Letter to Yenta 09/27/05
Is that the same St. Martins with the Nakashima altar? What will become of the altar?

Letter to Yenta 09/25/05
George Michael is not interested in working with the stores that will be around his latest disaster. GM is only interested in one thing MONEY! Not the well being of New Hope or anyplace else he plans to destroy in the future.

Letter to Yenta 09/21/05
So, I hear that G.Michael is turning St. Martin's Church property into another condo complex? Check the latest records!

Letter to Yenta 09/18/05
Being critical of the borough council members / meetings is great fun and every resident’s right. However, the criticism will be more credible if: (a) words are spelled correctly (b) words are used properly (unless you feel the need to be repetitive and redundant).
For the record, I too found several of the council members to be arrogant and condescending (primarily council President Hirschfield). However, after 3 years of talking, I agree with the council’s decision -- it is time to get this project started.
As this project progresses over the next 3 years, I hope that:
* HARB will make sure the correct building materials are used on this project
* the borough makes sure the building process follows all of the rules
* George Michael and the Mechanic street merchants / residents talk and listen to one another.

Letter to Yenta 09/15/05
I was present at the meeting wherein George Michael received his initial go ahead on the demolition of the historic Canal House and the New Hope Inn.
My impression of that part of the meeting was that it was a classic study of arrogance, condesention and huberis.

Letter to Yenta 08/29/05
I moved here over ten years ago because New Hope so much reminded me of my old home town Rockport, MA. Visit it sometime, its about 50 miles north of Boston on Cape Ann (next to Gloucester of "The Perfect Storm" fame). Actually, Orb's silver jewelry, on S. Main Street, was originally on Rockport's Bearskin Neck. Rockport has been "dry" since the 19th century and this year they rescinded that law. So they are experimenting with serving wine at restaurants. But they are also experiencing the bedroom McMansion communities of Boston commuters. Ergo, they are going through the same transformation as that of New Hope to a commuter suburb. Although Rockport has eased its requirements on the Chablis-sipping crowd (and this is from a "big bad Liberal"), it is sad to see the salt-encrusted swordfishmermen get their "land-legs" at Mitch's only to find out that smoking is verboten everywhere. So, it's happening everywhere, and as Sam Houston said, "I'm goin' to Texas", but these days, I'm a goin' to Arizona.

Letter to Yenta 08/29/05
Dear people of New Hope, you all seem to keep talking about the same things over and over again. Looking back to the Yenta's of OLDE there is a pattern of complaints that emerges. I think you are correct that things are changing in town but I believe things have changed here all along since the Yenta started in the late 20th Century not just in the last 2 years. Please try to understand that ALL change isn't bad. With the influx of people who can afford million dollar condos we will all benefit. Just think about the wealthy people staggering around town back to their condos and how good they will look! In addition to that the level of candy being passed out at Halloween will improve and then if we are lucky we can finally get our town a REAL store like a Wal-Mart to go with our Staples or a real restaurant like an OUTBACK....OOoooo! Luv those bloomin' onions!!. We need more cheap Chinese products and less what you always call ART. Try to see things from someone's view other than your own for once! Condos bring jobs...they will need someone to clean their places won't they? -G. Thom

Letter to Yenta 08/27/05
Ouch! I personally know that Starbucks-suckin’, SUV-drivin’ so-and-so, saw him yesterday, he’s got more tattoos than the Illustrated Man, smells like he fell into a patchouli vat, and is perforated in more places than a postage stamp; bad taste in coffee doesn’t make him a yuppie scum, nor does his vehicle, although it may ultimately and inadvertently help fund anti-American elements in oil-producing regions.
BTW, beautiful writing by Caroline.
- Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 08/27/05
you were sitting at starbucks and drive an SUV?
nuf said......

