DISSA AND DATA: WAHCONAH PARK PLAN A BAD IDEA … ‘HOUSELESSNESS’ … A ‘COMMUNITY NIGHT OUT’
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
ADD 1 SATURDAY A.M. — THE PLANET received this news from the office of Berkshire County District Attorney Tim Shugrue:
Becket, MA- There are no criminal charges being brought in the August 1st accidental death of Kat Sirico, a Jacob’s Pillow summer employee. An investigation conducted by law enforcement determined that the events leading to the employee’s death were related to a work-place accident.
In the early afternoon of Friday August 1st, Sirico and a summer intern were moving platforms used for staging for a theater across the Jacob’s Pillow property. The platforms were on a dolly. As Sirico and intern began moving the dolly down a sloped area, they lost control of the dolly, and it began to roll. Sirico attempted to regain control of the dolly; however, tripped and fell. The dolly ran over Sirico, and the platforms fell from the dolly, landing on her. Bystanders attempted life saving measures.
Becket Police responded to the scene at approximately 12:31pm. At approximately 12:35pm, the Town of Becket’s Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene. Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene.
The official cause of death will be announced by the Medical Examiner.
THE PLANET: We hope this will stop any speculation about this incident. Facts matter.
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION AUG. 1-3, 2025) — “A little of this-a, a little of that-a, with the emphasis on the latta.”
Board Trodding–So sang Lola to Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. Some 22 years ago at Wahconah Park, DAN VALENTI had one of the starring roles in the local production that featured Dan Duquette, Robert Hunt, and a cast of Broadway vets. We were out of our league but, like a true thespian, we delivered as Mr. Welch, Duquette’s boss as GM of the Washington Senators. Weather permitting, we played to 2,000 in the grandstand for a week. Phun, that. To this day, Duquette kids me about the money I owe him for leading the Nats to the A.L. pennant.
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Grandstand Play–Speaking of the grandstand, it’s one of the few ballpark wooden grandstands left in the world. Most communities would cherish such a gem. Yet with a million other priorities begging for attention, the idiots running Bitchfield’s disastrous Two Pete Gubment (TPG) want to destroy it at a cost of $28 million. That’s a lots of cutter to spend so Lumpy and Voltron can drink themselves blind in the beer tent.
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Houseless–The council’s O&R subcommittee met on Tuesday and decided to send the petition regulating homelessness to the full body. The showdown vote will come on August. 12. No matter what they decide, there will be outrage. THE PLANET wouldn’t be surprised if councilors, feeling too much heat, delay taking a stand.
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Join Dan Valenti at HOTEL ON NORTH for an artistic display of witticism and good cheer. Buy a book, get it signed!
Houselessness II–Each side, downtown business owners and the homeless and their advocates, have valid arguments. Splitting down the middle will help no one. Councilors need to decide, one way or another.
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Houselessness III–THE PLANET will point out that this is an intractable problem without a satisfactory solution. There is no Answer. There are only responses, all of them faulty and only partially corrective. Advocates want more public housing, more teams of social workers, and more public hygiene facilities. They forget that taxpayers are already on a Death March in Bitchfield. Given all that, we recommend that councilors pass the compromise legislation put forth by mayor Marchetti. Small business downtown, too, faces daunting challenges. Getting the “armies of the road” elsewhere takes precedence if there is to be any hope of a better downtown experience for citizens. Doing everything for everybody is a fairy tale. Tough choices must be made.
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Houselessness IV–Democracy, even republicanism, is premised upon an educated, informed populace, one where people take adult responsibilities seriously. They can enjoy the privileges of self-support (freedom, a safe place to live, enough food to eat), but they must also pay the freight (hard work, self-improvement, education). The moment, for whatever reason, vast numbers of people cannot do this, we move into a different system, one more like socialism or communism. It’s no wonder activists for the homeless tend politically to those callings. Society ends up with an unhealthy combination of these competing, conflicting economic expectations. It doesn’t and CAN’T function properly.
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Join Dan Valenti at HOTEL ON NORTH for an artistic display of witticism and good cheer. Buy a book, get it signed!
Night Time is the Right time: On Wednesday, August 6th, the Pittsfield Police Department will be hosting the local National Night Out event at the Common Park on First Street in downtown Pittsfield. This event will run from 5-7 PM. This event is free and open to the public. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Free food will be provided.
