BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 10, 2018) — Tonight before the Pittsfield city council’s public works subcommittee, water wizard Craig Gaetani of Krofta lineage presents his alternative solutions to address updates at the city’s water treatment facility off of Holmes Road. Tomorrow night, the council will take […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 7-9, 2018) — Pittsfield, it’s time to play the latest round of “Take The Money and Run.” No, we don’t refer to the Pittsfield City Council’s meeting of the whole dealing with the $80 million … no, $76 million … […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 5, 2018) — “I was not on the council when this project was done” — Barry Clairmont, on the Beacon Cinema fiasco. We don’t blame our good friend BC for reminding one and all that he had no fingerprints on this unholy deal. THE PLANET, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 3, 2018) — In keeping with the season, THE PLANET shares this press release straight from the offices of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. ———- 000 ———- Downtown Pittsfield Inc. presents the 1st Annual Festive Frolic in downtown Pittsfield on December 7th from 4 to […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 30-DEC. 3, 2018) — Guess what? The freefall corruption that has gripped the City of Pittsfield shows no sight of stopping. The word is out to every fore flusher, carpet bagger, Ponzi schemer, and “developer” that there’s free public money […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1, NOV. 29, 2018 — Couldn’t let the 8-2 council vote approve the Bea-Con deal, which lets the developer walk away from millions in debt while keeping intact a brilliant Ponzi scheme in which untold, unnamed principles got their huge kiss in the mail, although if […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 26, 2018) — Got your popcorn? In your comfy, $1500 recliners? Good. The feature is about to begin, although we tell you now that it’s a rerun, seen in this once proud city countless times in the last 30 years. What, you […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 — Happy Thanksgiving to all PLANETEERS. Enjoy the day, count your blessings, and reaffirm your commitments. We shall be back with new content on Monday. Until then, relax, have fun, refresh, and recharge. ———- ooo ———- (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY & BEYOND NOV. 20etc., 2018) — […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY Nyuk, Nyuk — When did former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren start looking like a double for Curley Joe De Rita, the last “third Stooge?” We are all getting old. Or are we? You’re “old” if your regrets outnumber your hopes. You’re “young” if it’s the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, NOV. 16-18, 2018) — A tax cut for Pittsfield? Of course, it all depends on how you define it. By the strictest definition, Mayor Linda Tyer can truthfully lay claim to being the first mayor in 25 years to offer a […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 14, 2018) — Under Bernie Sanders’s Medicare for All proposal was the political fashion trend that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a self-proclaimed Democrat socialist, rode to victory in November on what has to be one of the most naïve votes in recent memory. Ocasio-Cortez, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, NOV. 12, 2018) — Last year, Ben Walsh ran as an independent in the Syracuse, NY mayoral election, one that’s run along party lines. Walsh gave traditional party politics the heave-ho. The wise guys didn’t think he could win. Walsh won. Walsh’s victory […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 9-11, 2018) — Law enforcement and policing are two related but different activities. Ideally, they work together in a complementary, apolitical fashion. In practicality, that is often not the case. Where Berkshire County proceeds with respect to this “similar difference” […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 7, 2018) — Let us all call twilight hours down from the good Lord’s throne. Election Day is ovah! That means all those blighty lawn signs and other campaign-related flotsam can join hands with George Jetsam and make its way with Astro’s […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY-TUESDAY NOV. 5-6, 2018) — OK, here’s the deal. You vote or don’t vote today. The latter option, unfortunately, may apply to most of the electorate. Either way, you have a choice for district attorney, one that Berkshire County must live with for six […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 3-5, 2018) — On this weekend prior to Tuesday’s election, THE PLANET shares a summary of our recent discussions with both camps in the heated race for Berkshire County District Attorney. Incumbent Paul Caccaviello’s write-in campaign is challenging newcomer Andrea Harrington, who won […]