Letter to Yenta 08/24/05
Forgive me, please, if I don't "get on board" quite yet. Yes, New Hope has made some very pretty cosmetic changes recently. My concern is that the over-riding concern with pretty cosmetic changes is damaging the underlying fabric of the town. Somewhat like Michael Jackson's nose, if you will...
I tend to set more store in the heart of things than their appearances, and the struggle to upgrade certain exteriors seems to me, all too frequently, to come with a careless disregard for the heart and soul of New Hope, or, even worse, with a belief that the exterior is all that matters. That train can leave the station without me.
The personal, the unique, the artistic frequently include the curmudgeonly, the cantankerous, the run-down, the outright difficult, the questioning, even the anti-social. I wouldn't have it any other way. I would far rather have a less outwardly pretty New Hope, with its resident characters and quirky businesses intact and supported. I prefer a New Hope where people make an art of living, often creating art in the process, to a pretty, whitewashed shell of a town inhabited by upscale, safe, agreeable, all on the same train people who only buy or, if you will, consume art.
The real art of New Hope is living unique, authentic lives. That's often not pretty, but, in the eye of this beholder, it's genuinely beautiful.
Can you do it in a pretty exterior? Sure. But only if the vitality starts inside, in the heart, and grows out. I don't see that happening here. You revitalize a community by including and supporting the people who make up that community, whether you like them or not, whether you always agree with them or not. The rest is just window-dressing.
- Caroline Dechert

Letter to Yenta 08/24/05
I drove into town yesterday in the early AM and passed the Solbury cops conducting what seemed to be a dump truck safety stop under the 202 pay bridge. Now I think it's laudable that the police are checking these guys for vehicle safety violations. There were 4 police vehicles involved in this particular traffic stop. The truckers were on their best behavior approaching the traffic stop area, HOWEVER, 15 minutes later after their encounter with the officers I was drinking my AM coffee at Starbucks and watched these guys blow thru town at speeds exceeding the posted limit. I drive the River Road every morning to work in Easton and I can tell you the the cops time would be better spent nabbing these guys who are doing 55 to 60 in a 40MPH posted areas. These trucks take up the middle of the roadway and even though I drive an SUV one of these babies would make paste out of me and my SUV in short order. Oh by the way, did I mention that these guys are carrying a full 40 cubic yards of stone from the quarry. I don't know what that translates into pounds, but it's gotta be significant. It would not be a pretty site to see some group of tourists crossing the street in New Hope get popped by one of the bad boys. So how about in addition to making sure that the lights work on the trucks and the driver has a license to operate these big guys the police hide and watch for these monsters exceeding the posted speed limits and that they stay within the operating lanes like everybody else...
Nuff said

Letter to Yenta 08/24/05
ENOUGH WHINING! All of you "New Hopians" who want the shop keepers to stay and NOT sell. Then when have you last visited any of these shops. You are probally the ones who when visitors come to town to see you and it makes you feel SO SPECIAL living in New Hope you parade them into new hope to "shop" or as it is really called, killing time before your expensive lunch or dinner. If you want the charm to remain then put YOUR money where your mouth is and drop some next time you are walking thru town drinking your "CUP OF COFFEE"!!

Letter to the Yenta 08/23/05
If measured in how many new million dollar condos the developers put in; the birthing of Starbucks, Rita's and the sterile Union Square strip mall; then the revitalization referenced is accurate. But it's a cold one. Many of the characters that gave New Hope its charisma & warmth are now gone due to the housing costs or character effects of corporate development and speculation. The Union Camp bag mill pulled up stakes in part because there was no reasonably priced labor pool left in the area and no affordable housing for miles around for workers. A significant number of the area's artists (at least those without family wealth or personal wealth) have left and most of the area's farms have likewise fallen to the developers. Not that there is anything wrong with rich folks, but the present character of commercial development has left room for little else; leaving a mono-culture. Smoke & mirrors PR, get-over tactics and bully politicians have done an effective job of finishing off the intangibles that made New Hope something uniquely wonderful. A few of the things in Chuck's letter are great and those involved should be applauded. But, they pale in comparison to the damage dealt to the town’s fabric though a lack of long term zoning initiatives and the silence of the dwindling number of folks who have lived here long enough to know what has been lost. Physical accoutrements don't make a town a home anymore than a Shad Fest without the Shad.