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Have a great weekend, everybody.
“Prime years fade with each young heart’s beat” — Ian Anderson.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2025 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.
I would like to know why the City should be enabling illegal behavior? Trespassing, Loitering, defecating and urinating in public places are all illegal behaviors. If the houseless/homeless crowd really want to help the houseless homeless they should allow them to be arrested and rehabilitated through Berkshire County’s jail which teaches skills and educates their charges. There is then on second street a program to reintegrate these people into society and helps them become participating citizens who can live productive lives. My feeling is the people pushing the so called rights for the houseless want to keep them down so they feel good about their own lot in life instead of doing what is best for them. Another benefit in getting arrested is the mental health aspect. When in custody they will be able to get the mental health they need as well as the medical attention they have been neglecting.
The city has allowed this bullshit for years, thereby enabling and exacerbating the problem, same as the panhandlers. Two people overnighting in Deming Park last two nights, Clapp Park was tent city last I knew,just like Springside. City has no balls and let the bums live on school property too, the city could fix it if it wanted to and it doesn’t need a new law. It’s already illegal to be in parks and on school grounds after dark. Lock ‘em up!
Agree, Shirley who is telling our Police officers to stand down? Why verbally advisements and trespass orders? Our County jail is below 50% occupancy. We have plenty of room, with already paid for counselors for drug and alcohol abuse. I guess it makes to much sense.
IMO two of the biggest needs to address the “houseless” situation are the reopening of mental health institutions (the nuthouse) and enacting and enforcing vagrancy laws.
Post signs of “no trespassing” after certain hours. This will eliminate sleeping overnight in walkways. Zero tolerance for any criminal offense committed by the “houseless.” The Broken Windows theory. If the junkies can’t quit using dope on their own, let the courts intervene and make these people choose: sobriety or jail. No more pandering. There are plenty of social services and shelters available.
Another thought to deal with the “houseless” is to send them all to BCC and point them in the direction of their pied-piper: Linda “Flat” Tyer-Clairmont. I don’t think Flat would care. She certainly has reaped the financial benefits of flooding the area with the dregs of society from the Boston-area and beyond during the China-flu plandemic.
Flat is the executive director of workforce and community education at BCC. Let Flat truly earn her “grant money.”
Help find these “houseless” a job Linda and as Bill Belichick always preaches to his players, DO YOUR JOB!!
Flats should be the next Parade Marshall after she gets a couple three jobs placements over at Kennedy who ya know BCC.
The Bitchfield pol’s past and present embrace whatever is the latest philosophical flavor of the day may be. The only consistent moral foundation they all embrace is to do whatever it takes to acquire and hold power over their fellow human beings, even if that means abandoning positions they may have adamantly supported in the past like enforcing laws already on the books that should apply to everyone the same with no exceptions for special
groups.
One of the cause of homelessness in Pittsfield is the city’s excessive spending spree to the tune of over $62 million per fiscal year more than Westfield, which is a similarly sized small city in Western Massachusetts.
This is all on Mayor Peter Marchetti’s watch! Look in the proverbial mirror, Mayor big beer belly & City Council Prez Voltron.
Cut city spending first before your cruel “War against the Underclass” residents of Pittsfield who panhandle &/or are homeless.
He’s paid for doing nothing just like Flats. If three quarters of your budget goes to the schools what actually can you accomplish beside police fire and roads. Which by the way, are screwed up. Crime,Roads, Toter system,water sewer, homelessness, finances all failing.
I don’t believe the homeless in Bitchfield are likely tied to economic opportunity there. Tax and spend and steal policy has scant connection to the abuse you are on the street.
Also, government’s sole purpose is to provide accountability for spending taxpayers’ money and determine rules that benefit Liberty, preserve the common good, and are compliant. Solving the human condition is peripheral. If vagrancy rules are on the book, then policy points to enforcement.
Government = Death & Taxes for All.
Pittsfield politics = Spending spree in return for….a shit sandwich….
Why are certain bars with multiple repeat violations allowed stay open especially during the summer months? And why is this lousy licenseing board always partial to keep doing this ? I can remember Lachs Lounge and others being totally shut down and run out of business for multiple infractions but not others. Let’s hope the homeless keep pissing and shitting on businesses because they don’t get the fair shake ( up to three hundred in fines) like some hostile businesses get..
