Everything is about politics
As a 28-year Town of Lancaster resident who has no standing in Village of Lancaster politics but having visited and shopped in the Village for all those years at Christmas, my curiosity is aroused by the Lancaster Sun article, and others prior on the matter
Politics
I drove through the Central Avenue business district and seen the trees decorated with lights, but no other decorations. Can’t remember what was there last year but remember there were some. Resident Tyler Sojka says he had donated 10 and helped the Village of Lancaster DPW hang them
This year Sojka was offering to personally hang all 74 he has collected. The Village board approves, the DPW union disapproves of Sojka’s group hanging them – union breach of contract). The union declares that is their job. Sojka says ok but stipulates that if any are damaged by the Village DPW, he wants compensation. Sojka says The Village Board and he could not come to an agreement. Was the request for damage compensation the cause of the disapproval?
After all, the Village Board was on board with everything Sojka was agreeing to up to the union interference. One Village Trustee boldly asked, “Who is the Village DPW to tell us how to run the government?”
The Village has egg on its face. Shameful! The residents get screwed again because their best interests are not served, rather than that of political agendas.
The Sun reported in another article that the Village of Lancaster was also without an events coordinator, following Christmasville’s founder Dawn Gaczewski founder resigning last year. Resigned? Really? She was so good at it and seemed to relish that appointment. Politics?
Village of Depew
Sojka is quoted in the Sun as saying, “Volunteers would put up decorations in Depew regardless what happened in Lancaster." The Veteran’s Park Gazebo has been decorated and has been approved by Depew Mayor Ken Peterson.
Kudos to the Village of Depew – no arrangement, no grousing by the Village of Depew Highway Department. Residents win.
Sojka’s goal to do good
Sojka’s plan from the get-go was to do good. After being rebuffed by the Village of Lancaster, and after donating 10 decorations to the Village of Depew, his alternate plan is to auction off the remaining decorations and donate the funds to the Lancaster Trinity Food Pantry, at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Kudos, Mr. Sojka, for filling a more noble purpose at this time of pandemic hardship! My best wishes for your having a successful auction!