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AFTER CITY SCREWS UP PARKING YET AGAIN, YOUR BEST BET IS TO BUY A PARKED CAR

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 12, 2016) — City officials who brought back metered parking justify it by citing the public meetings held a couple years ago. You know how that exercise goes in Pittsfield.: The Suits want a public policy changed, irrespective of the benefits to the city […]

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COVANTA COVENANT or WHY WOULD A BROKE CITY GIVE A BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANY HALF A MILLION $$?

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY OCT. 11, 2016) —  In Albany, the school department wanted to refurbish a high school. In Albany, citizens had a say. In Albany, citizens voted the project down. In Great Barrington, Cheshire, Schoharie, Freehold (N.J.), Marcellus (N.Y.), and in city after city, town […]

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REFUGEE QUESTION BLOWS UP (PUN INTENDED) IN WHITE’s FACEBOOK FACE

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY OCT. 6, 2016) — Perhaps the most preposterous claim made by apologists for the hegemonic decision by outside interests to locate two-score-and-10 Syrian refugees in the city of Pittsfield is that “three quarters” of the city is in favor. 75%? No way. 10%? […]

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REFUGEE QUESTION POINTS TO FAILURE OF LOCAL ‘LEADERS’

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 5, 2016) — One of the many unanswered questions on the decision by outside interests to locate 50 Syrian refugees in Pittsfield relates to vetting. How well do officials check out the backgrounds of those wanting to come to America, in this […]

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NOVEMBER HOUSE ELECTION ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN SEPTEMBER’s FOLD

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 3, 2016) — Last month citizens and voters — at least the few who were paying attention — saw a rarity. THE PLANET speaks of the exact moment a challenger lost any chance of beating a well-entrenched incumbent. This scarcity occurred at the […]

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ON THE WEEKEND EDITION, SPECIAL ED: GOOD INTENTIONS GONE AWRY

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, SEPT. 30-Oct 2, 2016) — Since this is apparently the month that THE PLANET addresses “things you can’t talk about” in an America that allegedly cherishes free speech and a free press, let us deal — as September turns to October — with […]

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TRUMP TRUMPS HILLARY IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE #1

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY SEPT. 29, 2016) — Don’t think the moderator of the first presidential debate had his pro-Hillary undies on Monday night? Guess you didn’t watch, or if you did, you weren’t paying attention. NBC’s Lester Holt did not ask Hillary Clinton one question about […]

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MEETING ON REFUGEES ‘NOTHING MORE THAN A SET-UP’

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 28, 2016) — Fifty refugees showed up tired, hungry, and broke but otherwise in good health. They were driven out of their homes by war, politics, and the totalitarian actions of a government not interested in their concerns. The fifty were former Pittsfield […]

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SHUTTING OUT COMMENTS UNDERSTANDABLE BUT NOT A GOOD THING

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY SEPT. 27, 2016) — Last night’s meeting at the Berkshire Athenaeum on Syrian refugees coming to Pittsfield fits right into our theme for today, which is shutting down the voices of We The People. Organizers did not allow anyone in the overflowing room […]

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SYRIAN REFUGEE ‘HEARING’ TONIGHT, 6 P.M., PITTSFIELD LIBRARY … CHANCE TO GIVE LOCAL LIB LACKEYS AN EARFUL

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 26, 2016) — Tonight at 6 p.m. the Berkshire Athenaeum will host — — what exactly? A paint-by-the numbers exercise, the kind Donna Todd Rivers conducts for bored women who like white wine? A formality? A firing line with hair-trigger ready to condemn […]

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LISA ‘I’M NOT LINDA’ TULLY TRIES TO PUT HER M&Ms in ALPHABETICAL ORDER — YES, HER RESPONSE TO US WAS THAT DUMB … LADIES & GENTS, THE WEEKEND EDITION IS HERE!

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION Sept. 23-25, 2016) — Readers will recall our story earlier this week in which THE PLANET commented on the political motivations behind the Morningside “town meeting” regarding Walmart-PEDA. We based our coverage on reports from our spies in the room. The big news we […]

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THE REFUGEE REFERENDUM, CONTINUED … or … KROL, WHITE, et al, WHAT GIVES AND WHY SO?

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY SEPT. 22, 2016) — Continuing the discussion over the do-good proposal (or is it a “decision”) to bring Syrian and Iraqi refugees to Pittsfield, THE PLANET makes several additional points using yesterday’s post-and-comments as a springboard. First, neither John Krol nor anyone else […]

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A TRIAD OF MATTERS: REFUGEES? NOT A GOOD IDEA … MURDER ON NORTH … & … CHARADES OF WALMART

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 21, 2016) — It is a profound mistake for Pittsfield to bring in Syrian and Iraqi refugees. If the Middle East cannot solve its religious and political differences, that is their problem — in case you forgot. … Forgot the millions of […]

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NEW OWNERSHIP THUS FAR FAILING AT THE BORING BROADSHEET

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY SEPT. 20, 2016) —When The Boring Broadsheet (The BB) sold for a paltry $1 million to three local investors and a fourth from The Battle of The Little Big Horn (or out that way, in any case), the new ownership held a press […]

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A PLANET TWO-FER: CACCAMO TAKES THE GARBAGE OUT BUT THE TRASH REMAINS … plus … THE RACE CARD: PANEL PLAYS IT (YET) AGAIN

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 19, 2016) — Ward 3 councilor Nick Caccamo thinks garbage is a choice he can impose on the city. He’s a millennial, after all. You know the type. They only get their coffee from Starbucks — or Dotties if they want to “be seen.” […]

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‘COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT’ A ‘VOLUNTARILY’ TAX INCREASE BY ANOTHER NAME

BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, SEPT. 16-18, 2016) — Citizens of Pittsfield: Do you wish to voluntarily raise taxes on yourself? THE PLANET wants to know. Ward 2 city councilor Kevin “The Barber” Morandi thinks you do. He doesn’t think the shave he gave you at […]

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