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THE DEATH OF BITCHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS … or … INCENTIVIZING FAILURE

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 3-5, 2026) — They will be receiving at least $4 million more this year than last year.

They’ll calling it a cut.

THE PLANET welcomes you to the Bitchfield Public School Department. Where up is down, more is less, and the road misses the rubber.

In the lead up to each new fiscal year, the BPSD goes through the same tired act. It cries about getting stiffed on money even though it receives millions more per annum. The objective view finds it stuffed with dough, the most funded, most expensive department by far in the city — and also the one with the worst performance.

Author Dan Valenti will be signing PMB’s latest publication, SANITY MADE SIMPLE, at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Pittsfield. We hope you can make it!

THE PLANET encourages you to think of the BPSD request for more money in a new way. When the failing department demands more funds, it in effect calls upon city “leaders” to reward failure. Notice that in the form of woke, totalitarian government of the kind that holds Bitchfield captive through its totally co-opted politicians, the worse the schools perform, the more money they receive.

That’s the sad state of public education in the city, state, and country. Teachers unions, bloated bureaucracy, and bad office holders have incentivized failure. In the NBA, they call it “tanking,” when a lousy team deliberately loses games to improve their draft standing. What may work in basketball, though, fails in public schools. This circular practice only ensures more failure.

This snake eats its tail in countless ways, as taxpayers just witnessed when Mayor Lumpy, in the conflicting role of school committee chair, broke the law, ignoring protective parliamentarian procedure and claiming committeewoman Ciara Batory made a motion when she had made none. This allowed Lumpy to rig a second vote on an issue upon which that very school committee had previously voted and approved. Consequently, the so-called “independent” report by two connected ex-judges that cleared the BPSD of scandal will not be released.

———- ooo ———-

THE PLANET has heard from a department source in the know — NOT Batory, by the way — that The Lump and others have put the squeeze (illegal meetings, threats, inducements) on the other five SC members to vote against releasing the report — the REDACTED report, by the way. The Suits will be sure to stuff the report into the vaporizer despite their public claim that it clears the department.

Anyone with three functioning brain cells, however, can see the contradiction. If the cleansed report shows no wrongdoing, then why the need to keep it in the dark?

Endemic corruption characterizes city government, and all Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski get for their ever-increasing tax burden is incompetent or compromised “leaders” who, by keeping the special interests happy, keep themselves in the money. Lumpy, Dumpster Earl, Voltron, Queen Latifah — go up and down the line — and the only good ones you’ll find hanging on the tail end of 6-1 and 10-1 votes.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

—————————————————————

I’ve had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware” — Joan Rivers.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

Copyright (c) 2026 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.

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Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
29 days ago

April 03, 2026

Hello blogger Dan Valenti,

ALL FACTS:

Pittsfield (Mass.) has declining enrollment in its public school system with its many Level 5 (failed) city schools and the large underclass population that fills with (with hot air). 679 students per the current academic year 2025-2026 chose to choice out to neighboring public school districts. There is high turnover in the faculty. Pittsfield’s public school district is facing a $4.3 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2027.

Mayor Peter Marchetti has to release his fiscal year 2027 operating budget proposal soon. July 01st, 2026, marks the first day of Pittsfield’s new fiscal year. Other cities and towns have already put forth to the general budget their municipal budget proposals, but all we hear about in Pittsfield so far are multi-million-dollar budget deficits, acute fiscal constraints from Proposition 2.5, and other bad news.

Not all of the items in Mayor Peter Marchetti’s aforementioned municipal budget proposal are subject to Proposition 2.5. Water and Sewer fees, among other forms of city revenues, may be raised in addition to the expected increases in property taxes and borrowing costs.

Pittsfield has the 2nd highest Commercial tax rate in Massachusetts; Holyoke is 1st.

Pittsfield’s residential tax rate is a lot higher that its peer small cities by tens of millions of dollars per fiscal year. The fictional Kapanski’s know this FACT all too well.

Peter Marchetti has stated many times that he is an experienced financial manager who would be able to make positive changes to the city’s always predictable excessive spending.

When will the sitting Mayor of Pittsfield do so? (In his next life?)

Given ALL of the above FACTS, how is someone such as School Committee member Ciara Batory even a person for Peter Marchetti to contend with over the cover-up 6-figure taxpayer-funded legal report document(s) that is hidden from the general public?

Shouldn’t Peter Marchetti be doing his job by outlining his spending plans that will hit hard in a little less than 3 months time?