Letter to Yenta 08/23/05
New Hope is not getting rid of its “blighted areas.” New Hope is replacing parking lots with townhouses. And we’re really talking about two big money builders, one of whom, incredibly, sits on the borough’s planning commission.
One guy is trying to buy up all of Stockton Street and build townhouses, and the other guy is trying to buy all the land around the church and canal to build, yes, more townhouses. These two guys love to build near water, even slimy green canal water. They and others would like to see South Main Street, the hedonist tenderloin district of New Hope, replaced by townhouses. And all the once-loud voices of protest evaporate as people quietly wait for a call from George or Tom and their ticket out of New Hope: a big offer on their property.
So you see we’re not all on the same page. Building townhouses is not a strategic plan for New Hope’s future. It’s just mindless, extraordinary greed.

Letter to Yenta 08/19/05
Great letter to the editor in the NH Gazette and the BC Herald from Roy Ziegler. New Hope is on an upswing, getting rid of its blighted areas and making improvements in all departments. All this despite the nay sayers. Get on board guys. We welcome your suggestions but let's think more positively - we are all heading in the same direction towards keeping New Hope historically intact while bringing it into the 21st century.

Letter to Yenta 08/15/05
Personally, I would love to see a list of Maurreen's 10 Commandants. I would hope that Colonel Klink would be one of the top five.
...and to the old beatnik...
I agree with you that New Hope seems to be suffering from some cohesive plan to keep the off beat charm so many people come here to breath in and visit. But I also think we have to deal with all of us that LIVE here too. It's one thing to stroll amongst the fabric of New Hope and grab a "cuppa joe" from a cute store and its another thing altogether to consider keeping a run down old wooden structure with little or no historic value and turn it into something that just might be better. My objection is to the way we seem to be planning our way to this loss of quaintness and working hard to diminish the number of shops actually run by their owners. What I think you miss most is the personal touch of a town where you know the shop owners and not just some paid worker selling you off priced merchandise from the orient.

Letter to Yenta 08/10/05
Citizens and merchants of New Hope - It's time to pull our heads out of our butts and get the town back on track. New Hope is at a major turning point in it's history. The town needs to decide wether or not to let the developers turn New Hope into a "bed room" community for the wealthy or to support the artists, merchants and other "off-center" people who make New Hope the attraction that it has become over the years. I live just over the town line in Solebury but the reason I moved here 12 years ago is because of New Hope. I hung here in the late 50's and early 60's as a student and even then I wanted to end up here and now all these years later I am here and I don't like what I'm seeing happen to the town I used to know.........
Somebody do something and do it soon. If we become the bedroom community that the developers see no one will visit. I don't think that tourists will be interested in the condos and expensive housing that is proposed over the next year. It's kind of a no-brainer isn't it.

An Old Beatnik...

Letter to Yenta 08/06/05
Commandment #1: Thou Shalt Not Bore the Crap out of Yenta Readers

- Uncle Charlie

Letter to Yenta 07/31/05
since you are in favor of free speech; and diverse cultures, if I sent you a copy of The Ten Commandants, would you publish them? Maureen S.

Letter to Yenta 07/27/05
One should visit Ellicott City in Maryland to see what New Hope is to become in 10 years. It has its charming 18th Century buildings and shops on its main street, but that's it, just its main street. Towering beyond all sides of this one street are complexes of condos and developments. We on the side streets should also be very concerned about the latest Court ruling allowing "eminent domain" actions by private developers to improve the "economic vitality of the community". The likes of G.Michael are onto this and we should keep our heads up.