You should team up with Dion Robbin’s Zust and run for mayor and city council president you both know Pittsfield politics and didn’t you used to do puppet shows with him many moons ago? You too would be perfect to get rid of the two Pete’s and help save Pittsfield and you can go after the money you think Andy owes the city.
Berkshire Roots is Nuciforo’s green machine. Mayor Peter Marchetti is his pass gas. Jon Melle is his pain in the….grass.
Dan, was fortunate enough to see Damn Yankees at Wahconah. It was a well oiled machine, 2 thumbs up. Couldn’t agree more about the grandstand demolition and terrible design of the replacement. If what they’re saying is true and it can’t be saved(not buying that) build the new structure exactly the same way, even reusing the wood and seats. Since when is a total tear down, called a renovation?
Thanks, JOE.
Why is Ghisell in jail if their are no customers other than we know of including the President?
Actually, Ghislaine is most likely innocent.
Fatality at Jacobs pillow today. Healy closing homeless hotel shelters.
I think Clinton went there to work on his wife’s concession speech..28 times.
The H-Beast is also in the flight log to “Lolita Island”. You’d have to check the dates……
Just finished reading the article and looking at the pictures of the future demolition of West Street. Morales and Russo have really out done themselves this time. What a train wreck of a design. If anything, it is going to cause more accidents. I will never understand why Lumpy Marchetti keeps allowing Morales a full range to ruin our City streets. Who is going to mow the grass strip in the middle of this design, or is it going to become a garbage collection area like the median strips on North Street? As usual the City is creating another screwed up mess.
Dan, wish you would reach out to all the present elected officials and ask each one of them what they have done to better the City during the last two years. It would be interesting to see their comments before the upcoming election. All they have done is sit and collect their pay, and those that chose to, get almost free health insurance.
Both should have been fired three years ago. Lumpy b b skinny ass doesnt know wth he’s doing.
What is ‘affordable housing’ for a homeless person with substance abuse and the related mental issues? Fifty dollars a month? One hundred? Would they pay that, or spend it on alcohol or drugs?… Those are the homeless people along with those wanting to be homeless that really bothers me as a taxpayer.
August 02, 2025
The answer for society – our social institutions – helping the Underclass residents of Pittsfield to not panhandle, to not be homeless, to not be addicted to substances, gambling, stress eating and other forms of binge-like behaviors, and/or other forms of deviancy is to provide targeted assistance to the people who live at the rock bottom of our society.
Mayor Peter Marchetti is wrong on many levels for using the municipal government’s punitive police powers against the most vulnerable members of our society. He is described as a bully, cruel, a fascist, making the city’s social matters worse, a structural racist, and the like.
Everything is a combination of the so-called carrot and a stick. I am not writing that the Underclass should only be given help, nor am I writing that they should only be punished.
I do NOT believe that Mayor Peter Marchetti cares about most people. He seems to lack compassion for people who are most in need affirmation, help, targeted assistance, and so on.
The Big Three forms of abuses, conflict and violence are:
1. Interpersonal relationships whereby there are verbal assaults and/or physical assaults.
2. Structural relationships between our social institutions and the people that are most impacted by them. Examples of Structural Assaults are homelessness, joblessness, poverty, uninsured, under-insured, and so on.
NOTE: The Structural framework is where the Pittsfield City Council is currently at when it meets on the evening of Tuesday, August 12th, 2025, when they will deliberate on Mayor Peter Marchetti’s proposed punitive encampment ban.
3. Cultural relationships between the world we all live in and the people who hold beliefs in their way of life in our society. Examples of Cultural Assaults are Racism, Sexism, and the like.
NOTE: Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is based on the Cultural framework of American life. Trump and his MAGA movement uses Cultural Assaults against women and minorities, which is comparable to Hitler and his Nazi movement uses of cultural assaults against the Jewish People and others his regime believed were inferior to the German so-called Aryan Race-ism that led to the tragic Holocaust.
