PITTSFIELD — Karen Kalinowsky, former Pittsfield city councilor and retired police officer, says she’s running again for City Council At-Large because too little has changed since she last held office—and the issues she championed then remain unresolved.
Speaking with host Bill Sturgeon on WTBR’s Morning Drive, Kalinowsky stressed her focus on fiscal responsibility, school system reform, and support for seniors and small businesses. “Our population in Pittsfield has gone down, but our budget has gone up,” she said. “I think we could save a lot in regards to our school system when it comes to integrating some of the buildings.”
Kalinowsky, who has remained active on the Council on Aging and RSVP boards, said she’s heard from residents—particularly elderly taxpayers—about rising costs. “The increase of taxes is hurting them. It’s been hurting them since I was on before.” She voiced particular concern about the state of downtown. “We are losing businesses in Pittsfield. We can’t afford to lose any business. I don’t care how large or how small,” she said. Kalinowsky added that she’s spoken with North Street business owners who fear they may have to close within the next year.
Public safety was another key issue. Kalinowsky staunchly opposes removing the police and fire departments from civil service, despite concerns about cost. “If it wasn’t for civil service, because I was an outspoken female, I probably would have been let go,” she said of her own experience. “Civil service protected me because I did my job and I did it right.” Kalinowsky acknowledged the challenges of maintaining staffing levels in police and fire departments, but emphasized that the solution is not to dismantle existing protections. “It’s not all the fault of civil service,” she said. “Some of the negativity toward police officers has prevented a lot of people from wanting to become one.”
Asked about the restructuring of Pittsfield’s middle schools—a major issue before the School Committee—Kalinowsky was skeptical that reconfiguration alone would address core problems like bullying or underperformance. “If they think it’s going to get rid of the issues in the school, they’re wrong,” she said. “Most bullying happened in the grade you were in.”
As a former school resource officer, Kalinowsky recalled how a change in leadership and structure turned one middle school from underperforming to high-performing. “They brought a new principal in… she placed a structure in place,” she said. “It was basically getting the school under control. Holding kids accountable.” She also stressed the importance of teaching children respect and responsibility. “Even if they’re not getting it from home, you can teach kids how to behave in certain situations in school,” she said.
Asked why she’s returning to the council race, Kalinowsky offered a simple answer: “I care, and I want to fix things. I’m a fixer.” She added, “I’m there for the people. I just want to see a better community. I love our town.”
Editor’s Note: This article is based on the October 14, 2025 broadcast of WTBR’s “Morning Drive” and was written in part using ChatGPT. To view the entire program, visit https://pittsfieldtv.org/program/?id=54127. WTBR’s “Morning Drive” airs weekdays at 7:30 a.m. on 89.7 FM in Pittsfield and 88.1 in Lee; and is simulcast on Access Pittsfield channel 1301. The full interview is available to view through PCTV Select.
