Bereft in Barrington.

Dear Bereft:

Hold on to that boyfriend. He’s certainly partially right. An interesting thing happened in Great Barrington. A guy on the town Finance Committee suggested that the Selectmen should not get paid for their part-time duties. He also suggested that they shouldn’t receive their very expensive health insurance. As soon as he said that, I got a call from a high town official asking who could run against the guy with the good idea. I wasn’t going to help him and told him so. A perfectly nice woman was recruited to do the dirty work. It’s unclear whether she had a clue as to why she was encouraged to run, but she won and the Finance Committee member with the modest proposal lost. My bet is that very few people had any idea why the guy with the good idea may have been targeted. The woman who beat him received a good deal of financial help for her candidacy. So at least in this case, your boyfriend is right.

Dear Doctor:

Thank you so much for all your hard work. I love to read your advice. My girlfriend is thinking about leaving me. She says that I’m not such a good lover. She wishes I was more like you. She says that when she hears you on the radio that she just knows that you’re a man of great passion. Is she right?

Rufus in the Woods.

Dear Rufus:

I am passionate about some things; about others, not so much. I am passionate about politics, history books, and people but maybe not in the category she is talking about. Sometimes when one partner is more passionate in the physical department than another, there is trouble brewing. If you can’t provide the sustenance that your girlfriend needs, she may seek it elsewhere. I recommend that you drop her like a hot potato. Let her go. Find someone who likes you just as you are. Someday you’ll thank me for my advice.

Dear Doctor:

It seems to me that the Senate Republicans under Mitch McConnell are out to get President Obama one way or another. They want to impeach him for the same things they’ve been doing for years. My Aunt Tessie hates the president. She tells me that she is going to cut me out of her will if I keep siding with him. I stand to lose $30 million. What should I do?

Sadie in Stockbridge

Dear Sadie:

What is more important, a country with a future for you and your children or a few measly millions? You have a few options. You can just avoid the subject when she brings it up or you can lie. On the other hand, you can tell her that she is un-American and you’ve always hated her and her reactionary opinions. You can tell her that your mother always hated her, too. On second thought, maybe you should just lie.

Dear Doctor:

My boyfriend Brutus (he is a brute) thinks you’re wrong about everything. I think he’s jealous because he knows I love you. He says that he won’t pay his taxes this year because the IRS is picking on the tea party. Can he do that?

Sadie in Sheffield

Dear Sadie:

He sounds like a jerk. You might encourage him not to pay. Then he’ll end up in jail and you’ll be safe from the brute.

Originally published in the Berkshire Eagle, 5/18/13

Likewise, pressure is exerted in state politics when a high and tight fastball comes across the chest of the Cuomo administration. Put yourself in the governor’s place as a trickle of public corruption turns into a river of rot. Here is Cuomo, who has promised to clean up Albany. He started when he was attorney general and received high marks for his efforts. Now, however, he finds himself having to clean up those who are partners in the game with him in making public policy. So far that has proven to be very difficult. If he hadn’t promised to be the key player, it wouldn’t matter that the heavy lifting is being done by the FBI and federal Department of Justice officials. The governor will tell you, “You wouldn’t believe how dirty some of these people are” and he’d know, since he reviewed their files when he was AG. Now is the time for him to reinvigorate his efforts. He needs to threaten to use his power to create a Moreland Act Commission to investigate legislators and other public officials.

Unlike the FBI, Cuomo doesn’t really have the power to tap the phones of would-be perpetrators. In a classic display of chutzpah (unbelievable gall) we are hearing some legislators complain that because so many phones are being tapped, they don’t know who they can talk to. Isn’t that too bad? Never have we seen a better reason for setting term limits for public officials. We are now seeing a spate of bills to create term limits. One recent attempt by two minority party members of the Legislature involves changing the terms from two years to four years and then saying you can only serve for three terms. What a bunch of nonsense. The only way to make any meaningful change is to turn the heat up to intolerable levels and then have an ambitious office holder like Cuomo say to his colleagues, “If you’d like more pain, trust me, I can deliver it to you.”

