Letter: Say No to Immigration, Yes to Making Pittsfield Great again

To the Editor:

This past November election has taught us all many things. It has reminded us that the "long shot" should never be counted out and sometimes it ultimately prevails. Donald Trump is now our president, an upset to some and a relief to others.

I am of the latter. I am a huge Trump supporter. Why not build the wall and protect ourselves and to help pay for it, he can start by taking money away from sanctuary cities. I am for veterans before immigrants. Love him or hate him, he is making a nation think about issues we have all taken for granted.

Which leads me to the anger I felt when the city of Pittsfield claimed that they will welcome immigrants with open arms. While working with [state Sen. Adam] Hinds and [state Rep. Tricia] Farley-Bouvier, [Mayor] Linda Tyer says yes, we will give them all the support possible. Wait, pump the brakes, don't you think that should have been a community input discussion and not the great hierarchy of Western Massachusetts?

Did the elected officials forget that is what they are elected. They are supposed to represent one and all not just a minority of voters. You see the people who control the budget were asked if they can stay here. I am sure the city will get some sort of payout considering we are a "sanctuary city" aka refugee resettlement community. The question is how much? And will the taxpayer see it? I doubt it. We just keep getting asked to pay more and more.

What needs to happen is the "Mayor" should be protecting who is already here. The reason she got into office. This city is in dire straights. Financially we are a whisper away from the ever breaking threshold of economic failure. Plus there seems to be a spending problem going on even more so now within the last few years. Lets face it we need to make Pittsfield great again and the current administration isn't cutting it.

Getting the same type of people to run for office again won't fix the situation either. There has to be people that truly want change and who will vote for change regardless if the other members agree or not. We don't need more special interests, we need more strong minded opinionated people.

If a nonpolitician businessman can become president, than anything is possible. That includes improving the local government.

Tammy Ives
Pittsfield, Mass.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.