Letter to Yenta 07/24/05
New Hope in years past was a freewheeling and offbeat community heavy with artists, crafts people, political and cultural mavericks and physical character. It was genuine, not manufactured! Fast forward a few decades and much of this is gone. What has happened to New Hope and is presently happening in Lambertville is a scenario that has played out in other towns of similar compositions & history. The attributes that attract many to visit and move to these types of communities are not overlooked by the opportunists. Developers quickly queue in on this supply and demand event, proceed to buy up as much property as possible and develop/market to the affluent for maximum profit. The subsequent rise in the real estate values eventually squeezes out many of those that gave these types of communities their character, unique perspective and outrageous sense of comfort. The affluent of corporate America move in. The small shops that once flourished go flat, because the visitors that once came for the attributes mentioned have little interest in visiting a bedroom community of the wealthy. In move the chains and the businesses capable of paying the high rents (Staples, CVS, Starbucks etc) and end of game for the town’s original aura and the small businesses that depended on that. The folks that pay the developers big bucks for the opportunity to live in these places are eventually left with suburbia ad nauseaum and little else. The only people that benefit in the long haul are the developers and a few opportunistic businesses that hope to capitalize on all this.
Some call this inevitable progress. Progress it isn’t and inevitable only if the majority of the citizenry fail to make time to get involved.
So much for the bleak assessment and on to what must be for a reversal in directions. The voting public of New Hope MUST get involved, attend meetings and ask allot of pointed questions (theoretically it’s possible). The present borough council in total needs new stewardship. Also, a few of the boards might benefit from some changes (i.e. not having one of the major developers on the Planning Board). The town needs candidates who are interested in actively engaging the citizens as a whole and letting them know they want their input and will act on the desires of the majority. The consensus building capabilities being important. The community needs governance that actually cares to find out what the majority wants. More vision and fewer cocktail parties would be good. As far as mayor, the town needs more than a good will ambassador and ribbon cutter at this time. The mayor also holds the tie breaker vote.
The bottom line will be what (if any) new choices make it to the ballot. If people are too busy to care, encourage, support and solicit quality folks – then none will put their hat in the ring. The jobs are thankless and time consuming; unless one either loves the town, has a thing about power or underlying financial interests. New Hope desperately needs the first! Bob’s get together for any possible independent candidates is Monday evening!

Letter to Yenta 07/23/05
For those who want to know the facts about the Mayor Keller's ethics case and what the borough did ...
Use the link below to read the final adjucation of the State Ethics Commission. It will only take a few minutes to read -- and once you do, you can form your own opinion.
http://media.phillyburbs.com/2004/08/16/0816keller.pdf
Use the link below to read the New Hope Borough Council meeting minutes from January 11, 2005 where Ordinance 2005-01 was approved. Ordinance 2005-01 established a fee schedule for weddings performed by the Mayor and fixing the allocation of these fees.
http://www.newhopeborough.org/1_11_05.htm

Letter to Yenta 07/22/05
    I confess that it has been some time since I visited your site. There is no real excuse, like everyone else, I am busy. But, upon reading some of the most recent letters - I feel compelled to write also.
    I also am, as one of the most recent writers - a "newbie" - by most of the old timers standpoint. But so are the majority of the current Boro Council.
    I believe that we were all drawn to New Hope because of it's unique charm, historic beauty, decades of historic culture, and it's reputation as the center of the arts in Bucks County.
    Sadly, what the current "newbie" Boro Council has encouraged, and supported is the destruction of Historic New Hope by an outside developer. Look around, read the local papers - you will see that historic structures, streets, and historic landmarks are being replaced (with the unanimous support of the current Boro Council) with condos!).
    It has been a long time since I studied History 101; however I believe that we still live in a Democracy. It appears that does not apply to New Hope. Elected officials are responsible for upholding the best interests of their constituents - residents, and businesses! It is also incumbent upon them to ensure the quality of life for those people that voted for them. - not in promoting the financial interests of outside developer(s) who neither reside or vote in New Hope Boro.
    WE - YOU -the voters who placed these people in office deserve better than empty promises, and self-serving officials. Only we can change the balance of power in our local government.
    I encourage all of you to start attending meetings, and voicing (OR TRY TO) your opinions.

