Cyclist Struck by Car in Pittsfield in Serious Condition

02:50PM / Saturday, May 03, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A bicyclist was seriously injured Friday night after being struck by a car in the northbound lane of Cheshire Road.

Sgt. Davis Hallas said the cyclist, age 33, was traveling north when he was hit from behind by a 2008 Subaru Impreza driving by an 18-year-old. The collision occurred in front of Berkshire Gas Co.

The cyclist was taken to Berkshire Medical Center for "potentially life-threatening injuries to his head" and was admitted, according to Hallas.

Cheshire Road was closed for four hours between Wiliamsburg Terrace and Greenwich Street. Traffic was detoured over those roads until the Cheshire Road was reopened at about 12:30 Saturday morning.

The accident is under investigation by the Traffic Unit and anyone with information is asked to contact Hallas at 413-448-9700, Ext. 560.

Tags: bicycling, MVI,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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