Apparently small businesses in the Elmwood Village are under fire from The City in regards to the twinkling holiday lights that it puts up each year. According to a number of business owners, after a request went in to City Hall to fix a couple of light standards that were not generating power for the holiday strands, a representative from The City sent a notice that the lights could not be put back up this year without a million dollar insurance policy, and approval from The City, which looks to be overly concerned about the festive display that business owners put up each year.
On top of the latest Grinch-like sentiments from The City, business owners are also concerned about the apparent need for certified electricians who would need to be retained whenever plugging in the low voltage strands. Just moments ago one business owner was approached by an employee at City Hall who told him he could not put up the holiday lights that he was hanging, and even stated that The City was paying the electric bill. When the business owner snapped, and stated to the official that he was running the lights to his own business, the official said that there was no insurance policy in place to warrant hanging the lights. The owner then retorted that if The City would rather have him move his business to the suburbs, then they’re doing a damned good job.
Facebook threads are lighting up, as word of this affront to small business owners is digested. In a day and age when The City should be arming The Elmwood Village (and other commercial districts) with the resources that it needs to remain competitive with the malls and the internet, this is no time to act in such a regressive manner. Rather, it should be doing anything within its ability to ensure that the small business community is happy and taken care of, the way it deserves to be taken care of. Enough of this narrow-minded squandering of resources and Neanderthal mentality that will send Buffalo back to the dark ages again.