Lastly, when a good person, a good group of people, a good social institution(s), and a good culture of tolerant and compassionate people(s) see any and/or all of the Big 3 forms of abuses, conflicts and violence in our society, one and/or all of us should immediately STOP the injustice(s). After it is STOPPED, then we should find constructive ways of making things right and whole again. It is too bad that this is NOT the case with Mayor Peter Marchetti’s ongoing and heartless “War against the Underclass” residents of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Jon Melle
Are you still afraid of Trumps Project 2025 Jonny? That was a wicked bad story I heard about your father making you go to bible camp to pray your gay away because he didn’t want his son to be gay. He’s finally accepted it and now Trump’s tryna take it all away. I still think you should run against your cousin Mayor Pete and beat him.
The democrats always want issues and not solutions. Isn’t that true for almost everything they have done for the last 30-40 years? Weather education, legal system, politics, “health” care, the economy — complain, protest, fund raise, and create many of the issues then publicize the problems, but never solve anything. That’s the structural platform democrats always use.
Thirty years? How about 100 is more like it.
Well, by now they should be able to tell the difference between homelessness due to self inflicted neglect/abuse.
Those are the retards.
They know the frequent flyers for sure and they keep coddling them with taxpayers money.
Agree. Progressives think giving homes to people with mental health issues and alcohol and drug issues will solve there problems. NOT! They will still have issues. We need more mental health hospitals and alcohol treatment facilities. Stop this nonsense with verbal advisements and trespass not! Lock them up, force treatment.
Dan, what team was the best to play at Wahaconah Park, and who was the best player?
TAX
Great question. Greatest pro team was the 1965 Pittsfield Red Sox. Won the Eastern League crown. The best player was George Scott, who won the Triple Crown that year. The best local player, certainly the best hitter ever to come out of Pittsfield, was Charlie Garivaltis, who was later signed by the NY-San Francisco Giants. Honorable mention: Tommy Grieve, Gene Hermanski, Larry Bossidy, Mark Belanger, Ray Wotjkowski, “Touchdown” Tony Ferdyn, Joe Zavatarro, Don Morehead … This city was once a factory for great athletes.
Dan.Can you Ask the great C..Chuck what his batting average was in Little League. And did he ever hit a home run 475 feet in high school or babe Ruth?
Thanks, Danno
Put them all in jail I agree with the others
The Berkshire Eagle has a story about Spirt of Halloween and Ollie’s bargain store opening soon and they are looking to hire. This is so absolutely pathetic that this is supposed to be what? Good news? This is what our elected are celebrating? The Mayor, the State Rep, Paul Marks, and the rest of the elected officials. This is the state of Pittsfield in a nutshell. Maybe another Dollar store will open on North street and have a press conference. Vomit!
Precisely, LARRY. Pathetic.
SARCASM: We should all celebrate Dollar Stores, and Spirit of Halloween stores, and Ollie’s bargain stores, and the like stores in Pittsfield, along with North Street’s empty storefronts, social services agencies, used nip bottles, discarded losing scratch tickets, old cigarette buds, GE’s PCBs industrial chemicals pollution, the city’s Level 5 (failed) group 11 (underclass) public schools, the law firm’s $156,000 duplicative report on the alleged PHS scandals that remains secret from the public, the city’s excessive over $226.2 million operating budget that spends tens of millions of dollars more every year than similarly sized small cities, Mayor Peter Marchetti’s big beer belly and his ongoing “War against the Underclass” residents who panhandle and/or are homeless, City Council Prez Pete White’s Voltron mask, all of the pot stores and growing areas that stink up the city with unpleasant odors, the less than 20 percent voter turnout that elect the worst state and local politicians in human history, the Berkshire Eagle’s blacklisting of “Jon Melle” from publishing letters for over 21 years, the screwing over of the fictional hard-working-class Kapanski taxpaying family by City Hall and on up…our….
SARCASM: Thank you, Pittsfield politics….for shoving all of the above up our….to make the SHIT sandwiches we have to move away from like many thousands of people and small businesses have done for over the past over 50 years now. I read about it for decades: Pittsfield wasn’t always a NIGHTMARE, but it is always in a downward spiral with its ROCK BOTTOM being the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics pounding people’s purses.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/wildfire-prevention-grants-berkshire-towns/article_695ecfd3-670c-44dc-a292-f4997fa00c89.html
Why do we avoid the Trump/ Bondi /Gabbard/Lies about the Epstien files where the little oddball dweeb Johnson sent congress home for the summer so they could divert attention from the File.Bondi informed her corrupt boss that his name is all over the Epstien crimes.Musk informed the public that Trump is everywhere in the crime.
