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Here’s another example of the INSANE amount of corruption that happens in Massachusetts on a daily basis, from an article published on WBUR:
The popularity of “family-owned” and “locally grown” has made Massachusetts farms a vibrant business. With orchards, vineyards, a winery and restaurant, the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton could be a poster child for agritourism. But suddenly the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) has announced it won’t be renewing all the farm’s licenses for making and pouring alcohol. Its owner, Rich Pelletier, says that’s going to put the family farm out of business, so he’s taking the regulators to court.
In 1995, Pelletier came to look at the old farmhouse for sale out front and ended up buying the whole property — orchard, winery and all. He had never farmed before, never ran an orchard. Pelletier had run a restaurant before, however. So he turned that farmhouse into a restaurant to promote the orchard, winery and store.
“Here’s the vision,” Pelletier says. “It’s what they do in Napa. It’s what’s successful on the West Coast. We want to bring it to the East Coast.”
Stop right there. So what we have here is an entrepreneur. A man with a vision. A man who had no experience farming, but bought the property anyway because he was willing to invest his time and money into learning how to turn this farm into a profitable business. It would employ people and it creates a nice little Saturday for normal, law abiding citizens of Worcester County and MetroWest.
Naturally the state has to destroy it:
He applied to the state’s ABCC and obtained what’s commonly known as a “pouring license” to serve his wine and beer at the restaurant. To make wine as well as beer and spirits on the premises, Pelletier got three more licenses. They’re called “farmer manufacturing licenses” because they were created with the intent of supporting local agriculture. The business employs 50 people year round, 100 at peak season.
But this spring came a call from the ABCC. The commission informed Pelletier that Nashoba Valley Winery would not be getting all of its licenses for next year.
“If I file the restaurant license first, they won’t issue me my farmer’s licenses. And if I file my farmer’s licenses first, they won’t issue me my restaurant license,” Pelletier says.
In a follow-up email, the ABCC pointed Pelletier to a section of state law that specifically prohibits owning a pouring license for a restaurant at the same time as owning a farmer’s manufacturing license.
In effect, the ABCC is giving Pelletier a choice. He can give up the pouring license and be left with a restaurant that can’t sell his wine, or he can give up his manufacturing license and be left with a place called a winery that can’t make wine. Pelletier was stunned because every year for 16 years the same ABCC had been renewing his licenses like clockwork and without issue.
“The facts have never changed over the last 16 years,” his attorney, John Connell, says.
Without any change in the law, the ABCC has made an apparent about-face in its interpretation of the law as it applies to the Nashoba Valley Winery. Pelletier says it’s a death sentence for his business model.
“You know, every option I look at is not viable other than closing down the restaurant,” he says.
Pelletier says the ABCC wouldn’t tell him why it changed after 16 years. And it would not talk to WBUR, citing the court case as its reason.
That guy has invested many millions into this winery, built a huge following, successful business and in one click of an email, his whole business model is junk. All because some over anxious peon on the beaurecratic ladder of non success decides something. Then, the morons ahead of him in the food chain don’t know how to change direction or undo damage. So they support the lower peon and set the new policy in stone. Then comes Maura Healey who will crucify any successful business … just because!

Rich Pelletier
Pelletier and his lawyer argue that Nashoba Valley is not the same. It’s a farm, they say, and the ABCC is ignoring a section of state law passed in 2004 with the express intent to promote farms and farming.
Connell points to Chapter 138, Section 12, Paragraph 2.
“[It] expressly allows farms to have the right to pour its own wine at locations on the farm,” Connell says. “And that section would seem to specifically authorize Nashoba Valley to pour at least its own wine at multiple locations on the farm as the town of Bolton designates, which they have done.”
This would seem to be a solution to the problem — by allowing wine to be poured at the restaurant. But the ABCC’s response, says Pelletier’s lawyer, is that wine can only be poured in the building where it is made, and since the restaurant is 50 feet away, it is not the same premises.
50 feet? That’s what we’re talking about here? Fifty freaking feet?? The customers could just walk over to the winery, fill up their bottles and then BYOB over to the restaurant. But seriously, this is what we pay these state agencies to do? Find loopholes that destroy successful businesses?
In Suffolk Superior Court last week, Pelletier sought to restrain the ABCC from withholding the renewal of his current licenses. The office of Attorney General Maura Healey, which defends state agencies and commissions, moved to dismiss Pelletier’s complaint.
