By Anne Levin

During his first run for a seat on Princeton Council in 2021, Leighton Newlin spent a lot of time walking through every neighborhood in town, talking with people about issues that were on their minds. He was halfway into his first term on the governing body when it struck him that few of those people were showing up at Council meetings to ask questions or air their concerns.

“I realized that some people felt intimidated by Council meetings,” he said. “And I thought, if people have questions but are reluctant to ask them, maybe I’ll go out and try to talk to them at a different place every week, and see what the response is.”

That was in April 2023 — the official debut of “Leighton Listens.” On almost every Wednesday since, Newlin has visited a local gathering spot to do just that — listen. Since the first session at Hinds Plaza, at which five people showed up, Newlin has been hearing about issues of concern from a range of people, some of whom have become regulars.

“That first time was a magical moment for me,” he said. “If you move toward people, they will move toward you. It might seem very simple. But if you tell people you will be somewhere to listen and they have something they want to say, they will show up. I love Wednesdays now. I look forward to them.”

Most of the 11 a.m.-to -12:30 p.m. sessions are held at local coffee shops and eateries such as Delizioso, Bagel Nook, Jammin’ Crepes, and Tipple and Rose. Sometimes one person shows up; most times two or three. On two occasions, nobody appeared. “But that was OK. I got some work done,” said Newlin.

Along the way, Newlin has been honing his listening skills. “I’m getting better at it,” he said. “You’ve got to listen through the entire end of what a person is saying. You don’t throw out an answer real quick. I really pay attention. I try to keep my eyes on them. I want to know what their issues are.”

The top priorities are affordable housing, density, and “not in my backyard.”

“That comes up constantly. How we work with historic preservation is another recurring theme,” Newlin said. “Maintenance and upkeep, and trash in the central business district are almost always on tap. Traffic and safety concerns, particularly related to kids moving to and from schools on bikes, is big. Leaf pickup comes up every once in a while. People have questions about PILOTS (payments in lieu of taxes), but most don’t understand them. I’m not central to redevelopment but I’ve been reading up on them, and telling people that they are a means by which we can build affordable housing. There is also a lot of concern about rentals.”

Some of the sessions lead to action. When Newlin visited Elm Court, home to very-low-income seniors, residents complained that there weren’t enough benches along the Johnson Trolley Trail.

“I brought [assistant municipal engineer] Jim Purcell back to talk to them, and he got really involved and engaged,” Newlin said. “And guess what? We got benches out there. That’s the kind of thing that can come through engagement.”

Newlin wants to involve more members of municipal staff and government in future gatherings. “My plan going forward is to have each of my Council colleagues and Mayor Freda go out with me at least once,” he said. “I’m not just listening for me, I’m listening for us.”

While he is happy to provide an outlet for local concerns, “I realize now that it is I who am the greatest beneficiary,” he said. “It’s been more than validating. I’m listening to hundreds of people. Being local is being accessible. As a local official, you’ve got to get out there and meet people where they are at. When they know you have no hard stop time, that you will hear what they’re saying, that makes the difference. It’s a constant campaign. I’m not asking for your vote. I’m asking for your help. To me, that should never stop. If you really are doing this job fully and right, your commitment should be consistent. I never stop.”