INTERVIEW WITH KEN MAISEL

A former small business owner in Princeton, Ken Maisel now dedicates his time to being president of the New Hope Borough Council. He has lived in New Hope for 18 years and has served on the council for 11 years. In his current position, he focuses on municipal development, historic preservation, and green initiatives. Here, Maisel discusses his work.

What do residents tell you they value most about New Hope?

Residents have made it very clear that they want us to preserve the character and history of New Hope. There’s been a lot of positive revitalization over the years, especially along the waterfront, but people also want to make sure we don’t lose what makes this place special. One of the themes we heard loud and clear recently is the importance of maintaining the historic district. Slowly and imperceptibly, things can get eroded. Then you look back 10 years later and ask, “What happened?” We want to be thoughtful about growth while protecting the spirit of the town.

What project are you most excited about right now?

We’re working on what we’re calling a Green Initiative. The idea is to look at all of New Hope’s green spaces as one cohesive system. We have pocket parks and underutilized areas throughout the borough, and we’re asking how they can connect to each other and tell the same story. One area we’re especially excited about is the Borough Hall campus. We’d like to see trails, places to sit, and spaces where people can gather and enjoy the outdoors. New Hope is only one square mile, so this is actually something that’s achievable. We think it has the potential to make a real difference.

What makes local government effective?

For us, it comes down to listening and being responsive. Recently, someone pointed out a problem with a sidewalk on West Mechanic Street. The next day, we were working to address it. What’s important is being able to go back to residents and say, “You brought this to our attention, and we did something about it.” Communication matters. People want to know their concerns are being heard, and they want to see results.

Has a resident ever changed your perspective on an issue?

Absolutely. I’m very open-minded. If somebody says something that’s inconsistent with the way I’m looking at an issue, I stop and ask myself whether I’m seeing it correctly. At a recent workshop, residents spoke about a proposal involving single-use plastics. Their comments made me rethink our approach. Not everything is black and white, and I think it’s important to listen when someone brings a different perspective that has credibility.

Where is your favorite place to spend time in New Hope?

I recently took a walk on the towpath toward Stockton to see how far the water in the canal had worked its way south. It was probably the most spectacular moment of my day. The canal, the river, and the wildlife are reminders of what makes this place unique.

Photograph courtesy of Ken Maisel