One would think there are bigger things to worry about than Elmwood Village putting up Christmas lights (not to mention, who would NOT want Christmas lights?!). But, Elmwood Village businesses received a letter from Michael Hoffert, the city’s senior engineering for street lighting, saying that their lights need to go.

That is, unless...

  • They're at least 14 feet and 6 inches above the street.
  • Business gets liability insurance of $1 million.
  • Any installation is performed by a licensed and insured electrician.

Keep in mind that Elmwood has been lighting up their sidewalks for YEARS, and suddenly this is coming in. The Buffalo News reports that:

Buffalo city officials have warned small businesses along Elmwood Avenue that they won’t be able to tap into city power sources for their festive holiday light displays unless they hire licensed electricians to do the work and take out liability insurance of at least $1 million.

Some business owners say the regulations are so onerous that they won’t be able to keep up the lights, which have become a holiday shopping tradition along the city’s most successful strip of retail stores.


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