskis will stand next to the wet lands and say:::; how did this occur. Money always talks. Let’s all pray for the best
They always have had back up generators. Operators are trained to compensate when there is a power outage.
A way to save $400,000 in the overdrawn WW Enterprise Fund?
I disagree that this site isn’t high profile. This site played a huge role in getting rid of previous Soros backed District Attorney Harrington so Karen would be well served to give an interview to Dan. I don’t care for Kroll or Marchetti. That doesn’t mean I hate all men. No, it means I don’t like their politics. The far left is so used to labeling people when they go against the grain of what they want you to think that the automatic response is “You hate all women or all men, you dislike anybody who isn’t white” The labeling is endless and now it’s in the school system with the gender labeling of over 100 genders. Stop the insanity.
Who came up with the MAGA label by the way?
That’s what Trump supporters call themselves. That’s not a label put on them by other people. The far left label for MAGA people would be “far right extremists” which is so wrong for 99.9% of Trump supporters.
Just look at the stats.
“…with the gender labeling of over 100 genders…….”
2 genders, 98 types of queers.
Gendertrication
Dan you don’t have to try hard to be great you already are we just want you to be one of us again.
DUN
I am one with everyone.
The mantra of a perfect politician.
Wow it sounds like Dun perceives Dan to be inching to the left.
I mean sure The Simpsons should get some credit here but we can’t overlook The Beatles:
In the town where I was born lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life in the land of submarines
So we sailed on to the sun til we found a sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves, in our yellow submarine
And then there’s these lyrics:
We would be warm
Below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head
On the sea bed
In an octopus’s garden
Near a cave
We would sing
And dance around
Because we know we can’t be found
I’d like to be
Under the sea
In an octopus’s garden
Kind of spooky!
https://youtu.be/U-G8XI58Ybc
https://youtu.be/0Wob10lOLWY
Well, I prefer ‘There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known’ .
Let me know if this is mentioned in the Eagle –
“egregious government misconduct” in the State Police Office of Alcohol Testing
https://www.techdirt.com/2023/05/15/court-suppresses-breathalyzer-results-in-27000-dui-cases-after-years-of-being-jerked-around-by-the-state-crime-lab/
They did not say the breathalyzer is inaccurate, they said, ““egregious government misconduct” in the State Police Office of Alcohol Testing.”
In the Miggy scandal there was “no misconduct”.
Robert Maxwell
&
Connection
Just saw tyer at he council meeting. I hope that her pension isn’t tied into her weight. # wide load
Want your water/sewer rates returned to last years? Then you must show up to the Friday, 6/30 meeting!
At today’s Council meeting, Tyer tried to pull a fast one with a demand for almost $1,500,000 Free Cash to cover police overtime and wastewater supplies. No explanation.
I objected, and Marchetti threatened you with a tax hike. Extortion.
My compromise. Apply $1,000,000 from Free Cash to the Water Enterprise Funds to reduce current water & sewer rates.
If you want this reduction, then you must show up.
It is on you now.
The Titan disaster is an example of the triumph of a powerful narrative over critical thinking. The narrative is, or was, “We are innovative, the others are stogy, inside-the-box thinkers who cannot really evaluate this new technology that threatens to make it cheaper than ever to go to the bottom.” The narrative was believed by everyone at Oceangate including the founder who killed himself and four others. We always hear of the successes when a new, unproven technology or approach wins over an older one. We usually don’t hear of the failures. While the five dead were, in hindsight, just stupid, their willingness to take risks is what has often moved us ahead. So I am not as critical as others.
CHUCK
You present a refreshing look at the incident. It’s a tale of hubris, almost as much as the Titanic disaster. I think of Ismay’s boast: “Why, man, God Himself couldn’t sink this ship!”