Leszek Socha (the Ve-to Association from Nowogrodziec) commented on an article about the construction in Bolesławiec of another two nine-storey residential buildings with a two-storey garage and an underground garage, as well as technical infrastructure. At the December session of the City Council, councillors voted on the draft resolution on this matter almost unanimously.
Leszek Socha read the article and the comments beneath it, where commenters described Bolesławiec as a “hole”—a city unattractive to live in.
“This city’s attractiveness declined a long time ago,” says Leszek Socha. “I don’t know whether this is due to the incompetence or megalomania of those in power. What attractions do we have? Parking meters everywhere. You go into a shop, come out, and there’s already a ticket. You pay: 90 or 200 zlotys. I went for medical tests, was 10 minutes late and had to pay 90 zlotys. You can even stand in the mud and still pay for parking,” Socha comments.
Another issue raised by the community activist was traffic jams in the city and who has the best life there.
“You can neither get into Bolesławiec nor leave it,” says Socha. “There are traffic jams. There are no pedestrian crossings, no intersection signs, no traffic lights at intersections. Nothing but attractions. I once attended a meeting with Biedroń in Bolesławiec, who told young people: you have such a beautiful city, now you’ll probably go to university and then come back. None of the young people said they would return. That alarmed me. They won’t return because there’s no reason to come back here. Politicians and activists connected with local politics are doing well in this city. Those in power already have their future secured, and once you have held these positions for a while, you are surrounded by nothing but flatterers. If a politician is not careful, he will start floating above reality. He will be in another world and will think that if the market square has been renovated, that is enough. Congratulations, Bolesławiec and the county are developing, and we will live more prosperously,” Leszek Socha adds ironically.
Jak Ci się żyje w Bolesławcu w skali 1 (niedostatecznie) i 6 (celująco)
What are the residents of Bolesławiec missing?
At the beginning of December 2024, public consultations were held in Bolesławiec, during which residents had the opportunity to express their opinions on the functioning of the city, safety, social policy, investments, and issues related to diversity and equality. A new, partnership-based approach by the authorities toward residents is needed—open communication, transparency in decision-making, and the courage to implement changes.
We wrote about this in the article Bolesławiec after the public consultations. What do residents expect?
One of the most frequently raised demands was the need to establish a Equality Council, which would deal with the affairs of minorities, including the LGBT+ community, people with disabilities, and immigrants.
Almost all those interviewed pointed to the growing problem of traffic jams. The causes include both the number of accidents on access routes and excessive development in the city centre, as well as the lack of a strategic plan covering traffic management.
One of the demands raised during the consultations was the creation of an open register of contracts concluded by the city, accessible to residents (as in other cities). The lack of transparent information about who receives orders or commissions, and on what terms, caused concern and prompted questions about the authorities’ fairness and impartiality.
An important problem discussed during the conversations was the issue of the growing number of homeless people, especially those from outside the county who come to Bolesławiec. Residents stressed that concrete action is needed—from providing safer and more dignified conditions in shelters for homeless people to solutions preventing alcohol consumption and vandalism in the city centre.
The lack of a broader information policy concerning the presence of immigrants, foreign workers, or American soldiers was also highlighted.
Participants drew attention to the problem of poor lighting in some parts of the city, especially during the autumn and winter period, when it gets dark early.
Another important issue was infrastructure. Speakers pointed to the need to build a dome over the sewage treatment plant, so that unpleasant smells, especially in summer, would not make everyday life difficult.