BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 27, 2020) — We’ve heard a lot of talk lately about the need for a forensic audit in Pittsfield. THE PLANET agrees and would back such an effort. But what, exactly, is a forensic audit (FA)? How does it differ from a […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEKEND EDITION JAN. 24-6, 2020) — For The Weekend Edition, THE PLANET presents statements from two ward councilors regarding accusations made about them on Monday’s post by Eliminator, a key member of Mayor Linda Tyer’s re-election campaign staff. Here, Ward 4 councilor Chris […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JAN. 22, 2020) — One might see it as useless bickering, but the recent back-and-forth regarding Peter Marchetti’s city council appointments can be better understood as current flowing in the swollen stream of Pittsfield politics. It’s not partisan bickering, since nearly everyone involved […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 20, 2020) — Happy MLK Day, another free day for all public sector workers courtesy of those all-day suckers, the hard-pressed and bedraggled Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. As you know if you’ve been following THE PLANET recently, we presented pieces on […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 17-9, 2019) — Here and there, the bits become bytes. Some make their way to THE PLANET‘s screen, to wit: DEM DIMS — Watching the Democrats Monday night debate opened our eyes — Sanders, Warren, Biden, Steyer, Buttigieg, Klobuchar. Pondering […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JAN. 14, 2020) — The new Pittsfield City Council met for the first time last night to the adulation of throngs and as the righter of wrongs. Well, something like that. The new lineup: 1 Moon, 2 Morandi, 3 Caccamo, 4 Connell, 5 […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 13, 2020) — What in Tippiecanoe is going on with Tyler, too? Tyler Street, that is. Crystal gold. Meth tea. You’ll recall THE PLANET‘s most recent expose — TYLER STREET LAB: A MONSTER FROM ITS SLAB BEGINNING TO RISE (posted Nov. 17). As […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 10-2, 2020) — Today, THE PLANET present the second part of Mark Tully’s two-part guest piece dissecting the assessment process in Pittsfield. Part 1 received heavy traffic, a testimony not only of the assiduousness of Tully’s work and research but […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY Part One of Two Parts (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JAN. 8, 2020) — Part of THE PLANET‘s commitment to free speech is our “Guest Column” feature, which we make available to anyone who has something to say, can say it with reason and logic, and can present […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 6, 2020) — Once the new council swears the typically meaningless oath, THE PLANET wonders who will assume the presidency? Actually, we don’t wonder at all. C’mon down, Pee Pee Marchetti! We’ve been polling both the outgoing and incoming numbers of Our […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 3-5, 2020) — We open this New Year and New Decade with 20-20 vision, a fearless look ahead with THE PLANET‘s Nostra and Damus being once again in celestial alignment. Our predictions have the historical record of being so accurate […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NEW YEAR’S DAY, 2020) — As we close out the year and the decade, THE PLANET keeps it brief and confectionery. From all of us at this end to all of you on yours, Happy New Year. We hope you will continue to […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 30, 2019) — THE PLANET closes the year by announcing the winner of our annual Orbit Award. There were many contenders and a few pretenders. After long and drafty deliberation, THE PLANET‘s Committee of the Whole and Hole has chosen POLICE REPORT. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 27-9, 2019) — Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the impeachment of President Donald Trump has been the aftermath, what we might call the anti-impeachment. THE PLANET begins this exploration in the most unlikeliest place, one that House Democrats have […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY CHRISTMAS DAY 2019) — And so this is Christmas … It is a season borne in hope, developed in possibility, and rounded in occurrence. Christmas brings everyone back again, circle like, to Christmases past which, incidentally, provides the thematic subtext of Dickens’ classic. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 23, 2019) — One of the lessons imparted to THE PLANET years ago by the redoubtable Peter Arlos of Pittsfield and the indomitable Mary Flynn of Stockbridge was always listen to your critics. They both knew that in public life, one would […]
