Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.: Traffic gate gets stuck again in down position at New Hope & Ivyland Railroad crossing, Stockton Ave. and W. Ferry St. after train passes.

Auto traffic backs up until a few more daring drivers move around the obstacle. Recent repairs to the track a few hundred feet down involved?

Road to Nowhere? New Hope PA Spending $468,000 to Guide Visitors Away From Downtown

The Times of Trenton recently reported that Pennsylvania taxpayers will largely be paying for New Hope's $468,000 "Cultural Canal Walk."

According to the Times, "the new walkway would guide visitors from the borough's new parking lot, which accommodates motorists arriving via Route 202, away from the borough's heavily trafficked downtown, where even metered parking is scarce." Full story. http://bit.ly/2YpN0

Several recent trips down New Hope PA's Main Street, however, revealed a multitude of vacant parking spaces and shops as the Borough's economy erodes through non-benign neglect.

"Theoretically, the tourists would park their cars and follow the proposed landscaped 800-foot pathway on the western bank of the Delaware Canal," The Times continued. "It will conclude at the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad Station."

As is widely known, however, New Hope visitors mostly desire to be downtown, because that's where the "action" is. Developer George Michael's non-central, troubled Union Square corporate park does not seem of as much interest to tourists these days with the flight of key attractions Michener Museum, 5th Season, Blue Raccoon, and others.

Why are Borough officials so interested in sending tourists to the local version of Siberia?

The Times reports that "Borough Manager John Burke said, "We are overjoyed at receiving this additional grant. We had a project that was "shovel ready' (in qualifying for funding.)"

That rings true; the Borough seems to be shoveling it on pretty thick with this solution in search of a problem, in this author's opinion.

Maybe it's time Borough officials, three of whom are running for re-election this fall, to focus on bringing visitors back to New Hope's downtown, instead of pushing them away.

New Hope PA to Crack Down on Hordes of Terrifying Motorcycle Riders

Is cracking down on New Hope, PA visitors that ride motorcycles such a great idea?

Tourist traffic in the Borough is down more than 50%, and discriminating against all bikers, instead of the selfish few, does not seem helpful at first glance to visitors, merchants, or residents.

Many residents moved to New Hope knowing that it's a noisy place. Having more than 25 liquor licensed establishments, live music nearly every night, numerous street events, and summer tourist traffic is a plus to some people, a negative to others, and often a mixed experience for residents.

It's easy to sympathize with residents' noise sensitivities. Citizens certainly have the right to pursue their lives in peace. But so do those who choose to travel on a two-wheeled vehicle rather than a four-wheeled one.

And, frankly, the construction noise in recent years from unfettered real estate development in New Hope has easily exceeded the noise level from any motorcycle-related activities.

New Hope Borough Council has done enough already to harm the underlying economic base of the town. They tax businesses, employees, and residents at a high rate and in recent years went on a spending spree fueled by aggressive ticketing practices and parking meter revenue.

In fact, many parking meters do not appear to function well, and complaints of overcharging are rampant. Police have been known for ticketing vehicles for being merely an inch too far from a curb or over a fading line.

New Hope Borough Council might consider focusing on creating jobs and tolerance, instead of "cracking down" on anyone but themselves for not properly managing New Hope's economy and for making visitors feel unwelcome.

And if you're in New Hope PA and see a car, bike or truck making too much noise idling in traffic, snap a photo with their license plate and we'll post it on the Web and help you complain.