Best wishes,

Jon Melle

P.S. Earl and the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics pounds, pummels, pulverized, punishes people’s purses!

Pamala Bonndee
Pamala Bonndee
28 days ago

I think this hidden report story needs to go viral so that it is picked up nationwide to see what other communities might do in similar situations. And does the ACLU involve themselves in such things?

What exactly is the reason being given for keeping it hidden? Can we get a breakdown of city officials, school committee members, city councilors and others as to their opinion on it being kept hidden. How many would go on record and if not what is their reason for not even voicing an opinion? i.e. “terrified of the mayor and or committee president. or other people.”

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
Reply to  Pamala Bonndee
28 days ago

People of Bitchfield need to flood and overflow the Clowncil and Sochol board meetings and demand to be heard.

If Lard Ass Lumpy throws them out, or better yet asks them to be arrested, it will gain traction on national news. Same with Lumpy hiding in closed and/or illegal meetings.

No court, even the FAR Leftist mASSachsetts ones, would convict such Citizens for standing up for their rights and civil disobedience. Again, it would put them in them in the national spotlight.

Don’t expect coverage from the local Parrot, until AFTER the fact……..when it will puff it’s feathers and claim to be a champion of civil rights not seen since MLK.

Concerned Citizens need to organize and make the suits lives miserable 24/7 until the Kapinski’s voices are heard.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
28 days ago

So the Scohol Commitee has Marchetti, Batory, and four cowards – just meat stuffed into clothes.

Sad. All those angered people showed up to the meetings and object the the cover up; only Ms Batory chose to do something about it. All she needed was two or three more.

Last edited 28 days ago by Sir Chaz
GimmeeLess
GimmeeLess
Reply to  Sir Chaz
28 days ago

Initially the Eagle had a strongly worded article saying the report needs to be released. AND the state of Mass. initially said the same thing. So whatever powers came to override this must be massive.

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  GimmeeLess
28 days ago

The Eagle owners are Whores. They will do or say anything for Money. Teachers Union is enormously strong. Think about it, Pittsfield Public Schools lost over 2,000 students last 2 decades and we are just getting around to closing 1 School. They want 2 Principals in the New Elementary School we don’t even need. It will get built and they will get their 2 Principals.

Meanwhile
Meanwhile
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
28 days ago

Closing one school but building at least one more

Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
Reply to  Meanwhile
28 days ago

You’re point?

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  danvalenti
28 days ago

Personal experience was a lesson in life – a long strange trip it was.

Last edited 28 days ago by Sir CHAZ
Jon Melle
Jon Melle
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
28 days ago

The Eagle and others write the narrative….The Twilight Zone….Pittsfield politics….Charlres’ Charter Objection….Kufflink’s cooked books….record-breaking municipal budgets….

Meanwhile
Meanwhile
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
28 days ago

You strike me as someone who is STILL on a long, strange trip Chaz.

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  Meanwhile
28 days ago

Well, from my vantage point, it’s you who’s still bitching.

Taking a trip out of town is not bad advice.

Last edited 28 days ago by Sir CHAZ
Casual tees
Casual tees
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
28 days ago

A trip currently is unaffordable for man. Trip to Iran doochy?

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Casual tees
27 days ago

Weird. If you can’t afford to get out, you can’t afford to stay.

Last edited 27 days ago by Sir Chaz
Joetaxpayer
Joetaxpayer
28 days ago

Pittsfield is supposedly a Baseball Town. Bullshit. PHS vs Taconic at Clapp Park. No Dugouts not even an Outfield fence. PHS considered one of the best teams in the State. Sad and embarrassing, considering the facilities most teams have. Maybe pull the plug on the Wahconah project.

Bitchfield Mullah
Bitchfield Mullah
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
28 days ago

I can’t help thinking about the Bossidy bucks and how officials blatantly mismanaged them after seeing your post. So sad.

Gimmee Less
Gimmee Less
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
27 days ago

See if you can get the budget figures for the parks dept. We know it is in the millions but is it in the tens of millions not including Wahconah Park. Bet there has been 50 million dollars of “improvements” in the last ten years. Would that parks dept guy talk about that out loud?

Could we audit the parks dept please?

Buffalo Ceramicks
Buffalo Ceramicks
Reply to  Joetaxpayer
27 days ago

Who said baseball town?Yeah in the sixties Red Sox,phs state champions. Have you watched the high school games. Boring as all hell. Let alone college players. The old barnyard swamp with or without good infrastructure will never be a popular venue. Lumpy just wants a place to drink his beer.

