Letter: Alex Blumin for City Council

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To the Editor: I am excited to endorse Mr. Alex Blumin for Ward 2 City Council. When we elect Mr. Blumin, we continue Ward 2's tradition of self-governance. We consistently choose the independent voice to represent our interests. We have a tradition of preserving a philosophy of reasonable inquiry of elected officials, and we demand responsible financial governance.

Ward 2 awaits the city's fulfillment of its promises to complete roadwork and fix abandoned homes. Mr. Blumin will push the city to achieve these promises. The mayor aggressively hiked water and sewer rates twice in the last two years, and she promised more increases. Ward 2 residents worry about the ever-expanding city budget they are forced to fund. Alex Blumin shares your worries and will fight for responsible budgets. Mr. Blumin will continue to promote reducing your taxes and reducing water rates by using your tax dollars locked in free cash and the cannabis reserves.

City Hall spending lacks transparency. The next councilor will see the $41 million in ARPA funds spent down. The ARPA Advisory Committee meets in secret and spends money on projects that do not appear to benefit Ward 2. The City Council has not had any input on a single dollar spent. Mr. Blumin would dare to ask the hard questions: What did the ARPA Committee discuss in their secret meetings? Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) has new funding coming up. Will it support the destitute business environment in Pittsfield and Ward 2? Mr. Blumin will insist that it does.

When Mr. Blumin whispered "corruption" in his debate, he dared to state a fact of our government that many councilors privately discuss. I saw a man display his love and admiration for our legal traditions and institutions. You saw his courage to hold our leaders to high standards and principles.

Mr. Blumin has a long involvement in city politics, and the time is now for him to lead. He has the intelligence and courage to do the job. Ward 2, you must turn out on Sept. 19, and I strongly urge you to vote for Alex Blumin for your councilor.

Charles Kronick
Pittsfield, Mass.

Charles Kronick is the current Ward 2 councilor and is not running for re-election.

 

 


Tags: election 2023,   endorsement,   municipal election,   


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Companion Corner: Harley and Maggie at Berkshire Humane

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded pair of small dogs looking for their new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. 

Harley and Maggie are a bonded pair that have been at the shelter since mid August.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about the two. 

Harley is an eight-year-old female Terrier and Jack Russel mix, and Maggie is a five-year-old pug mix; they need to go home together.

"We are looking for a home for them to go together, since they're very bonded. They really like each other. They don't like other dogs outside of their pair as much."

But the two love being around people and especially like getting food, and while they may be older, they don't act it.

"They are both very sweet with people. Very loving. They love food. They like to play, run around in the pen, go for walks. So even though they're little and they're small and they're a little bit older. They still really like to be outside and be active, but they're also content to just cuddle as well." 

They love to play with toys and be outside together.

"Harley likes to play ball a little bit. She likes to grab tennis balls and run around. Miss Maggie here loves to just get the zoomies and have fun and have her own kind of fun and run around and play. They are great on leash together. They're nice and easy to walk together."

They originally had a home that could not keep them due to their playful and loud nature.

"They originally had a home where, unfortunately, they could just no longer afford them anymore, and they were rehomed to somebody. And then that person brought them to us because realized that getting two little dogs who are a little barky and excitable was a little bit too much for this woman who had them. She was a little bit older and realized that their energy level and their barkiness was too much for her to handle."

The two still need to learn more manners and need more of a home to be able to bark and not bother others.

"They have some naughty behaviors. They take advantage of jumping up on tables if there's a chair nearby. They will certainly jump up on a table for food, and they can be very reactive and barking at things that startle them or noises. They can be a little bit noise sensitive, especially Miss Harley. So that's why we're looking for a home setting rather than an apartment, just to help keep them a little bit calmer, and also just so that they're not barking and bugging anybody."

The two love food and will need to eat separately when it comes to meal time.

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