Neighborhood Resolutions Include Meeting Up, Fixing Up And Shutting Up: Block Talk

On New Year’s Eve, millions of people will make resolutions to do better in 2026.

New Year’s resolutions stem from an ancient Babylonian tradition of showing gratitude to the gods for a bountiful harvest and pledging another for the coming year. Fulfilling these vows was a matter of securing divine favor for the coming year, while breaking them risked incurring the wrath of the gods.

New Year’s resolutions in modern-day practice are centered around self-improvement. But what if an entire neighborhood resolved to improve in 2026? What would that look like?

We asked readers of Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column, what New Year’s resolutions they would like their neighborhood to collectively adopt, and what they personally can do to ensure the success of these aspirations. We also asked what resolution they hope a nearby neighbor sets.

‘Love One Another’

A common theme among respondents to the informal survey was for neighbors to genuinely connect at a time when community ties are frayed by the demands of everyday life, increased technology, and rising loneliness and isolation, which was declared a national public health epidemic by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in 2023.

“Put the greatest commandment into practice: Love one another,” said New Suffolk (New York) Patch AM reader Gigi. “Greet each other with a smile, wave, offer help anytime, be there for each other, don’t gossip maliciously, don’t be envious.”

“Be kinder, more tolerant versions of ourselves,”
Barrington (Illinois) Patch reader Jo said, adding that her role in that is to “be an example.”

She hopes the resolution her neighbor makes is simply to “carry on with your beautiful self.”

“How about looking each other in the eyes and actually saying ‘hello’ instead of looking at the ground?” said Wayne (New Jersey) Patch reader Anderson.

And for a nearby neighbor, Anderson suggests this: “How about not parking behind other people’s driveways?”

TR, who reads Nashua (New Hampshire) Patch and Across America Patch, wants the neighborhood to “slow down and take the time to stop, talk, and get to know each other.”

“Also, have a neighborhood get together,” TR said. “What I can do is just keep being friendly and try to get them to open up.”

If TR could make a resolution for nearby neighbors, it would be that “they would take care of their property, so I don’t have to live next door to the worst house on the block.”

Plant Flowers, Don’t Let Them Die

Janet, a Lower East Side-Chinatown (New York) Patch reader, wants her neighborhood to focus on creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment with flower plantings “wherever possible” that residents commit to caring for once they’re in the ground.

“I’m not talking about a community garden — that’s a singular location — but plantings at the base of trees on as many blocks as possible,” she said. “Flowers bring insects of no harm to humans, are cheerful, and affect mood.”

As with all resolutions, a commitment is crucial, Janet said. Flowers have been planted at the base of neighborhood trees at least three times in the past, “but all died because they were not taken care of — no watering, weeds choked them out,” she said.

Janet hopes her neighbor resolves to “keep his recycling garbage and cleaning supplies in his apartment, not in the hall of his doorway, where I have to see it every time I walk out of my apartment.”

Clean Up, Quiet Down, Clear The Air

The community resolution suggested by a Willowbrook (Illinois) Patch AM reader commenting as “Friends of Borse Community Park” is on mission:

“Allow leashed/tagged dogs/pets access in our local parks. Add trash cans with signage to promote keeping the park clean. We have repeatedly voiced and submitted [this] to the neighborhood — and will try again and more times in 2026.”

To an immediate neighbor, the reader suggests promise for “peace and quiet” in 2026.

“Take your loud, huge events to a public place. Babies, pets, the elderly, and shift workers do not get rest if your loud house parties go on all day,” the reader said. “PS, this only seems to come from short-term or rentals. Some people only care about themselves 100 percent of the time, 24/7.”

Upper East Side (New York) Patch reader Robbie wants to see Manhattan community resolutions to clean up the shopping area on East 86th Street and “get rid of the dog park … where there is barking all day,” located at East 91st Street and Second Avenue.

“Ban outdoor burning, including fire pits, and restrict excessive smoke from wood stoves. We need to breathe cleaner air,” said Ann, who reads Milford Patch, Sudbury Patch and Wrentham Patch, all in Massachusetts.

Ann would like for her neighbor to resolve to be less “obsessed with their lawn,” including “loud and too frequent leaf blowing with a very loud gas blower, and loud tractor lawn mowing several times a week.”

Humphrey, Montgomeryville-Lansdale (Pennsylvania) Patch, suggested this: “Mind your own business and don’t be a busybody.”

“No gripes here,” Humphrey said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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