Mad Trapper
Mad Trapper
28 days ago

Red Sox home opener today!

Why did Maura and Michelle show up? I forgot the Sox got “woke”………guess the Boston fans didn’t………

“Red Sox fans made sure to let far-left Boston Mayor Michelle Wu know exactly what they think of her. And it wasn’t complimentary.

Wu was introduced at the game alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) on opening day, as thunderous boos rang out.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/04/leftist-boston-mayor-michelle-wu-receives-thunderous-chorus/

Sarum Lotrdwstaggering
Sarum Lotrdwstaggering
Reply to  Mad Trapper
28 days ago

I think they were booing trump.

Jon Melle
Jon Melle
Reply to  Mad Trapper
28 days ago

I would have stood up and applauded Maura and Michelle at today’s Red Sox 2026 home opener.

Maura Healey for U.S. President with Michelle Wu for V.P. in 2028.

Bitchfield Mullah
Bitchfield Mullah
Reply to  Jon Melle
27 days ago

You complain about being a “have not” now! If those two become pres.and vp you will have to complain of even “having less.”

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Mad Trapper
28 days ago

Healey and Wu are so full of themselves that they don’t even care that the entire stadium is booing them. It shows how deep the corruption goes here in Massachusetts.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  Pat
27 days ago

Trump is firing the women who were in his cabinet.

Fenway Park booed the women Governor and Mayor.

It is the year 2026, and women in government are being fired and booed.

Even blogger Dan Valenti writes unfavorably about the women state constitutional officers and other leaders in the Massachusetts state government.

But to be fair, blogger Dan Valenti writes unfavorably about Lumpy, the Dumpster, Voltron the Pork-chop, too.

Gimmee Less
Gimmee Less
Reply to  Pat
27 days ago

I wonder if she is manipulating the stock market like those peeps in the white house.

One Sixsev million
One Sixsev million
Reply to  Gimmee Less
27 days ago

Only Trumps kids no that one. For Sure. Aside. Bondi contradicted herself during recent questioning with a no answer gasp. Next one she’ll be under oath.

Da Billionare
Da Billionare
Reply to  Gimmee Less
27 days ago

Trump brothers inc. Invest in lucrative insider cannon fodder.

Kirby Sue Healtgh
Kirby Sue Healtgh
Reply to  Gimmee Less
27 days ago

How about it. Worst Prez ever.

Numerous Rumerous
Numerous Rumerous
27 days ago

There’s word going around that the Witch Slapp lady and her cop tech husband beat out the city in court yesterday per a post via personal social media pages. Anyone get the details?

Merry & Bright
Merry & Bright
Reply to  Numerous Rumerous
27 days ago

Ever since the “cop tech husband” was let go, the Police Department IT department seems to have a difficult time posting the Police Log. It sometimes is not posted for 5 to 6 days in a row. At least if a taxpayer wants to learn what is going on in the City we can read the log, can’t rely on the Berkshire Eagle to post any issues in their crappy paper.

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  Merry & Bright
26 days ago

It is logical to conjecture that he could have been doing a good job stocking the newspapers and bilking the taxpayers at at the same time. Logic isn’t truth, but just if a is true and b is true, then c is true.

Vendetta Vale
Vendetta Vale
Reply to  Numerous Rumerous
25 days ago

I have details…

There was a two day hearing with the Massachusetts DUA. Not a comment section, not a rumor chain, an actual legal proceeding. Everyone testified under oath. Attorneys argued both sides. Evidence was submitted. Witnesses were examined.

The City had every opportunity to prove misconduct, and they failed. More than that, Munn was found to be more credible than the City. The result was a full award of unemployment benefits, retroactively. That does not happen when fraud is proven, and it does not happen when misconduct holds up under scrutiny.

So let’s talk logic, Sir Chaz, since you seem to like leaning on it. If there was fraud, there would be a police investigation. If there was fraud, there would be criminal charges. If there was misconduct, those benefits would have been denied. None of that happened.

What did happen is this: under oath, with evidence, in a formal setting, the claims did not hold. So when every legal path ends the same way and the only place the accusation survives is in comment sections, what exactly are you holding onto?

At some point, this stops being about logic and starts being about refusing to accept an outcome that doesn’t fit your narrative. Because from where I’m standing, this doesn’t look like guilt. It looks like someone who was put through it and came out the other side with the truth intact.

You don’t have logic. You have a conclusion you’re committed to, and you’re working backwards to defend it. Do you have a personal issue with Munn?

