Tag: Middletown

Middletown Ramps Up City Codes in Response to New York Bail Reform

During the past three years, the City of Middletown under Mayor Joseph DeStefano enacted several codes to ramp up local prosecutions of low-level offenses. Among them, an amended fireworks law and a new quality-of-life code took offenses traditionally in the domain of the county district attorney’s office into the hands of city prosecutors. Swift fines are…


Orange County Sales Tax Growth Slows Down at Midyear Mark

After growing at higher-than-expected rates for two years, Orange County’s sales tax collections slowed down the momentum at the midpoint of the year. Sales taxes are the largest revenue source for the county, covering nearly half the annual expenses. By the end of June, the county collected $117 million in sales tax revenue, almost the…


NY Sen. James Skoufis Announces $2.5 Million Grant for Middletown Parking Garage

New York State Sen. James Skoufis announced a $2.5 million state grant on July 12 to build a new parking garage in downtown Middletown.   The money will fund the first-phase construction, adding 90 new parking spots just across the historic Paramount Theatre on Washington Street.  “It is probably fair to say that a project…


Middletown Passes Resolution in Support of New Forensic Psychiatric Hospital

The Middletown City Council passed a resolution on June 6 to support the construction of a new state forensic psychiatric hospital to replace the old facility on the New Hampton campus. The new hospital will tap Middletown’s water and sewer systems through lines to be constructed along Route 17M, a win-win for both the state…


Middletown District Voters Pass $253 Million School Budget

Middletown district voters on May 16 passed a school budget of over $253 million by a 3:1 margin, according to the unofficial election results. This year’s budget jumped by $25 million, or about 10 percent, from the past year, while the tax levy remains flat at $72 million. The lion’s share of the budget increase,…


Middletown Amends Zoning Code to Ban Cannabis Sale

Middletown’s City Council passed a zoning law amendment on May 16 to ban cannabis sales on any property within the city boundary. Violators are punishable by fines between $250 and $2,000 or jail time of up to 15 days. City Council President Miguel Rodrigues told The Epoch Times that the amendment allows the city to regulate…


Classical Performances Delight Paramount Theatre Audience in Middletown

A gala showcasing classical Eastern and Western art forms attracted about 200 attendees at Paramount Theatre in Middletown on May 8. The Spring Moonlight Gala was put together by faculty and students at Northern Academy and Fei Tian College at Middletown to share classical beauty with local audiences, according to Alison Chen, dance department vice…


Andrew Moore Runs for Middletown District School Board

Andrew Moore, a father of three and a real estate agent, is running for a seat on the Middletown District school board to be the voice of parents and students, he said. Born and raised in a high-crime neighborhood in Brooklyn, Moore managed to walk on the right path—he thanks his parents and mentors for their…


Middletown School District Board Member Kevin Gomez Runs for Reelection

Kevin Gomez, an attorney and father of four children attending the Middletown School District, is seeking another three-year term on the local school board. During the past six years, Gomez has used his board post to raise awareness on issues that he considers important, including school safety, full state funding, and state mandate reform. As…


Middletown Mayor DeStefano Delivers State of the City Address

At a State of the City address on April 4, Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano reflected on the past year’s work while recounting challenges brought by state laws and expressing hope for future growth. The city’s crime went up in 2022 following years of decline, a trend in part brought by the bail reform and met head-on…