Sincerely, A disappointed resident and voter.

Letter to Yenta 07/22/05
    Now that Borough Council has spoken and the Canal House is doomed we will see an outpouring of concern from the community. I am a bit frustrated with the community for not listening to those who knew what would happen sooner. It appears the community always acts after the fact. However this time, the actions of Borough Council have awakened a sleeping giant. That now aroused giant is the good people of New Hope.
    The outpouring of concern and the ensuing discussion has to be about ideas. We as citizens of New Hope, and good neighbors of Lambertville, have to decide the direction our two towns are to take. The decisions facing us are going to be about what is right for the town of New Hope and for Lambertville as well. While I am speaking about New Hope keep in mind that I believe the future of Lambertville is also at stake.
    We apparently have, two choices. The first is to recognize what an incredible unique gem we have in the town of New Hope and to build and expand on that. The second choice is to scrap everything, our history, our culture our way of life here and everything that makes our towns so unique. The situation, as I see, it is that you can’t have both. In this case it is one or the other.
    The purpose of this letter is to alert you and your dear readers to the fact that the forces promoting the destruction of New Hope already have their people in place. Your awakened rage has already been factored in. The cheerleaders for Council and the destruction of New Hope stand ready to cry that the changes occurring are for the better, and that it is progress. These cheerleaders will level every possible attack against those who stand for the first choice. Therefore we must be ready to combat in the arena of words and ideas. We must support those brave enough to speak out. We must take action at the Council meetings and at the ballot box.
    Those who would want to impose the second choice on us are about to unleash a torrent against the citizens who stand to preserve our history and our culture. The attacks on sanity will be made in somber more sophisticated voices than ours. The tone of the arguments made by the proponents of the second choice will be self evident and condescending. The arguments made by the other side will be based on safety concerns, the law, insurance reasons and many other seemingly reasonable arguments. We have to stay focused and brave in the face of that opposition. We have to be strong enough to tie the people making those arguments to the people who are forcing the changes.
In other words the people who are the benefactors and promoters of choice two have put their people in place to make the case for them. To save our towns we must argue back rationally and in this case realize that their arguments are calculated to cow the average respondent into submission. The most classic example of these arguments would be something like, “It’s for the children”. Well, no reasonable person is going to oppose THAT. So one side stops talking and those proponents of whatever in their view was good for the children is adopted. Hell, with that argument the other side could be pushing chocolate coated anthrax and we would allow it. Do you see what I am saying? We have to side step those arguments as those arguments are calculated to turn up the heat but not to increase the light. All I am asking is please be vigilant and vocal and recognize that the proponents of the destruction of our towns are wrong no matter how sweetly they say it.

Robert V. Gerenser

PS. To the unsigned leter who thinks that I "hit below the belt" about the mayor: Why don't you ask the mayor and Borough Council if they really want to revisit this issue. Perhaps the State Ethics Commission would like to review Council's actions that in their mind made the mayor's ILLEGAL action "legal". It doesn't matter whether he gave the money to Mother Theresa. That is the entire point, he did something illegal but because it was,"For the children" it is OK? Sorry, that situation reveals a gross misunderstanding by Borough Council and the mayor of what is right and wrong. I can keep hitting higher and higher above the belt if you would like unsigned.