Her office defends state agencies and commissions? That’s why the Attorney General exists?? Because silly me, I was under the impression that Maura Healy’s job was to protect consumers and taxpayers. Guess they’re more interested in covering their own asses due to their gross incompetence.
Keep in mind, this is the same Attorney General who came to Worcester to investigate a Goddamn blog called Turtleboy Sports:
She even befriended local unemployed stoner, who may or may not have Asian chicks in her basement, WANDA:
She’s also supposed to be investigating the Mosaic Cultural Complex for fraud, as was promised on February 2, but I guess she doesn’t have enough time to get to that because she’s too busy destroying Nashoba Valley Winery.
Because of the uncertainty whether he will have the proper ABCC licenses, Pelletier can not book weddings or functions for next year. So he’s already losing money. He’s already spent $15,000 in legal fees and there’s a cloud over his million dollar investment.
In its motion to dismiss, an assistant to Healey argues there is no controversy because Pelletier has not yet been denied any licenses. So he should wait until he has exhausted his “administrative remedies” before bringing the matter to court. By that standard, Pelletier will need to wait until his licenses are denied. That will come at the end of the year when, Pelletier says, he will already have been forced to close either his restaurant or his winery.
Wait….what?? They’ve already told him that he will have one of his licenses denied when he applies for it. But Maura Healy is telling this guy that everything is fine because he hasn’t been denied a license yet? He just will be denied in the future, therefore he has no case??? In other words, “we haven’t fucked this guy over yet, so you can’t punish us for something we plan on doing later.”
Anyway, this is obviously happening for a reason. A business doesn’t just get licenses for 16 straight years like clockwork, and then stop getting them unless someone made a couple phone calls. So who would a winery be upsetting? Well, more than likely wholesale alcohol distributors and retailers. After all, every glass of his wine that he sells in his restaurant is basically taking money out of their pockets.
It would be one thing if Maura Healy was just trying to crush small businesses because she wants to exert her authority. But it’s even worse if it could be proven that Nashoba Valley Winery was being destroyed because of politics. Because as it turns out Rich Pelletier is a republican, in a state that is largely controlled by democrats.
Well, the head of the ABCC is also new. Her name is Deb Goldberg, and she was elected State Treasurer in 2014. And since the previous state treasurer had no issues with the Nashoba business for years, one has to assume that someone paid off Deb Goldberg. Someone with a financial interest in crushing Nashoba Wineries. So we decided to check out her campaign contributions on the OCPF website.
First of all, she’s raised a total of $6,029,533.05!!! The state treasurer actually needs to raise that much to get elected??? Doubt it. It’s not like we were bombarded with Deb Goldberg commercials during the 2014 election. No, this $6 million is insurance. It’s insurance for campaign contributors so that Deb Goldberg, a) won’t mess with their business, and b) will hopefully mess with the competition’s business.
Here’s some of the bigger contributors to Deb Goldberg’s campaign chest:
Gee whiz, what do you notice about a lot of those contributors? Oh yea, they all sell liquor. And every glass of wine that the Nashoba Wineries sells comes directly out of their pockets. And we only made it 1/3 of the way through her contributors before we realized that we kind of made our point. Here’s a list of Massachusetts biggest wine distributors. You’ll notice that the first one is Horizon Beverage Group. They’ve given thousands in just the last couple years, as have others on that list.
You’ll also notice that Tavern in the Square associates have given Deb Goldberg thousands upon thousands in campaign contributions. They are a chain, and even have a location in Northborough:
This is just kind of interesting because Northborough is two towns over from Bolton, where Nashoba Winery is located. Just sayin.
Then you’ve got Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits, which is a big chain liquor store with a location in Fitchburg, which is just a short trip down Route 117 to Bolton:
And you’ve got Colonial Spirits, where you can buy delicious wine:
And the list goes on and on. They all sell booze. And just for the record, they are all quality businesses that provide a quality product for a fair price. We have NOTHING against any business that contributes to a politicians campaign. This is how you play the game in politics. The fact of the matter is that these regulatory agencies have the power to destroy your business. So it’s important to stay in their good graces. It’s not a coincidence that this woman who runs the ABCC suddenly started getting donations from primarily liquor distributors as soon as she ran for office and was elected.
But the problem is you have to give money to the right candidate. And since Rich Pelletier is a republican, he’s either gotta pay off the democrats who control his state, or take his chances that they won’t arbitrarily destroy his business. He found out the hard way that Deb Goldberg would do the latter.
