After first making the list in 2006, debuting as the 50th best place in the U.S. to live in, Middletown has steadily declined over the past 6 years, ranking 86th in 2008, 89th in 2010 and now in 2012, not making the list at all.
So what has transpired over the past 6 years that would lead to Middletown dropping off the list completely? It could be any number of things really, but I would suspect it has a lot to do with the rotten and adversarial politics that has been on display during this time, which has contributed to the over all sense of decline in the quality of life in town.What do I mean by rotten and adversarial politics? Well lets see.
We have an all Republican, five member Township Committee, that has been in control for over 30 years. Gerry Scharfenberger, Tony Fiore, Steve Massell, Kevin Settembrino and Stephanie Murray ( and lets not forget the unofficial 6th member of the committee, the Attorney, Brian Nelson) all seem to have gotten their leadership skills and honesty quotients directly from the national GOP.
Often times residents are looked down upon from the dais with contempt or scorn and told half truths or outright lies when they address the Township Committee on subjects that are not of the normal, feel good, cookie cutter variety. People questioning the Shadow Lake dredging project, those seeking to save the Middletown Swim Club from closure or the building of turf fields come to mind.
Middletown once, not very long ago, had a library that was top of the line, looked upon as a true treasure and revered by many in town. Now, it seems a mere shell of an institution that it once was thanks in part to the Township Committee politicizing and expanding it's Board of Trustees in order get rid of it's long time Board of Trustees President and to confiscation $840,000 of surplus and reserved funds to offset the Township's budget, leaving the library with very little to no funds which could be used to purchase new things like books or computers or to do any capital improvements to any of its facilities.
Middletown no longer has a Parks Department to oversee and maintain it's many splendid and wonderful parks. Many of the parks around down are in need of upkeep; grass needs to be mowed, benches need to be replaced or painted and some have been closed off.
And lets not forget the ugly and protracted - what some would call negotiations, while others would call extortion - labor talks with the members of Middletown Police force, where the Township threatened to layoff 10 policeman and several officers if the local PBA did not agree with their demands to a pay freeze and benefit givebacks. Or the politics of our Board of Education and the decline of our schools test scores.
I can go on and on, there is so much more to say and add as to why Middletown is no longer considered one of the top places to live by Money Magazine, but I'll leave it here for now and a follow-up later.
It will be interesting to hear how Tony Fiore, Gerry Scharfenberger and others "Spin" Middletown's decline on the list, seeing how they previously were so eager to let everyone know and never forget Middletown placement on the list in the first place.
Something tells me however that they will ignore and not mention any of this seeing how there is an election in several weeks.
