Letter: Statement of the Lenox Democrats Regarding Smear Job on Alex Morse

To the Editor:

We, the Lenox Democratic Town Committee, condemn the Massachusetts Democrats and the Massachusetts College Democrats for their deplorable conduct with respect to candidate Alex Morse for Congress. The public may not know that the Massachusetts College Democrats are actually a branch of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and not a separate organization. The Massachusetts Democratic Party is supposed to be neutral regarding Democratic candidates battling it out in primaries. Rather than maintaining this neutrality, the state party allowed the Massachusetts College Democrats to issue a scathing and slanderous rebuke of candidate Alex Morse. Compounding the matter, they allowed it to happen with anonymous sources, vague accusations, and suggestive but false language.

There is a hard-hitting piece by the Intercept titled, "College Democrat chats reveal year-old plan to engineer and leak Alex Morse accusations." According to the Intercept exposé, "Timothy Ennis, the chief strategist for the UMass Amherst College Democrats, admitted in the chats that he was a 'Neal Stan' and said he felt conflicted about involving the chapter of the College Democrats in a future attack on Morse. 'But I need a job,' concluded Ennis. 'Neal will give me an internship.'"

According to another article in the Intercept, titled "Massachusetts State Party Leader Told College Democrats To Destroy Communication Records," "The executive director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, as the scandal around congressional candidate Alex Morse began to implode, told student leaders to delete records of communications between themselves and the state party, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter. The executive director, Veronica Martinez, had personally coordinated with College Democrats ahead of the release of allegations of sexual impropriety against the Holyoke mayor." Martinez, who according to the Intercept "had personally coordinated with College Democrats ahead of the release of allegations of sexual impropriety against the Holyoke mayor," and "who told student leaders to delete records of communications between themselves and the state party, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter," should also be investigated.

Rinaldo Del Gallo
Lenox, 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.