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
25 days ago

You don’t appear to understand how logic works.

Things that fly have wings. If it is flying, therefore, it has wings. That pig is flying, therefore, that pig has wings.

That is how logic works. Courts work on evidence first, and logic is for explaining it.

Last edited 25 days ago by Sir CHAZ
Vendetta Vale
Vendetta Vale
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
24 days ago

Sir Chaz, you keep trying to teach “logic” while actively demonstrating you don’t understand how it works in the real world.
Your example fails before it even starts. Not everything that flies has wings. Planes, drones, balloons. So your premise is flawed, which makes your conclusion meaningless. That’s not logic. That’s a bad analogy delivered with confidence. *inserts eyeroll*

And still… not a single word about the actual case.
You keep circling theory, examples, and “how logic works,” but you won’t touch the one thing this entire discussion is about. The Munns. It’s been a pattern since the story was published.

That’s not oversight. That’s deliberate.
Because the moment you step into the facts, you lose the ground you’re standing on. A full hearing happened. Evidence was presented. Testimony was given under oath. And the outcome didn’t go the way your narrative needs it to.
So instead, you stay up in the clouds talking about flying pigs.
Which raises a much more interesting question.
What is it, exactly, that’s stopping you from addressing this directly?

Is it Mr. Munn?
Or is it Mrs. Munn?
Are you friendly or related to someone on the city side of this legal battle? You were part of the machine.

Because at this point, the level of avoidance isn’t casual. It’s targeted. You’ve gone out of your way to engage everything around them while refusing to engage anything about them.
That kind of selective focus usually comes from somewhere.
So let’s stop pretending this is about logic.
What’s your actual issue?

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
24 days ago

The logic is constrained to to premise stated: the argument. It’s what you use for programming, math, etc…. prigrammer writes logical atgs. The prigram generates spefic output. You are confusing facts with logic.

Logic is necessary for court, but not sufficient. Funny that you identify me as part of the machine. Not at all able substantiate, especially since I beat the Machine. Mostly it was 10-1. Good days it was 10-3. Some machine I ran. But you should have seen what the machine did to my would-be successor. Talk about hate; even you would blush to be involved.

No problem with Munn; never met him, don’t know him. And I’m glad he beat the City. But, it is the tax payer who pays the bill, so those taxpayers have right to question. Probably not hard to beat the city since they hire compliant lawyers who may not be serviceable in court and auditors just the same. When did that City ever win in court? They even lost on Pot fees that they had to refund, but were legitimate.

Logic test: write the logical statement for the following observation:

I’m wasting good time on you; you probably are too.

Last edited 24 days ago by Sir Chaz
Vendetta Vale
Vendetta Vale
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
24 days ago

Sir Chaz, here’s how logic actually works, without the theatrics.

All dogs are animals.
A golden retriever is a dog.
Therefore, a golden retriever is an animal.
That works because the premises are true and the conclusion follows.

Now here’s what you did.
All dogs are animals.
A cat is an animal.
Therefore, a cat is a dog.

Same structure. Sounds neat. Completely wrong.
That’s the difference you’re missing.
Logic isn’t about stacking sentences so they sound intelligent. It’s about whether the conclusion actually follows from true premises.
Yours didn’t. Confidence isn’t intelligence, Chaz. And right now, you’re demonstrating the difference.

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  danvalenti
24 days ago

I think the best part of the reading are my typos. I feel they add a certain jensaykwoi.

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  danvalenti
24 days ago

Thrasymachus?

Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
24 days ago

All dogs are animals.
A cat is an animal.
Therefore, a cat is a dog.

No, that is not how I constructed the argument, though you are correct that the conclusion there does not logically follow the arguments. You provide two arguments, and try to switch them without providing a logical switch. This is key to relational databasing. To get your result, you need a switch such as, “All Animals are equivalent” – (This is the illogical of equivalency generated by the verb “is”.) Therefore, a cat is a dog. This equivalency is generated via the third process that switches between cats and dogs to return the output.

Here is my Argument – again: Things (variable x) that fly must have wings (fixed); therefore, if x flies it must have wings.

x = Pig
Things(pig) is flying; therefore, it must have wings.

My use of your example could go: all animals(variable) have four feet and fur (determined, though, not true). A cat is animal. Therefore a cat has four feet and fur.

The relationship between cats and dogs have not been identified in your logical argument, so it’s not a good example.

My original point: “It is possible to win a legal dispute but still be sort of in the wrong.”

