Joseph M. DeStefano has spent his entire life in Middletown.
Born in the city in 1958, DeStefano grew up here, attended local schools, opened businesses downtown and first entered public service as an alderman before becoming mayor in 1993. Today, as Middletown continues to grow and welcome new residents, businesses and cultures, he sees America’s 250th anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on both the nation’s history and the future of the community he has called home for nearly seven decades.
“To me, it’s the freedoms—celebrating freedom,” DeStefano said. “I also think of all the soldiers who passed in battle to protect all those freedoms.”
For him, America 250 is not only “a big celebration,” but also “a day to remember the price that was paid by many to protect the freedoms that we have today.”
“We need to honor those that brought us to this point,” he said.
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Celebrating America in Middletown
Middletown is planning its own local celebration this fall. In October, the city will hold a major parade combining its traditional fire parade with a “Discover America” celebration, while also recognizing the area’s Latino culture and other communities.
“We’re trying to do what we can do on a local level to celebrate this,” DeStefano said. “But mostly, as I said, it’s to appreciate what we have in this country.”
Middletown itself reflects one of the ideas often associated with America: people from different backgrounds building a community together.
“Historically, we’ve always been a diverse community,” he said. “Cities in America are basically the melting pots for society.”
The mayor noted that Middletown is home to people who speak “dozens and dozens of languages,” representing different races, ethnicities and religions.
“We welcome all,” he said. “Our community has sustained itself based on immigration and immigrants, and we’re continuing to fulfill that model that we’ve developed in our city—to welcome immigration, to welcome families, and to offer something special for people to live, work and play in our community.”
A city coming back together
Looking at the past decade, DeStefano said he is especially proud of the reinvestment taking place throughout Middletown.
“I think the investment, the reinvestment in our community, the expansion of our parks, the school system’s tremendous rise in not only attendance rates but college attendance, and quality of life in the community,” he said.
He also pointed to the city’s continued reduction in crime and the changes taking place downtown.
“People are feeling comfortable coming downtown. They’re walking, they’re socializing, and people are getting back together,” he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic, he acknowledged, created divisions and isolation. But today, he sees signs that people are reconnecting.
“I see people coming back together and uniting for one Middletown and one country,” he said.
DeStefano credits much of the community’s strength to the many organizations and groups that bring people together—from the Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis and Elks Club to the Business Improvement District and newer cultural organizations.
“Those are the things that have always made our community well and prospered—different communities coming together for the public good,” he said.
From industrial town to growing community
Like many American cities, Middletown experienced difficult years as businesses and residents moved away from traditional downtown areas.
“In the ’70s, cities like Middletown suffered from exodus,” DeStefano said. “People moving out of cities, and businesses moving out of cities into malls.”
But over the past 10 to 15 years, he said, significant investment in commercial properties, housing and neighborhoods has helped reverse that trend.
“If you want to have a vibrant downtown, you need to become a customer of some business downtown,” he said. “Whether it’s a cup of coffee, buying expensive clothing, visiting New Middletown, or any of the other cultural things—the Paramount Theater—all these things come together to make a vibrant community.”
Arts and culture have also become an important part of Middletown’s identity. The city, once known primarily as an industrial community, has shifted its focus toward “arts, education and service.”
Today, Middletown is home to three colleges—Touro Medical, SUNY Orange and Fei Tian—and all are looking to expand.
“That’s bringing new blood into our community, younger folks into our community, and gives the community a different vibe,” DeStefano said.
Looking toward the next 250 years
What excites the mayor most about Middletown’s future is its continued growth.
“We were the fourth fastest-growing city in New York State during the last census period,” he said. “People are moving here for a reason. They’re moving here for the amenities that are offered. They’re moving here for what the city has to offer and what our school district has to offer.”
He sees opportunities for further growth through expanded water and sewer services, new development and continued investment in housing and infrastructure.
Still, as America marks 250 years, DeStefano said the most important message is to remember how the country reached this point—and not take its future for granted.
“Remember how we got here, and remember how important it is not to lose it,” he said. “You can lose it very quickly.”
“As far as democracies go, we’re still very young. Two hundred and fifty years is very young compared to Europe, to Asia, the rest of the world.”
“What we have is strong,” DeStefano said. “We need to protect it, and we also need to celebrate what we have.”
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