14 Things People Want To See Happen in Middletown

On Tuesday we asked Middletown-NJ Patch Facebook readers to comment on "It's a new year, and a chance for improvements. What changes do you want to see in town?" 

Here are their wishes for 2014: 

• How about new Christmas decorations. The display at the jug-handle on Rt. 35 across from township building is so embarrassing. How about actually picking up the leaves on time this year. How about actually inspecting the storm damaged homes, specifically those homes that are rented out. 

• How about reopening Bray Ave bridge!

• I want to see the return of Steak n' Ale or at least something decent in its place.

• Picking up the leaves!!! Downright dangerous on our street - especially as a cut thru from the highway to Middletown High School North.  

• Start cracking down on commercial landlords that let property sit taking the tax write-offs instead of making property more attractive 

• Highway 35 is starting to look like the stretch of Highway 36 of empty commercial property.

• Go after cars speeding in residential areas. We live on a 25 mph road with lots of walkers and strollers. Cars consistently fly by at 40 mph or more.

• Focus on the schools that appear to have drug and bullying issues. We pay a lot of taxes in the town for good schools... and yet some schools seem to have a lot of problems. Community starts young.

• Quicker turn around wait for permits to knock down and rebuild..thank you!

• Brighter street lights! It's way too dark on the side streets.

• Quicker leaf pick up. Still have leaves in front of our house.

• Weekly recycling and twice yearly brush and leaf pickup!

• How about going to other towns and giving our road crew lessons on how to clean the streets after it snows. It is an embarrassment that other towns half or even less then half our size can get the roads cleaned after snow but Middletown is a mess.

• a WalMart!

• For East Keansburg, Port Monmouth, Belford and Leonardo to secede and become Bayshore Township. Although we are part of Middletown, they sure don't treat us like it!