There is so much posturing going on at the moment that Shakespeare would have been proud of the theatrics. Every politician is trying to pass some self-serving reform that is ill-intentioned and going nowhere. The difference is, we all know that the game is up and no one will be judged by phony bills or pronouncements — they’ll be judged by results. Andrew Cuomo has been calling for one new agency after another and has been threatening Moreland Act Commissions of different stripes for months now. It’s put up or shut up time. As long as the FBI keeps the criminal du jour coming, the people of New York will stay sick to their stomachs and will not accept any more platitudes about fixes.

Originally published in the Legislative Gazette, 5/13/13

In our case, I know what Murray is thinking because he tells me. For example, food is at the top of his list. Just the other day as I was eating my dinner, he hopped up on the couch and said, “You know, pops, the only reason I’m sitting next to you right now is that you sneak me food, and mom, who I love much more than I love you, doesn’t.”

“You know, Murray,” I said to him, “that isn’t a very nice thing to say to me.”

“Oh, you know what I mean, pops. I do love you, but mom is my prime caregiver. Ever since she retired and I spend most of my time with her, we’ve super-bonded. Now she takes me to work and I play with a pup down the hall named Snowball. We run around and drink water together and we keep our ears open for political gossip because I know how much you need me to feed you stuff for this column.”

“Thanks, Murray. Do you have anything for me this week?”

“Well, there’s one thing, but I hope you won’t get too upset. Mom told me not to tell you, but you really have become a burr under the saddle of the political class in Great Barrington. I overheard a conversation just the other day. Mom had me on a leash in front of Fuel when she went in to get her one shot, skim cappuccino. Naturally, the people at the tables out front don’t know that I can understand English and I’m pretty sure I heard one of those political guys say, ‘Who does that Chartock think he is?’ It had something to do with their salaries and the fact that they get health insurance for what is supposed to be a citizen-like job.

“Do you know, pops, that there are around 4,000 registered voters in Great Barrington and there were more than 400 at the town meeting? I heard a nice man who is a selectman saying that there is a rising tide of anti-Semitism in the town. He quoted one guy (who gets up regularly at the town meeting) as saying, ‘The Jews are running the town. We have to take it back.’”

“Well, Murray, that is really dangerous,” I said to him. “I’ve heard that story from two separate sources. I sure hope it isn’t true. When I grew up in the ‘50s, we had that same kind of situation on Fire Island but it dissipated as the years went by. People say stupid things and most of the time they are known for their stupidity. My mom used to say that when you hear someone say something prejudicial, you have to have the guts to tell them, ‘That’s un-American.’ It’s not easy to do. Most of the time these people are seen as dangerous dopes. The problem is that every once in a while, they can cause big trouble.”

“And, Murray, on a related subject, everybody should get to the Mahaiwe on Sunday, May 19, to get to see ‘Ghetto Tango: Cabaret Songs of Love, Truth and Defiance,’ which will be presented by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene and Congregation Ahaveth Shalom. I recently interviewed Zalmen Mlotek, a leading figure in Yiddish theater in the country. The material is described as ‘edgy, political, sexy and satirical.’ When they had nothing else, those imprisoned during the Holocaust wrote music that has been inspirational for all who survived and for all the rest of us. The Chartocks have their tickets.”

“Pops, can I go?” asked the little dog,

“Afraid not, Murray. No dogs allowed, but we’ll see you right after.”

“I love you, pops.”

Originally published in the Berkshire Eagle, 5/11/13

I fully understand how morally corrupt the system can be. I have lived in and around this jungle for a very long time and have not been shy about expressing my opinions. That said, I find myself in the midst of a real dilemma — I like a lot of the players but they sure can try my patience with some of their antics.

I know that virtually every decision coming out of Andrew Cuomo’s administration is meant to get him, if the wind blows right, to the White House. However, good social policy sometimes runs counter to that goal. He doesn’t like it when I write columns about the “old Andrew” and the “new Andrew” but frankly, I think that there is no real difference. Freud was right, it’s all over by the time we’re five years old. That’s when character is set. It’s clear that Andrew cares about what I think. In fact, I suspect that he cares about what everyone thinks of him. That’s why he spends so much time calling everyone up. He has this control thing which is slightly compulsive. He must have inherited it from his dad who did the same thing. I admit that I have my moments when I really do get angry at him and yet, when the sun sets, I admit that I care about him. I want him to succeed. When he does something really courageous, I find myself rooting for him. The gun control thing took some real guts. I suspect it may have cost him with some key demographic groups but he did it anyway. That’s courage.

