Columbia's decision to ban former employee from its property may be 'unconstitutional' [Lancaster Watchdog]
Chris Vera [Columbia Spy file photo] The following information is excerpted from a December 6, 2025 LNP Watchdog article by LNP | LancasterOnline reporter Jade Campos. Still reeling from an abrupt firing from his role as head of the Columbia Market House in March, Chris Vera was surprised to get a letter in the mail from a Columbia Borough attorney two weeks later telling him he was banned indefinitely from borough property. The letter gave no reason for the ban. Nine months later, Vera, who has served as president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society for more than a decade and has helped with the borough’s comprehensive plan, is still banned from borough property. He believes the ban includes borough parks, which is part of the reason he moved his annual Albatwitch Day festival, which celebrates the myth of a local cryptid, to Wrightsville. Vera said he’s not sure why the borough went to such lengths to keep him away from public spaces given his termination from the borough s...
Comments
Regarding BHI, Israel Weiss's statement that his tenants are no different than homeowners: Not only do the renters have no interest in a property that they do not own, they do not have money to purchase plants and other items to make the rental properties more appealing. Often there is trash stacked up on these properties and people sitting on the steps at all hours of the day and night. No pride. Most of the renters have no knowledge of or interest in the history of Columbia. This includes Mr. Weiss himself, as he defaced the very old tiles outside his office property, by installing an unsightly mailbox. My husband and I were both born in Columbia, so we know of what we speak. Low income housing and rental units have attracted an out of town population with an interest in criminal activity. The street that I lived on for eleven years has not one familiar face, not one anymore. It does have boarded up houses and trash everywhere. I am ashamed to say that I lived there and I am extremely uncomfortable even walking through the area. While we enjoy all of our personal memories of Columbia, we are considering leaving the borough that we love. I fear it is too late, the damage has been done. The borough council will be left to oversee landlords and their tenants.
Why would we have a highly paid electrician on staff?
Why didn't Jeff Hawkes look at that?
Oh yeah, sports. Have to have sports.
--FMB
Any thoughts on how this is done, how much additional revenue would be generated, and how soon our elected officials could act upon this idea for the betterment of the citizenry?