This statement is the argument.

Therefore, just because Mr. Munn won his case, it is possible he may have stolen time from his employer.

This is the logical conclusion based upon the argument.

Law is creative fun. So is programming.

Last edited 24 days ago by Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Sir CHAZ
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
24 days ago

Short response: Straw man illogic. You swap a nonsimilar argument (dogs = cats thing) and then attack it, but not the actual example.

You’re beating a straw man.

Vendetta Vale
Vendetta Vale
Reply to  Sir CHAZ
23 days ago

Sir Chaz, I’m going to say this slowly, because you keep saying “logic” like it’s a magic word that fixes everything. It doesn’t.

Your entire argument is: “It’s possible to win a case and still be in the wrong.”

Yes. Obviously. Congratulations, you’ve discovered possibility. Gold star. Truly groundbreaking stuff.
But here’s the part where it falls apart, and I mean immediately.

You have zero evidence that this happened here.
Logic does not let you go from “this could happen” to “therefore it probably happened in this case.” That’s not logic. That’s you filling in blanks with your imagination and calling it analysis. I laughed a little, I won’t lie.

That leap you’re making? That’s a non sequitur. The conclusion does not follow. At all. Not even a little.

And your flying example? Still wrong. Still funny, though.

“All things that fly have wings.”
No… they don’t. Planes. Balloons. Drones. You built an entire argument on a premise that faceplants on contact with reality. But sure, let’s keep the flying pig going. It’s doing great.

So what you actually have here is:
A flawed premise – “all that that fly have wings”
A leap with no evidence
And a whole lot of confidence
Which, I’ll give you credit, is a bold combination.

This isn’t about people not understanding logic.
It’s about you confusing possibility with proof and sounding structured with actually being right.

You don’t have an argument.
You have a theory you liked… and now you’re trying to force it to survive reality.

That’s not a straw man.
That’s just correcting you.

Sir Chaz
Sir Chaz
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
23 days ago

Nope. You do not understand. Thanks though for the Trasymachus experience. It’s been real.

Numerous Rumerous
Numerous Rumerous
Reply to  Vendetta Vale
24 days ago

Thanks!
Am I right? That this is not even the lawsuit then? There’s going to be an actual lawsuit outside this unemployment thing?

Vendetta Vale
Vendetta Vale
Reply to  Numerous Rumerous
23 days ago

Yes.

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
27 days ago

April 04, 2026

Hello blogger Dan Valenti,

Earl Persip points out that Lenco is a valuable asset to Pittsfield (Mass.), while some of the state and local career politicians in Pittsfield are criticizing Lenco for taking contracts from the federal government, specifically from ICE.

What about the U.S.A.-Israel vs. Iran War (02/28/2026 – future date) with the U.S. Congress on their 2 week vacation with no vote(s) on the costly military conflict that led to rising energy, food, and other prices at home?

What about the voter approved audit of the Massachusetts State Legislature?

What about the cover-up 6-figure taxpayer-funded legal report of Pittsfield’s school scandals that is still hidden from the general public?

Where is Pittsfield’s would-be record-breaking municipal operating budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 that begins in less than 3 months on July 01, 2026?

Pittsfield is my native hometown. I have followed Pittsfield politics for decades of my 50.5-year-old adult life. My dad, Bob, was a Berkshire County Commissioner (1997 – mid-2000). This is a classic example of what the career politicians do in Pittsfield. They call out a person such as Charles Ivar Kronick or a company such as Lenco, while there are many unanswered questions about the government, politics, law, public finances, and so on.

Best wishes,

Jon Melle

—–

“Lenco has been there for Pittsfield”
The Berkshire Eagle, Letters To Editor, April 2, 2026

To the editor: As City Council president and a resident of Pittsfield, I was disappointed to see elected leaders publicly call on Lenco Industries to walk away from legal contracts without taking a moment to acknowledge what this company means to our community. (“Should Lenco cut ICE ties?” Eagle, March 26.)

Like many residents, I have serious concerns about the current approach to federal immigration enforcement. But disagreeing with a federal policy is not the same as singling out a local employer that is simply doing legal work and has spent decades quietly investing in this city. Lenco is not just an employer. It is a consistent contributor to Pittsfield in ways that rarely make headlines, and that is actually the point. It does not give back because it wants recognition. It does it because it genuinely cares about the people here.