Then there’s Shelly Silver, the Assembly speaker. I think he’s the longest-serving New York Assembly speaker in history. To make that happen, he has to front for his people. He has to find money to get them elected. He has to gerrymander districts. When they are in trouble, he has to get them out of it. Now, the Assembly can drive me nuts. Their self indulgence is infuriating and frankly stupid. Their popularity goes down and down as New Yorkers wise up to the game. They often spend more time getting the money to run for office than they do making the laws. Silver continues to fight for allowing legislators to make outside money that has the potential to get them into trouble, yet, once again, I have to confess that I really like Shelly Silver. He happens to be a nice man, a funny man and his heart is really in the right place when it comes to progressive social policy. The problem, of course, is that you put these people in places where they can make out like bandits and they will. That doesn’t mean that you have to dislike them as people. Once you really know them it is often hard to do so.

When you enter politics, you’re in a competitive game. You have to know the rules. I have no use for the real cheaters — the crooks who steal from the people. You can be critical of politicians and political institutions but somehow you can’t help liking, if not respecting, them. If you don’t get that, I feel badly for you.

Originally published in the Legislative Gazette, 5/7/13

Carol teaches in the Southern Berkshire School District and has just been honored with one of the most important awards available to any teacher. The Berkshire County Educator Recognition Award goes to the very top teachers in Berkshire County. Carol took the top honor in her area of elementary education.

One after another, her colleagues checked in offering superb accolades. I suspect what her colleagues said meant even more to her than the prestigious award from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts committee. If there is a single thing that Carol believes it is that teachers should support each other and that she is just one among many. That is exactly what the MCLA group wants to achieve, honoring all dedicated teachers.

Carol’s humility is stunning. E. Bonnie Silvers, the vice chairwoman of the Southern Berkshire School Committee and a superb educator herself, told me, “Carol Ide is a good example of why we are all so proud of our school district. It is small but it really does have some of the best teachers in the county. We are all so proud of Carol.”

Carol studied elementary education at Rider College in New Jersey near Princeton. She said that her education at Rider, a small but important building block in her career, was important. I asked Carol what she liked best about teaching. She told me that by the third grade most of her children had learned how to read. Discussing good literature and getting them excited about reading was exhilarating. I have always believed that good teaching is one of the most important professions in our country. Good teachers like Carol put extraordinary amounts of time into preparation, grading and creating individual goals for their students. We have all had teachers who have made all the difference in our lives. Teachers work incredibly hard for the little money they get.

Douglas McNally, the coordinator of the Berkshire Readiness Center and the convener of the awarding committee, said, “We had an excellent set of candidates recommended for all three levels, early education, elementary education and secondary education. The committee considered these applicants and found three educators who are exemplary in their dedication, not only to teaching but to being lifelong learners and who see their roles going beyond the classroom. In the case of Carol Ide, her extension into music and environmental education and being aware of the joy of learning to everyone who came in touch with, her set her apart from the others.”

MCLA President Mary Grant, who conceived this wonderful program, told me, “The committee did a spectacular job in identifying and recommending these educators of the year. This is the third year of the award.”

Grant said that teachers deserved and needed this honor because they are “changing lives and shaping the future and we need to recognize and celebrate the work that they do.” She made it clear that teachers are sometimes under-appreciated, and we fail to recognize how complicated it all is. “Teaching is not about quick fixes.”

Every once in a while someone gets the recognition they deserve. In 2009, Steve was named the “Best Guitar Player in Berkshire County.” Now Carol is being honored for her extraordinary work. It makes me feel good.

Originally published in the Berkshire Eagle, 5/4/13

His clarion call for gay marriage was a huge plank in his attempt to solidify liberal support. People like what he has done on gay marriage and gun control, to name just two of his achievements, but I suspect he knows that his Q (likeability) rating is not where they’d like it to be. Voters may respect his achievements but that doesn’t mean they like him in the same way they love Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. Don’t make any mistake about it — the guy can be very charming but he misses that political je ne sais quoi, an essential part of what made FDR or JFK or even Bill Clinton what they were. People would follow them to hell and back, even when they made some very big mistakes. Cuomo’s problem is that people see him as a political professional who acts not out of principal but out of political expediency.