Letter to Yenta 07/21/05
I just want to thank Bob Gerenser, whom I have not had the pleasure of knowing, since I too am a "newbie" in town, for bringing up the fact that no Independent Candidates have been elected ever to Boro Council. This is sadly indicative of a one sided horse race or Independents and No Party, registered people do not vote in New Hope.
It is sad and discouraging that the Mayor and Boro Council have run and are running New Hope as a dictatorship and very few people have been able to change the rules once the "gavel has struck". The fact that the Mayor has decided to follow his own rule of "ethics" and not follow the laws of the state, is prime example how this governing body has governed.
The reason, as far as I have been told, that so few people attend meetings and try to express their thoughts and concerns, is that the backlash for not agreeing is "extreme payback". Whether this is in job loses, violations, fines, police harassment or just plain verbal harassment by loud obnoxious locals (and we all know who they are, since they are always the same local Bull Dogs) yelling ugly threats. (Yeh, this is true, I have witnessed it many times on the street and in meetings)
I hope many people will consider Mr. Gerenser's opportunity and thoughts about becoming a candidate for Council or Mayor, and get some "new needed Blood" in New Hope.
Hopefully, this would bring about a change, which would greatly benefit the business community, who have endured countless inconsiderate digging, ripping and "blowing up of " the town, by the decisions of the Boro Council to repair and renovate in the Spring and Summer, ( when business is at its "use to Peak") instead of doing the work in the Late Fall and early winter.
Kudos, for Bob Gerenser for supporting a "New Idea."

Sincerely,
Possibly a new INDEPENDENT candidate.

Letter to Yenta 07/20/05
    I moved to New Hope less than 3 years ago with my spouse, and have been an avid reader of The Yenta. Here are my thoughts as a "newbie" in town.
    There is a lot of talk about the uniqueness of our town and the need to preserve what exists, but has anyone walked through town lately and taken a honest assessment of the condition of our town? It looks like many building/home owners have stopped caring for their properties a long time ago. There has been some recent activity by a few owners (Thank You!), but there are too many properties where even basic maintenance isn't being done. Even some of the successful businesses, such as the ice cream store, could do with a real fix-up. It seems it is easy to complain about all of the new construction and things being demolished, but perhaps if the existing structures had been maintained properly, there wouldn't be the need for such drastic measures.
    I also have to question the type/quality of some of the stores. They may be "unique" in the sense that they are not a part of a chain, but are they the type of establishments that will draw people to our town? For instance are people really rushing to New Hope to buy candles, knick-knacks or tee shirts?
    I keep hearing people say that New Hope isn't what it used to be, but just what did it used to be, and seriously, is it even possible for the town to be what it once was? This isn't the 1950-60's anymore.
    So I would ask, what does New Hope want to be known for now and in the future? Who are the people that we wish to attract and how do we go about doing that? If we are just hoping to be a retail destination, then maybe there is room in town for an interesting mix of both small chains and independent retailers. If we don't want to be simply a retail destination, then we need to decide what else we are trying to be.
    No matter what the decision, the first thing we need to do is to put together a comprehensive plan to help us determine how we are going to start trying to attract the types of businesses that fit the profile of what we are trying achieve. New Hope is not the only tourist town out there and much in the same way we try to target visitors, we should be trying to target and attract the right businesses.
    And since I am writing, I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the governance of our town. In the time we have lived in town we have attended many of the monthly borough council meetings and here are my thoughts.
    First of all I can’t believe that in a town as small as this, so few residents attend these meetings. It really is important to be involved, because it is at this level that decisions are made. Attendance at these meetings is also one of the only ways to come into contact and to judge the performance of our elected officials - the borough council. These are the people, who with their limited planning/logistics/town management experience, are making decisions about both the current and future state of our town.
    Every month the borough council votes on things that will impact the residents. It is fairly evident that they are making decisions based not on what their constituency wants, but rather by what they feel is right. And part of that reason is because enough of the constituency doesn’t come to the meetings to voice their opinions. There have been a few instances where 1 or 2 folks have voiced an opinion that has been contrary to that of the council, but council doesn’t change course because they don’t think the opinions of the 1 or 2 weigh more than their own. If they were getting the opinions of 20 to 30 (or more) people then perhaps they would have to reconsider. Unless you are attending these meetings, you wouldn’t know that.
    Get involved people, this is your town. It may not be what it used to be, but there is plenty of opportunity for it to be a great town.

