This is the 598th most frequent Polish word.
władz
The word "władz" is a genitive plural form of "władza," meaning "authorities" or "powers" in English.
In this sentence, 'władz' is used in the genitive case to indicate possession, corresponding to 'authorities of the city'.
Decyzja władz miasta była kontrowersyjna.
The decision of the city authorities was controversial.
Here, 'władz' again appears in the genitive case, used to specify which representatives are being referred to.
Protestujący domagali się rozmów z przedstawicielami władz.
The protesters demanded talks with representatives of the authorities.
In this sentence, 'władz' is in the genitive plural form, used to describe which authorities are mistrusted, emphasizing that it refers to various governing bodies.