That’s where hydrofracking comes in. In the beginning, Cuomo obviously saw this attempt to coax gas out of the ground as a big win for him. It would show people that he could deal with the energy problems of the United States for years in the future. It would be a great talking point for a future Presidential campaign. After all, even Barack Obama is for fracking. In addition, Cuomo knew full well that upstate was crucial political territory for him. He knows that it was a killer for his father and he is obviously determined to learn from that. By saying yes to fracking, Cuomo also argues for upstate business development which is, according to almost everyone, a disaster area especially when compared to New York City.

The governor simply doesn’t know what to do. His big problem is that the fracking opposition won’t go away. A recent favorable report by the commissioner of the New York State Department of Health should have helped the Cuomo, pro- fracking disposition, but it didn’t. The opposition seems to believe that the health commissioner is acting on Cuomo’s orders and based on the kind of control Cuomo has over his commissioners, they may have a point. The very effective anti-fracking citizen lobby that can turn out tens of thousands of telephone calls and e-mail messages has not abated. If you are a governor and hundreds of thousands of people write you, you don’t like it. If you are this governor, you really don’t like it.

Some in the Cuomo camp believe that the constant anti-fracking protests are an isolated phenomenon. They point to the polls that are very close on the issue. Nevertheless it is clear that those opposed to fracking take their task very seriously. In fact, there is more than a little chance that this group will either not vote for Cuomo in the next election or vote for a third party candidate. If Cuomo, the brilliant Machiavelli of contemporary politics, is to pursue his path to the White House, he has to show a unified vote in the next election. I’m sure he’s staying up late at night on this issue.

Originally published in the Legislative Gazette, 4/29/13

We all know that the Legislature and the governor have starved the Albany DA’s office on purpose. By rights, Soares should have a fully funded public corruption unit in his office. He is the Cardinal of the state’s District Attorneys when it comes to corruption because the state’s pay checks come from Albany where he has jurisdiction. The starving of the Albany DA didn’t start with Soares — it’s been a long tradition. Let’s face it, if you were a legislator who liked to play it around the margins, would you give the DA the tools he needed to make things right? Soares, a thoroughly decent man, recently told me that things are getting worse. In the past, he had state troopers assigned to his office to help out in his investigations, but now these assets have been reassigned. Too bad, we all know that the state police have been used as political pawns by past governors and it would appear the same thing is happening once again.

We all know that Soares and Governor Cuomo are not the best of friends. Do you remember the “Occupy” demonstrations in Albany? Apparently, the governor wanted those legitimate protestors arrested and tried, but DA Soares said that the state had more important things to do than trying a bunch of activist kids. We hear that really ticked off the governor. So, sure as the rain, Soares got a primary opponent, a decent sort who Soares, with his loyal following in Albany County for his progressive approach to criminal justice, soundly beat. I don’t have to draw you a picture of who put the primary challenger up, do I?

In the meantime, the U.S. Attorney, Preet Bharara, has been leading quite the charge against corruption and sending a lot of people to jail. This gets us wondering whether state officials give a free ride to public official crooks. As a result, a bit of a jurisdictional fight has broken out in which the former Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, and the present Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, are duking it out for new powers to combat public corruption. Cuomo is asking for yet another agency, appointed by himself, to chase down the crooks. In the past, Cuomo had promised that the Attorney General (Schneiderman) would have increased powers in this area. Indeed, Cuomo is proud of his own work prosecuting political wrongdoers when he was attorney general. But now, he appears to want that power for himself at Schneiderman’s expense. For his part, Albany District Attorney Soares makes it clear that the last thing we need is yet another “alphabet” group that will do little or nothing. He knows, as do we, that if the DA gets the resources to track these people down, the job will get done.

Look, we don’t need any more do-nothing leeches on the payroll. We know what to do but the folks at the top just don’t want to do it. Why should they? On the contrary, they want to make it seem like they are doing something without really doing anything. There are already people in place who, with a little more authority, could get the job done. Give Soares what he needs, give Attorney General Schneiderman what he needs and let him work with Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to find and prosecute the evil doers.

