Let’s Take Matters into Our Own Hands!

Judging by your recent statements, you are certainly not afraid to speak openly about what others know perfectly well but are afraid to confirm. Are you strong only in words, or in deeds as well?

Karol Stasik: – Deeds follow words. Unfortunately, they can be just as unpopular as the words… My company is an example: recently, I had to make a very difficult decision. It was a hard experience for me. Closing one of the unprofitable plants became necessary. Unfortunately, sometimes managing a large company and its people means facing difficult choices. I assure you, however, that in the longer term this path will prove right and will provide people with jobs and money, while simultaneously strengthening the position of Zakłady Ceramiczne Bolesławiec as the unquestioned leader in ceramic production.

Do entrepreneurs have it easy in Bolesławiec?

Few have such an uphill struggle. In Bolesławiec, the property tax for businesses is among the highest in the country – in 1995 it was PLN 6.63 per square metre, while in 2014 it was PLN 22.82 per square metre. That is almost a fourfold increase. This is what supporting local entrepreneurs looks like, along with an open door for foreign capital in special zones. I do not know whether people realise that taxes from these companies flow into the city budget only partially, while local businesses can only dream of the tax reliefs enjoyed by wealthy corporations.

Returning to unpopular decisions: do local government officials have the courage to take on unpopular challenges, or does it usually end with populism?

Unfortunately, there are far more risks here, and it is easier to avoid responsibility by hoping that someone else will clean up the mess. Another example: the current president of Bolesławiec – while still county governor – blocked the commercialisation of the county hospital, and now laments the condition of an institution he himself heavily indebted. The hospital’s debt after Roma’s administration amounted to more than ten million złoty, while the unstable management situation caused unprecedented chaos and destruction. Fortunately, we managed to remedy the situation. Yes, remedy it, because the hospital required serious treatment through common sense, hard work and rational ideas. At present, the hospital is economically profitable in its day-to-day operations, and its services are improving. Paradoxically, we have the full approval here of the city councillors sitting on the Hospital Social Council and simultaneously supported by the president. Therefore, lamenting the fate of the county hospital is nothing more than an election ploy.

Strong words, Mr Stasik, but surely things at the hospital are not quite so rosy…

Of course, there is still much to be done, but development and the positive direction of change are visible to the naked eye, so I will not accept a situation in which “Marcin teaches Marcin, while he himself is as stupid as a pig.” Enough of pulling the wool over people’s eyes and hypocrisy served together with election sausage at countless festivals. After all, examples of the president’s poor management can be multiplied: short-sighted policy concerning ISPA; a lack of vision in defining the city’s boundaries; and, similarly, a lack of decisions on the coherent management of municipal properties. Why do we need MZGM and TBS? Surely TBS could successfully take over this role. There would be considerable savings in the budget, but why bother? Spending other people’s money – our money – does not hurt.

The president wants to take over the county roads and schools in the city.

This is another falsehood. The county has repeatedly proposed taking over the roads in the city, together with the money for their maintenance. The county proposed this rational solution, especially since it was Piotr Roman, while still county governor, who established county status for many roads in Bolesławiec that do not meet the relevant standards. What did we hear every time? Guess… The familiar-sounding answer – NO.

As for education, he should not try to fix what is not broken, but learn from the “county people” how it is done and how schools are managed rationally! Let him focus his energy on his presidential ambitions, because he is still an aspiring president. We know perfectly well that a city headed by a president must have at least 50,000 inhabitants. Bolesławiec has only 38,000. In his role as president of the Euroregion, there has also been a great deal of self-promotion and fewer wise decisions, which led to the loss of 10 million in EU funds. Such money was not used and returned to Brussels. I would rather have a good, professional mayor than a self-infatuated dual president. Inept promotion serves to consistently build these false altars to one person, whereas it should promote the city and region across political divisions. We even tried to formalise this through an agreement with entrepreneurs operating within BTG, but the president is not interested in such promotion. It is a dead provision.

The president wants to reduce the county and sell the round building. What do you think?

I have a better proposal. After the headquarters is renovated, three floors of the high-rise will remain. I think it would be an excellent place for the future president’s office. He would look down on everyone “from above” – just as he likes, and from the top floor he would see the edge of the city he himself short-sightedly restricted. Let us leave the town hall for the development of business and culture. That is where it belongs. Let us be aware, let us not allow ourselves to be deceived, and let us not be manipulated. On 16 November, let us take matters into our own hands and vote rationally! And let us leave the County in good hands.

Publication financed by KWW Platforma Samorządowa Powiatu Bolesławieckiego