And if you’re not convinced yet that Deb Goldberg is the most corrupt person in the state right now, then check out this expose from the Boston Globe:
Newly installed state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg raised an unprecedented $93,000 for her inauguration and transition costs, over two-thirds of which came in large donations from special interests that deal directly with her office. Much of that $66,000 of the total came from interests that contract with her office, agencies she controls, or boards she chairs. Also included on the list of donors are liquor-related interests that deal with the treasurer’s alcohol control commission.
$93,000 for an inauguration??? And it was mostly paid for by companies that are involved in liquor sales, and others who who have interests directly relating to her office? But I thought the democrats were the ones who were fighting for the little guy? Doesn’t Liz Warren always rail against money in politics and Wall Street and blah, blah, blah? Perhaps Deb Goldberg can explain where some of this money went:
Asked to voluntarily provide a detailed accounting of how Goldberg’s money was spent, Chris Keohan, a political consultant for Goldberg — who has vowed to bring “new levels of transparency” to the office — refused.
Or not.
Donations to Massachusetts campaign committees cannot exceed $1,000 per year and cannot come from corporate sources. But inaugural committees can accept any size donation and gifts from corporations. The contributions to Goldberg’s inaugural committee from the special interests ranged from $2,500 to $10,000.
Oh I see. So you can’t chip in more than $1,000 for a campaign, but you can pay whatever you want for an inauguration. This is how Deb Goldberg finds out who REALLY wants protection from the ABCC.
Asked if Goldberg thought it was appropriate to ask for large contributions from donors who could be seen as seeking access to her office, Keohan said the treasurer has demonstrated in her public career, including serving as a Brookline selectwoman, that she was above reproach.
“I don’t think anyone can call into question Deb Goldberg’s integrity,’’ he said. “Deb is very happy with the support she got during the campaign from these organizations.’’
Oh yea, nothing to see here. She was a selectwoman in Brookline. Don’t you read the papers? Her publicist even said that you can’t question her integrity. Case closed.
Despite raising so much money, Goldberg charged $15 a head at a spaghetti dinner she threw for supporters — and a handful of treasury employees — at a Dorchester union hall after her Jan. 20th swearing-in. An heiress to the Stop & Shop fortune, Goldberg has spent $4 million of her own money for both a failed run for lieutenant governor in 2006 and on her race for treasurer last year.
So this lucky sperm from Brookline has all this money, and yet she’s still making all these companies line her pockets for the inauguration. And then she STILL charges $15 a head for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, that may or may not come with a piece of garlic bread.
The Boston law firm McDermott, Quilty & Miller depends heavily on its work appearing before liquor boards, particularly in Boston, on behalf of its clients — bars and restaurants. They have also been before the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, an agency that Goldberg’s office operates. It has broad powers to regulate and control the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcohol in Massachusetts. The firm donated $2,500 to her inauguration.
Oh good, the law firm that needs favors from Deb Goldberg is donating thousands of dollars to her campaign. Nothing corrupt about that!!
Look, we all know there’s money in politics. We’re not gonna bitch about that, because that’s just how the game is played. But what we can’t stand is dishonesty and bullshit. And people like Deb Goldberg come to power by telling the people they’re gonna reform everything, while all they’re really doing is continuing politics as usual. Here’s what some politicians who endorsed her had to say:
Yea, she’s doing a great job of advocating for entrepreneurship by going after a local entrepreneur who made the mistake of not greasing her pockets.
Business background? She’s the lucky sperm of Stop n’ Shop!!
And of course Mayor Puddy had to blow her because that’s just what his job is as a cog in the McGovern Crime Family:
The usual meaningless bullshit from Jumpin Joe. According to him she will have a deeply positive impact on those who need it most. Except for Rich Pelletier. He can go fuck himself.
What’s funny is that when Deb Goldberg first took office she actually said that her means were limited, so she would only have time to regulate the BIG DOGS!!!
I guess Nashoba Wineries is committing the most “dangerous offenses” by selling wine that they made and grew in their restaurant.
Blow this story up. Send it to everyone. This could happen to your business next. It’s not OK to let special interests control who can and who can’t stay in business.