Originally published in the Legislative Gazette, 4/22/13

Now, I love the restaurant owners in Great Barrington and eat in their establishments a lot (witness my last two columns). But, I love food trucks, too. Food trucks fed my kids when they were at Cornell University. Food trucks are exactly what we need in a town where restaurants can be very pricey.

A lot of people can’t afford $25 or $30 for an entree. Of course, there are eateries that don’t charge those prices, but they’ll have to face the additional competition just like radio stations do every time a new one pops up. Variety is the spice of life and I always think, the more the better.

Some of the best food in New York City and Albany comes from food trucks. If you want to charge licensing fees, fine. You can certainly regulate where they can park. Of course, many of our restaurant people will say no. In their shoes, I might object, too. Running a restaurant isn’t easy. You’ve got to be good at it. If you’re not, you’re out of business. Trust me, food trucks won’t be the reason that you fail. It should not be up to restaurateurs whether food trucks or any other competitors should be allowed.

Of course, Great Barrington is about to experience a great upheaval as the ill-conceived Main Street reconstruction process goes forward. The trucks don’t have to be in the middle of town.

In his letter, Seward made a great point about Sean Stanton, who hawks hot dogs and sausages at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. I love them. He voted to table the food truck matter. It is up to the town to decide whether and how to tax these trucks. Certainly the owners are expected to follow state and municipal laws. You pay sales tax in restaurants and the people in the trucks are expected to collect the same taxes. Some trucks have to pay several different localities because they move around.

When the Chartocks first came to Great Barrington in the very early ‘70s, you couldn’t get a lobster until a very entrepreneurial guy had the idea of showing up on Thursday or Friday morning with a lobster truck. It didn’t take long for the supermarkets and others to compete.

This summer when my professor daughter was looking for a way to make money, I suggested a food truck to her and her love, Dan. They thought about it and asked some questions but it didn’t work out. After all, it isn’t easy. You have to buy or rent a truck. It has to be outfitted. It has to meet health requirements and it has to be staffed by people who know what they are doing.

In the general scheme of things, it’s a small matter but it is an important one. I will probably anger some of my best friends in the restaurant business but this is a matter that involves economics, sociology and fairness. Democracy (“from the people”) theoretically involves what is best for everyone.

I like to think of our precious jewel at Lake Mansfield. I see all kinds of families using the facility, some cooking out, some drooling watching those who are cooking out. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to buy a hot dog or a vegetarian delight up there? I’ve seen the ice cream truck parked there. Food trucks would be perfect. Let’s just play fair.

Originally published in the Berkshire Eagle, 4/20/13

Now, the always competitive Cuomo is in danger of being shown up by Preet Bharara the U.S. Attorney (Chief Prosecutor) for the Southern District. Bharara has been successfully collaring miscreant New York politicians and may, indeed, be running for something himself. So much for the success record of Andrew Cuomo, Sheriff of Albany. Cuomo, you will remember, promised to clean up Albany. He passed an ethics bill right out of the box that put everyone under the same ethics commission rather than allowing the legislature to police itself as had been done in the past. Unfortunately so far, both the old way and the new way seem to be the same: “All talk and little do.”

Not to be outdone, Cuomo comes charging out of the west like Lochinvar with a whole new group of tough (but not tough enough) rules. One of his rules is really interesting: pay the legislators a few more bucks to make them “full time” and prohibit them from outside business interests, which, of course, is how some of them are legally paid off. Of course, if you say to the would-be legal bribers that they can’t give the money to the legislators themselves, does anyone really think they won’t give it to the husbands or wives or children or friends of the legislators? It’s unfortunate, but the only thing that will clear this mess up will be a term limit of eight years. It’s not really a perfect way to go in a democracy but it will keep things moving and limit the acquisition of power. I’m for it but most of my fellow political scientists are not. Cuomo also wants to see a campaign system in which the voters fund elections. I’m definitely for that.