Yeah but….Hunter Biden was pardoned by the 46th U.S. President who is his father….so there!
You finally nailed it. Took six years but what the hey.
There should be 1 pardon.Trumps use of pardons for terrorists and pedophiles for fascism is overwhelming evil.
TSC, the pardons by Traitor Joe, many preemptive, of thousands of : terrorists, murderers, pedophiles (Hunter), seditionist/treasonists (Mueller J6 Committee, Schiff, Pelousey et al), are out on the loose now committing more crimes upon America and Americans.
Why did so many receive preemptive pardons? His Son, Fauci, WHOLE J6 Committee,……. Want to discuss their CRIMES?
The activist Judges Traitor Joe and Sotero appointed are ignoring their oaths to uphold the Constitution, and illegally obstructing the Executive Branch and DOJ.
The Leftist Judges hold domestic CRIMINALS and CRIMINAL ALIENS more dear than Americans and American interests. They ALL need to be impeached and prosecuted themselves.
Is it true that Pete White is building up his resume to run for governor? Heard he is building a war chest and securing backing from the elites.
Never talk about Trump corruption,just divert the FOX viewers.
TSC:
2016: We got him now!
2017: We got him now!
2018: We got him now!
2019: We got him now!
2020: We got him now!
2021: We got him now!
2022: We got him now!
2023: We got him now!
2024: We got him now! Oh SHIT!!! He’s POTUS AGAIN
2025: <<<<——- You are here TSC. No matter how much You whine like a little bitch, D J Trump is Your POTUS
August 03, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
I did a Google AI search: Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti’s encampment ban 2025
The machine’s report explained that cities have the legal authority to ban encampments in public spaces even when shelter is unavailable.
It looks like “the Devil is in the details” that are not clearly spelled out by the Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. That means that on the surface, his anti-homeless proposal looks benign, but like an iceberg, most of his proposal may cause many problems for the underclass residents who are without shelter.
It appears to have short-term benefits, but long-term costs. It is the equivalent of “penny-wise, pound-foolish”. It has had mixed results.
The intended and unintended consequences of the Mayor’s punitive proposal needs to be explored further in Pittsfield prior to the City Council’s deliberation and vote on the measure on the evening of Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.
Best wishes,
Jon Melle
Pittsfield, Massachusetts Mayor Peter Marchetti’s approach to homeless encampments in 2025 aligns with a broader national trend of cities enacting or enforcing bans on camping in public spaces. This trend has been fueled by the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which upheld the ability of cities to penalize individuals for sleeping in public spaces even when shelter is unavailable.
While details of Pittsfield’s specific policies in 2025 aren’t readily available in the search results, it’s safe to assume, based on the national context, that Mayor Marchetti, like many other city leaders, has likely been involved in addressing the challenges associated with homeless encampments, such as public safety concerns and access to services for those experiencing homelessness.
The larger context of encampment bans
Goals: Supporters argue that these bans are necessary to curb illegal activities and address public health and safety concerns associated with encampments.
Criticism: Critics, including advocates for unhoused people, contend that these bans criminalize homelessness, make it harder for individuals to find housing and employment, and disrupt social support networks within encampments.
Effectiveness: Studies examining the efficacy of encampment bans have yielded mixed results. Some show temporary reductions in visible homelessness in certain areas, but homelessness rates can rise again within months.
Alternatives: Experts and advocates point to alternative strategies, such as Housing First programs that prioritize getting people into housing with supportive services, expanding permanent supportive housing options, and enhancing outreach efforts to build trust and connect individuals with resources.
It is essential to stay updated on the specific policies and programs implemented by the Pittsfield Mayor’s office as they evolve, along with the results of any local evaluations of these programs.
I’m going to disagree with the Planet. I think the city can, at least partially, do what both “camps” want.I would not necessarily listen to either camp but simply focus on problems. I would arrest those on North street who are making it difficult for small business. I would try to find the money for at least some housing and some drug rehab.I would not tolerate large camps of filthy tents and garbage. I would not be interested in the “root causes” because nobody really knows what they are. I would just focus on the drugs, violence, filth and disruptive behavior.