Letter to Yenta 07/19/05
Bob - the Mayor has not been "troubled by ethics violations." The money he made from weddings, etc. was given to various civic groups and he proved this. Say and do what you must, but don't hit below the belt!!

Letter to Yenta 07/17/05
WHO- A number of concerned citizens and Robert V. Gerenser.
WHAT- The first ever caucus in New Hope for third party and independent candidates for the fall general election for New Hope Borough Council positions and for Mayor.
WHERE- The very informal gathering will take place at Gerenser’s Exotic Ice Cream Shop at 22 South Main Street.
WHEN- Monday evening July 25,2005 7PM.
WHY- Many reasons. The first and most important is that any Independent and third party candidate who follows the proper steps has a small window of opportunity to get their name on the ballot in the fall.
   A situation developed in the spring primary whereby the Republican Party (for very interesting reasons) did not put up any candidates for selection to represent the GOP of New Hope in the fall general election. This leaves the Democrat candidates for Council unopposed on the fall ballot. The Democrats also put up a straw candidate for Mayor, so that the current Republican Mayor, who has been troubled by ethics violations, will have an easier time at the polls.
   Independent and other third party voters have always been frustrated in the spring primary. They arrive at the polling place expecting to do their civic duty. They can’t. They can’t vote because the primary is a “beauty contest” for the two parties that control the ballot. They have no choices.
   Also as a practical matter, without a party machine, the nuances of gaining ballot access are hard to grasp. Further, if a third party candidate were to be on the ballot in the fall, they would be crushed between the Republican and Democrat machine. No doubly opposed third party candidate has ever been elected in New Hope. This time they would be singly opposed
   Therefore this situation is a golden opportunity for those third party registered persons who wish to make a difference in their town. Any third party voter who was registered to vote in New Hope 60 days prior to the spring primary is eligible. The “Demipubs and the Republicrats” in New Hope are the same people. They think they have rigged the election for the fall. This is the last chance for real change in New Hope. Because there is a gaping hole on the Republican ballot for Council any third party candidate would appear to have a greater legitimacy than otherwise. Their name would stand out on the ballot. It is a golden opportunity.
   For the record I am a Republican. I also have served on New Hope Borough Council and have been Judge of Elections in New Hope. I know what happened inside the Republican party here in New Hope. I am sad that my leadership has let New Hope Republicans down. But my love is for New Hope first. That is why I am hosting this caucus. This is how we can effect change. I am willing to guide any third party candidate through the process. I will support those candidates who oppose the actions of New Hope Borough Council and the decisions they have made that has left the town vulnerable to condominium development.
More information Contact Robert V. Gerenser 215-480-5332.

Letter to Yenta 07/16/05
I am happy to see that the Yenta site is back in business. Let's hear from all sides in a logical and problem-solving way. Here are some observations:
1. Mechanic St. is trying for a revival - let's help them by visiting the shops there.
2. Why will it take a whole year between the time the Hacienda is knocked down and the re-building begins? We don't want to look at a demolition site that long!
3. What is the historic significance of the building that is to remain on the property? Les Isbrandt asked the question at Boro Council meeting and did not get an answer.
4. Why don't some of the businesses take more pride in their appearance? Sweep your front area, pull the weeds and rake or plant any spots around the trees or curbs. Ask your landlord if he will buy the paint that you will do the painting, clean the windows and freshen up your frontage.
5. A major problem is posting and keeping hours of business. Decide on a uniform opening and closing time and stick to it. Visitors want to know when you are open.
6. Residents should shop and eat down town when possible - it has been a brutal business climate lately.
Finally, I believe residents wants the businesses to succeed. Our town is much more interesting and a good place to live if they can walk downtown and see thriving, clean and welcoming businesses. We are all in this together.