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25 Comment(s)
I have always loved and will continue to support Nashoba Valley Winery. This kind of uphill battle seems to happen all the time in Mass. So at this point we should all just say Fuck the Commie-wealth! I was there at the Westminster Tobacco Ban Protests and the Hearing. My friends and I were quite outspoken against Andrea Crete and the Powers that Controlled her. We fought and we won. It’s time for ‘We The People’ to stop these Control Nazis. Use their own Bullshit Propeganda against them! Truth does not Lie. Ride the Turtle!
EXCELLENT work, TBS…exposing such political corruption. I hope ALL your followers remember that when she’s up for re-election. I hope TBS reminds readers of this corruption. Why the hell is politics so corrupt? Makes me sick.
Jewz be Jewing….
Who gives a fuck, It’s fucking Bolton. You gotta pay to play
Wonder who tipped TB off regarding this story?
The good people of Massachusetts need to tar and feather these A**holes and ride them out of town on a rail!!! Unfortunately nothing will ever change until there is a literal revolution.
We need a referendum that strips the vast powers of unelected bureaucratic hacks. They are on the verge of ruining our businesses and our schools.
Tavern in the square managers Stephan Desousa and a Stephan Sousa? sounds a bit fishy to me for starters, and why would a manager at a restaurant fork over $1000’s of dollars of “his” own money for her? why is it that no one in this pitiful state minds their own store?
Treasurer Rachet.
What a corrupt, money grabber. She isn’t even ashamed of the naked scam. Maybe she should meet a REAL gangster who doesn’t have the power of the state to exploit to extort honest business owners. OH, wait, she already has them paying?
We need someone to run against her next election.
This is the exact same thing as when the IRS targeted conservative groups. The left believes that it’s morally and ethically ok to squash any opposing viewpoints using strong arm tactics. This is what the progressive doctrine has become.
Typical government interference. Destroy small business. Kill jobs. Encourage more welfare and food stamps to keep people dependent on them so they will get the votes to say in power.
premises |ˈpreməsəz|
pl.noun
a house or building, together with its land and outbuildings, occupied by a business or considered in an official context: business premises | supplying alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises.
Sounds like the whole farm/restaurant is one huge parcel of property. Bring this definition to the jury. Even the lemmings that vote these corrupt tools in can read simple english. ABCC needs to go back to grammar school and learn the alphabet; Alcoholic Beverage Control Dooshnozzles. Shitty corrupt Massachusetts bureaucracy at it’s finest.
Great story, always nice to hear another story about the dazzling corrupt single party system here in Mass. Also, I laughed at all the memes ALOT. Keep up the pressure, maybe we can guilt someone into suddenly “discovering” some loophole to the loophole just to get the bad press to die down.
The left is so communist now and Cherokee sorry Liz,lol.
Its what happens when you got militant femlezzing dykes running the show. Look at Maura Healy’s record. She truly values the life of a pedophile transfreak / ms 13 gang member/ ebt fraudster illegal alien over a hetero white male.
Let’s see if this gets any play on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan on Monday morning.
There’s a really simple solution here. Build an enclosed walkway between the winery and restaurant. Now they’re the same building and he can pour the wine in the restaurant. The larger issue with the government being tools can be solved by a trip to the turtleboy graveyard.
It’s a brilliant idea Matt. Unfortunately they would have to get the city council and building inspector to sign off on it and they probably wouldn’t.
can you say blackmail?
Good article and great subject. Maybe should have waited ’till Monday to publish, though. Father’s Day weekend, beautiful weather (finally) – guessing traffic on this site will be relatively slow and this story won’t get the clicks it should. JS.
Let me guess, Pelletier doesn’t show up on Democratic campaign contributor lists nor at synagogue.
He stands no chance.
Thanks for the list of her contributors. Added to my “do no business” list.
Good luck not doing business with the brands Horizon represents including Grey Goose, Stoli, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Patrón, Harpoon and many more
Goldberg and Healy are bloody cunts. This state is so fkin corrupt.
Since when does an AG or a treasurer have a freaking “inauguration”, they are lucky enough to have the “high pay, no show” job in the first place, this is typical of ALL MA politicians since the mafia days when the thieving Kennedy’s were
running the booze train in MA.
99% of MA politicians are thieves, the other 1% gets crushed and keeps his mouth shut.
Both healy and Goldberg are high level thieves who will probably never be caught as long as they “spread the wealth”
among their associates or UNTIL THE VOTERS IN MA WAKE UP !!!!!!
Tip of the iceberg, old boy. THIS is EXACTLY how ALL of State Government works. Wake up and smell the graft.