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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Pittsfield OKs Statement of Interest for Future PHS Repairs

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will submit a statement of interest to the MSBA for repairs to Pittsfield High School. 

In three consecutive days this week, the School Building Needs Commission, City Council, and School Committee authorized interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips to submit an SOI for repairs to the almost century-old building. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti explained to councilors that they are asking to take a proactive approach to trying to get PHS into the queue for a future MSBA project. 

"I think I don't need to share with all of you the condition of Pittsfield High School. I think you've probably all been in there and you know the condition of the high school," he said on Tuesday. 

"So we're asking tonight for that first step to be taken, to put us in the queue. We are not asking for any funding request. We are not asking, 'Should we add on to the school? Should we take away from the school?' We are simply looking to get us into the queue, to get us into the eligibility phase, which will take about a year's time, and then hopefully get into the feasibility stage." 

During a special meeting last Monday, the School Building Needs Commission unanimously voted to move forward with a statement of interest. The City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved submitting a PHS statement of interest, and that was followed by an affirmative vote from the School Committee on Wednesday. 

Priority areas identified for an SOI to the MSBA Core Program will be for the replacement, renovation, or modernization of the heating system to increase energy conservation and decrease energy-related costs, and replacement or addition to obsolete buildings to provide a full range of programs consistent with state and local requirements. 

This is what the school was found to be most eligible for.  If invited into the program in December, a draft schedule places construction between 2031 and 2033. 

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