Middletown Mayor: We Need Businesses To Weigh In On Reopening

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — When asked by Patch today, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said there is "no question" that New Jersey reopening needs to happen faster. He also said the state needs to hear from small-business owners to get their two cents on reopening, something he said is also not happening.

"We have employees and business owners that are struggling," said Perry. "There are restaurants right here in Middletown that will not open if it's only at 25 percent occupancy; it's not financially worthwhile for them to do so."

In total, Middletown has had 596 cases of coronavirus, but many of those people have recovered. There have been 134 new cases in Middletown since May 3, but "87 of them came from long-term care facilities," said Perry.

Middletown has seen 15 residents die from COVID-19.

"We need to ask businesses what is best for them. We have an obligation to get across what they have to say; they are the ones who have to make payroll," said Perry.

To that end, Middletown launched this small-business survey, and Perry said he will make sure the results are seen by Gov. Phil Murphy.

"We need to start reviving our economy, whether it's Middletown's economy, Monmouth County's economy or New Jersey's," said Perry, a Republican. He said Murphy needs to "Tell us the threshold: Where do we have to be in terms of testing. If he can provide that to the public and small businesses, they can plan properly. Then people will have an understanding of what the governor is looking for."