By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 2014) — Of all the underwhelming, useless boards, committees, and commissions in the city of Pittsfield, you would be hard pressed to find a more worthless one than the Human Rights Commission. The HRC was born bad. It’s a pity, because […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, NOV. 11, 2014) — First off, a salute to all veterans on this Armistice Day. THE PLANET shall not mention at cliched’ length the debt we owe to those who served. Suffice it to say that the men and women of the armed […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, NOV. 10, 2014) — Was city money used to fund William Monterosso‘s Golden Parachute (said to be in the $150,000 range) following his disgraceful ouster at Berkshire Works? No said Pittsfield’s personnel director. Yes, the state shot back. Both statements cannot be true. […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, NOV. 7-9, 2014) — In honor of nothing and everything, THE PLANET features the lines of a poem we recently wrote inspired by Percy Shelley‘s “Ode to Liberty.” As with “transparency,” liberty is a concept that TES finds scary and threatening in the […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 2014) — So how has the move to 100 North St. worked out? THE PLANET, and only THE PLANET, has the inside scoop. All of the information obtained below was given by city hall sources and confirmed by tenants of 100 […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 2014) — There is no joy in America. In last night’s elections, the Republicans added to their control of the House of Representatives. What little drama resided in the 36 Senate races nationwide. Going into yesterday’s voting, Democrats held the Senate […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, NOV. 4, 2014) — Today we keep the message simple. It is election day. Get out and vote. Before that, though, let us shout a quick thanks to supercitizen Terry Kinnas for doing a great job guest-hosting PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION. We heard from […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary TONIGHT ON PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION: Tune-in as we hand the keys to guest-host Terry Kinnas. That’s PV-TV live beginning at 7 p.m., Channel 16, from the PC-TV studios. ——– 000 ——– (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 30, 2014) — With the $130 million school project in Pittsfield all […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 2014) — Fireworks opened the meeting last night of Our Right Honorable Good Friends on the Pittsfield City Council. We refer to the appearance of Pittsfield resident Craig Gaetani during the open mic session. Gaetani, for those who know him, is “direct […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 28, 2014) — In breaking news, THE PLANET reports that Ward 5 city councilor Jonathan Lothrop has filed an Open Meeting Law complaint with the office of City Clerk Linda Tyer. Lothrop filed the action Friday in connection with the action by […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, OCT. 27, 2014) — THE PLANET invited city councilors to weigh in on the public revelations by two of their colleagues of the unprofessional, bullying tactics of Pittsfield mayor Dan Bianchi, aka The Empty Suit (TES). We heard from 10 of our Right […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary TONIGHT ON PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION: Tune-in as we hand the keys to guest-host Terry Kinnas. That’s PV-TV live beginning at 7 p.m., Channel 16, from the PC-TV studios. ——– 000 ——– (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 30, 2014) — With the $130 million school project in Pittsfield […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, OCT. 24-26, 2014) — It’s Poetry Weekend on THE PLANET, when we step back from the mysteries and madness of the street and into the world of language used at its highest power. We do allow an observation or two prior, and […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 2014) — We call today’s edition of THE PLANET “Believe It or Not,” although with the current Pittsfield mayor, the show would be better titled, “Believe It or Else.” After numerous and credible complaints of the mayor’s abusive behavior, it was […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22, 2014) — Today, THE PLANET shares exclusive information and news on three cases that have roiled the body politick of what has become a city of foul politics. First, as a preamble, let us tell you that we intend to feature […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary Part 2 of 2 (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, OCT. 21, 2014) — THE PLANET resumes its account of the exchange between councilor-at-large Barry Clairmont and the mayor with a general observation. In this age of political correctness, sweeping generalizations are seen as indictments to be avoided, lest […]