Most residents have no idea how much Lenco has done for this community over the years, and that speaks to its character. Lenco has operated here for decades, employed hundreds of Berkshire County residents, partnered with our schools and local nonprofits, and invested in the next generation of workers. The same officials who are now calling it out were not hard to find when there was a ribbon to cut, an announcement to celebrate or a photo opportunity tied to Lenco’s success.

It is easy to show up when things are good. What this community deserves is leaders who stand by local employers even when it is politically uncomfortable, not just when there is something to gain. Before asking Lenco to take a financial hit in the name of a political statement, those leaders owe it to this community to at least acknowledge the full record of who this company is and what it has given to Pittsfield. Lenco deserves better.

Earl G. Persip III, Pittsfield
The writer is the president of the Pittsfield City Council.

—–

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
Reply to  danvalenti
27 days ago

April 04, 2026

Hello blogger Dan Valenti,

I agree that Earl is correct, and that he wrote an excellent letter.

You, blogger Dan Valenti, write about the dreaded private sector versus Pittsfield’s band of career politicians and government bureaucrats and all of the not-for-profit organizations and all of the social services agencies that are located on North Street, etc.

They all stick together and hold their monthly figurative circle jerks to take turns figuratively blowing each other in exchange for tax dollars from the dreaded private sector, along with state administered, federal aid funds. You never hear any of them criticize each other, but when it comes to a private company such as Lenco, they scream about them at the top of their lungs to project their public image as PRIDE-PROGRESSIVES.

When I spoke out about the likes of (marijuana millionaire) Nuciforo, (greedy lobbyist) Dan Bosley, among other corrupt career politicians in Massachusetts state government, many years ago, it was considered HERESY in our native hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

It did not matter that Nuciforo was double dipping with big insurance companies. It did not matter that Dan Bosley filed same-day state legislation to give big corporations multi-billion-dollar per fiscal year tax breaks. It did not matter that they both represented distressed small cities in Western Massachusetts.

I would like to know how Earl would answer the following question:

Would a private company such as Lenco be able to have yearly record-breaking municipal budgets like the City of Pittsfield’s always excessive spending and not go bankrupt?

It is good of Earl to defend Lenco from Pittsfield’s band of career politicians, but it would be even better if he would address Pittsfield having the 2nd highest commercial tax rate in Massachusetts; Holyoke is first.

Best wishes,

Jon Melle

Jonathan A. Melle
Jonathan A. Melle
27 days ago

April 04, 2026

Hello blogger Dan Valenti,

Pittsfield (Mass.) Mayor Peter Marchetti breaks down the financial numbers….

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/82252/Pittsfield-Reviews-Financial-Condition-Before-FY27-Budget.html

His relative Jon Melle will break it down, too….

Pittsfield spends tens of millions of dollars more per fiscal year than its peer similarly-sized small cities. For example, Westfield spends over $62 million per fiscal year 2026 LESS than Pittsfield.

Pittsfield’s Residential tax rates are a lot higher than the above peer similarly-sized small cities. To be clear, it means that the middle-class and up households in Pittsfield’s Ward 4 are paying excessive property tax bills.

Pittsfield’s Commercial tax rates are the 2nd highest in Massachusetts; Holyoke is 1st. To illustrate, there are around 15 empty storefronts on North Street’s downtown so-called business district.

Pittsfield’s municipal debt load PLUS its aggregate unfunded liabilities (its other debts) are estimated to be close to $1 billion. It will paid off by Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and “Jon Melle” the have-not who is originally from the PITTS (who will also *Sarcasm ALERT* conduct a FORENSIC Audit of Kufflinks’ cooked books).

Pittsfield’s public school district reports a $4.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget deficit.

IN CONCLUSION

Pittsfield’s taxpayers are getting SCREWED over by City Hall.

Jon Melle

End It
End It
Reply to  Jonathan A. Melle
26 days ago

I was in Vietnam. In the detergent. War is not pretty and it is very costly. I knew soldiers that were blown to smithereens. The worst kind of casualties are civilians and innocent children. The President needs to end this War. Now.

We look at Russia- Ukraine people dying by the thousands like it’s normal these days. It’s not. Children are dying in both Wars. The current President needs to end this needless War now. It’s already to late. But it’s never to late.

IOU Atollauhduh
IOU Atollauhduh
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
26 days ago

Biggest buffoon and fool on the Trump Planet. Can u say BUFFOON ?

IOU Atollauhduh
IOU Atollauhduh
Reply to  Mr. Fritz
26 days ago

Trump has systematically ruined the U S A. Next time you go to the gas station. Look at the price and blame only on person…. Your War Time President.