Ruberto Jumps Into Race

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Mayor James Ruberto launches his campaign for re-election on Thursday morning.
PITTSFIELD - Mayor James M. Ruberto said on Thursday that he is ready to take the city into the next stage of its expansion while continuing the successful programs he's implemented since taking the helm four years ago. Accompanied by his wife, Ellen, the mayor officially launched his campaign for re-election to a supportive crowd of about 50 people gathered at Sottile Park and made it clear that he intends to make Pittsfield "the best darn small city in the Northeast." "Together, we have believed and continue to believe in a vision of making Pittsfield an even better place to live and to work," Ruberto said. The campaign announcement came following the mayoral debates earlier this week, which Ruberto was unable to attend because of his wife's cancer surgery in Boston. "I was, on Monday, where I should be and that's not sitting behind a podium trying to talk about issues when other people are talking about what's wrong with the city without posing any solutions," Ruberto said. Ruberto's opponents - Donna M. Walto and Stephen Fillio - discussed a range of topics at the debate, including economic development, the revitalization of the downtown and education. At his campaign announcement, Ruberto addressed the same issues. "Transforming neighborhoods. Supporting business growth. These are accomplishments, real accomplishments we can all be proud of, but when it comes to building a better tomorrow, there is nothing more important than our quality of education and the quality of our schools," he said. In addition to a commitment to ensuring no teachers would be laid off over his tenure as mayor, Ruberto said he now intends to "take the next step" and hire more teachers. "This year, this fiscal year, with help and leadership from the City Council, we've been able to add back to classroom structures in critical areas to ensure that we are meeting all the needs of all our students. And we have taken this bold stance because we know the importance of keeping class sizes small and that is critical, absolutely critical, in making the Pittsfield Public Schools the best in the Berkshires," said Ruberto. Along with his stance on education, Ruberto said he believes in maintaining a strong police presence, fully staffing the Fire Department and demonstrating a new vision for city parks, which includes the creation of a greenway that would connect Wahconah Park, Clapp Park and Wild Acres. Resting on a platform of continuing the city's cultural and creative renaissance, Ruberto said he would extend the success realized in the downtown to every neighborhood. Pittsfield Renaissance "The downtown where we stand is once again a thriving hub for entertainment and business. We are within a short walk of world-class theaters, thriving restaurants, a top-notch museum about to be rebuilt and dozens of businesses taking hold and expanding," he said. "We need to make the downtown even more vibrant and more desirable a place to come and enjoy. But the great progress we've made in the downtown needs to extend to every neighborhood for the Pittsfield renaissance to be true and genuine." With the other candidates publicly saying they wish to reroute funds from cultural projects if elected, Ruberto stands firm to his dedication to supporting the arts in the city. "Cultural development is part of a larger economic development and [Mayor Ruberto] is driving the whole thing. All of our successes can be linked back to him and the changes are very visible," said Megan Whilden, the city's director of cultural development. "Not only the city of Pittsfield, but all of Berkshire County and the rest of Massachusetts is solidly behind cultural development; it's a mainstream and successful idea." Whilden said that at least 25 cultural businesses have opened in the downtown since Ruberto took office in 2003. "Downtown Pittsfield is back in business, baby," said Ruberto. With only five days left until primary elections, Ruberto urged city residents to become educated on the issues and show up at the polls on Sept. 25. The runoff election will eliminate one candidate and leave two for the election set for Nov. 6. "Send a message that you want to see progress keep right on happening here in your city," said Ruberto.

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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant. 

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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