Letter to Yenta 07/16/05
I despair over the thought that the New Hope that everyone grew up knowing and loving is slowly disappearing under the guise of modernization and "improvements". People have traveled the world over looking for the character and charm that New Hope naturally posses and people from around the world have made New Hope their destination of choice! The local citizens hold a tiny brilliant jewel in the palm of their hands, as well as the hopes and futures of the local merchants.
   Why is that once elected officials take a position of power, they immediately forget where they came from and what their fighting for? Do you really want the town to become a stereotypical historical town that has long forgotten its roots, the locals have long since given up and the soul of the original town completely obliterated? Do you really want the town to be a choice for patrons between a mall or the town? The department store as we know it are behemoths that are failing rapidly, and provides something very different than what New Hope provides. Do the town officials realize that New Hope provides local flavor, many talented craftspeople and artists that cannot be found anywhere else or duplicated at any cost?
   Just so you know, I'm not a local, but grew up thinking of New hope as a cultural destination, and quite recently have been spending more and more time in town. I see how the long time residents and merchants do whatever they can to compete in this vastly changing world. They love their town and stand for what's right, and for what's good, not only for the present but for the tenuous future as well.
   And as a reminder to elected officials, the town people voted you in to help preserve this jewel! You are supposed to work for the people...not tell the people how it's going to be! It's like hiring a maid, paying them handsomely,handing over your keys, and your checkbook...and then letting them run your life. It's just not right!
   Why aren't you listening? -Justine Walters

Letter to Yenta 07/16/05
Yeah - you're right in respect it to being on the harsh side. So, my apologies in advance for the tone, though not the content. Providing names of what you refer to as informants would only provide targets for those who want the attention drawn away from the real issues. Generally, when one responds to something true with remarks such as, “obviously just gossip, unsubstantiated, biased and just plain vicious” it is because it has hit a nerve. Why not show some class and focus on the health of this community and less focus on intimidation of those merely holding up a mirror for self-evaluation. As another writer recently stated: "It's a shame to see that even New Hope has been taken over by the society of me, myself and I and my money".

Letter to Yenta 07/16/05
Just read the latest UNSIGNED letter....would the writer please let us in on his/her informant(s), so we may judge the veracity of the "information"...I doubt if we'll get this info, as it is obviously just gossip, unsubstantiated,biased, and just plain vicious So come on, writer, shed the mask,show some class .I'll sign my name...can you do the same ......., Tom Rice 102 S. Main St., New Hope...PS.although I am V.P. of the N.H. Chamber of Commerce, this letter is from ME, and I do not speak for any other than myself...T.R.

Letter to Yenta 07/13/05
Can the corprification of New Hope be reversed and some of the characteristics that once made New Hope a unique & warm place to live and visit ever be re-seeded? Short of the Delaware river (which can't be bought or sold), the town has become a soap opera of money & power, manipulated by a small number of corporate type bozos. Does anyone care or are there not many left that remember the characteristics that once made New Hope? Has the homogenization gone on that long? Borough and various organization officials are in some cases comprised of folks who either hope to benefit financially on the coat tails of the major players, folks that don't have a clue or simply those who get off on the power. I'm not sure which of these is worse. One business is effectively trying to carve out the town's events and activities for their own benefit (and Lambertville's too). A few self proclaimed marketing twinkle butts are busy trying to solidify the towns homogenization for their (and their benefactors) benefit. Another Peddlers Village with a few high end condo complexes? The real estate, rents and character development being controlled by the developers who are buying it up? A few businesses that are in effect scaping the town for their own profits and trying to come off as pillars of the community? A borough council which is thoroughly complicit in the whole affair!! It's all a title wave of bullshit ... which has just about completed it's mummification of New Hope. New Hope has risen from the ash heap before!

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