BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SNOWMAGEDDON + 2, MARCH 16, 2017) — While wondering if the falling of a little snow even qualifies as a “blizzard” (that’s what The Boring Broadsheet called it), THE PLANET takes time to address a few items of here and there. Out of Air […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SNOWMAGEDDON + 1, MARCH 15, 2017) — Snow? What snow? You call that a storm? THE PLANET calls it a curiosity. We stand with Edward Estlin Cummings, who once famously asked, “Where are the snows of yesterday?” He did it in French, and his […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SNOWMAGEDDON MARCH 14, 2017) — Considering that official spring is less than a week away, there’s been way too much hair getting mussed because of a few snowflakes hitting the ground. Snowflakes are interesting. No two are or have ever been alike, although how […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 13, 2017) — Don’t worry about Snowmageddon slated to hit tomorrow. IT won’t happen. Mark these prophetic words. THE PLANET knows weather. That won’t stop the Pittsfield School Department to switch to panic mode. Let’s see … Today JIV had to close […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 10-12, 2017) — You may have missed it, so THE PLANET will fill you in on recent news that has implications for financial Pittsfield. Here is the story, as reported by WWLP-TV news of Springfield: The Municipal Finance Oversight Board […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017) — You’ve heard the hackneyed buzz words overused in and by Pittsfield until you don’t even hear them any longer: “renaissance” … “revitalization.” Without the presence of a strong local economy, however, no city is going to find new life. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY Last of Three Parts (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 8, 2017) — As THE PLANET has previously written in this series, the licensed pot business is lucrative. There’s money in them-thar plants. Such an opportunity draws all sorts of “gold rush” people: fore-flushers, legit investors, carpet baggers, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY Part Two (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY MARCH 7, 2017) — In Part 1 of our probe into Khem Organics‘ bid to open a licensed marijuana facility at 501 Dalton Ave. in Pittsfield, we revealed the network of associations that have led to the application receiving provisional state […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 6, 2017) —When former State Sen. Andy Nuciforo Jr., still a prominent Pittsfield Democrat, became clerk and kingpin for Kind Medical, a medical marijuana factory proposed for Easthampton in Hampshire County, the state rejected the application. Kind, being not so kind in this […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, MARCH 3-5, 2017) — Recently we ended a post with a quote by H.L. Mencken, who said all government is corrupt and attempts to reform it are futile. One cannot argue with the 20th century’s greatest prose stylist. Government is corrupt […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017) — It came in like a lamb. THE PLANET doesn’t speak of March. We refer to President Donald Trump‘s first address to the nation in the formal chambers of a joint session of Congress. The reviews were largely good. Many, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 1, 2017) — Everyone knows THE PLANET‘s position about the egregious pay raises our “profiles in courage” on Beacon Hill gave themselves. We loathe the measure, for a number of reasons: It was the first matter taken up by the House and Senate […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY FEB. 27, 2017) — Much has been made of President Donald Trump‘s pronouncements on “the media,” much of it misreported. President Trump never said the press was the enemy of the people. He said that “fake news” was our enemy, and he is […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, FEB. 24-26, 2017) — THE PLANET’s Right Honorable Good Friend, Jesse Cook-Dubin, Esq., president, stood silently by as Downtown Pittsfield executive director Kristine Hurley served her report to the dupable city council at its most recent meeting. Stick a fork in it, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY FEB. 23, 2017) — Sometimes the city of Pittsfield sticks it to The Little Guy directly in his face, like hocking a loogie at eye-level. It does this each budget season when, after salary raises galore for department heads and everyone in the school department, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ED NOTE: Be sure to check in with THE PLANET tomorrow. You’ll be the first to read about a tax hike of 400% to 600% the city of Pittsfield wants to impose on businesses and homeowners. They are trying to sneak this one through without fanfare. Rest […]