When Cuomo first came into office, he promised to put an end to the onerous “member items” that have been at the bottom of so much Albany skullduggery. Jeff Klein, the head of the Independent Democratic Conference, otherwise known as the Democratic Traitors who split off to help the Republicans stay in office, tried to slip a member item by Cuomo. Klein insisted it was an old member item (allowed) but Cuomo determined that it was a new one. So Cuomo said “no” and yanked it out of the budget, turning a lot of heads.

Since Klein and his group are essential to the Republicans staying in office, and since Cuomo needs him to do this, we have an interesting development. I have long thought that when Cuomo shows up at a Democratic National Convention, he is going to have to explain why he was keeping the Republicans in power in New York. Sooner or later, he’ll have to reinstall the Democrats as the majority party that they really are in New York. When that happens, Klein may be treated as the turncoat that he is by the regular Democrats. This move in rejecting Klein’s budget proposal just may be a signal of things to come.

In any case, Albany is a place where you really have to look carefully at the spoor on the trails to know what’s going on. This could be interesting.

Originally published in the Legislative Gazette, 4/15/13

As I feared would happen, I realized that there were some really great restaurants I’d simply forgotten and I apologize to all those who I left out. I was raised in a progressive household where birthday parties had contests with no losers.

Someone wrote to the paper and said that I was mean about the Old Mill. I was not. I said a lot of people loved the place and someone threw a rubber chicken at me. Both true. I certainly did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.

So here are some more Great Barrington area restaurants.

At the top of Railroad Street (the Greenwich Village of Great Barrington) are two very good restaurants, Allium and Fiori. People swear by both of them. Just down the block is Twenty Railroad Street, moderately priced but excellent.

There are many things on the menu that the doctors tell you not to eat (fried) but which are really good. Across the street is Bizen, a first-rate Japanese restaurant.

Shiiro’s on Route 7 is also Japanese and down the road is Barrington Brewery. Back down around on the Main Street is Siam Square, a very good Thai restaurant that deserves more patronage than it gets. The people who run it are among the nicest in the world.

Also at the top of Railroad Street is my favorite breakfast place, Martin’s. You may have to wait to get in but the food is fabulous and the wait staff is the best. You just can’t beat this place.

If you like Indian food, there is a wonderful Indian restaurant, Aroma, just South of Route 23, right next to the police station. The last time we went there, the place was packed. Now, there’s bad Indian food and there’s good Indian food. This is very good.

Right on Main Street there is The Well, another moderately priced restaurant. The online reviews are mixed, but the last time we were there we really enjoyed the simple fare.

There is a second Mexican restaurant in Great Barrington called Azteca. Chef Michael Ballon of the Castle Street Café says it’s the real deal. Sometimes it gets overlooked when compared with the fabulous Xicohtencatl.

Two other very good restaurants are The Pizza House on State Road and Manhattan Pizza right across from the Indian restaurant.

Koi and East are both very good eat-in Chinese restaurants, as is the Great Wall, mostly a takeout place although you can eat at one of their tables.

Naji’s Lebanese restaurant has good stuff if you are into Middle Eastern fare.

There are two diners, Ena (across from Kmart) and the Main Street Diner (on Main Street, of course). The latter often has space to sit.

Also on Main Street is the always interesting Gypsy Joynt. You have to get up and order your food, but it’s good. They have great salads and pizza and good music. We like to catch Dona Federico, Dwight O’Neil, Bob Jones and the whole Spurs crew there.

In Housatonic, there is the Brick House. My thirtysomething kids love their hamburgers, pizza and music.

Out in West Stockbridge, there is the Orient Express and the fabulous Rouge which is the soul of West Stockbridge.

In Stockbridge, there is Once Upon a Table, a cozy place to eat good food. Traveling to New Marlborough, there is the excellent Inn on the Green. We love the Stagecoach Tavern in Sheffield and the folks who run it.

As I always say on the radio, if you want to understand the Berkshires, you have to go to The Red Lion Inn. It’s the place in Stockbridge where you take your relatives. They have a main dining room, a wonderful eat-in bar, and one of the few Berkshire night spots, the Lion’s Den.

OK, OK, there are lots of great restaurants in Lee and Lenox, but they’ll have to wait for now.

Originally published in the Berkshire Eagle, 4/13/13