Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon


Mayor’s Report To City Council
July 11th, 2005

McMahon Plan for Reading

This administration will continue to address issues coming to the forefront of my attention in terms of the four major tenets of the McMahon Plan. The major elements of the plan are:

1. Crime and Public Safety issues
2. Economic Development
3. Building neighborhoods
4. City Finances

Crime and Public Safety

1) In the next month, I will be convening a committee to replicate the successful Cops n Kids Reading program that has been done in the Bethlehem area. Retired police, school administrators and teachers, and media personalities will be working with the Mayor’s Office to begin this program designed to encourage children to read and find safe forms of recreation.

2) Here is a listing of the anti-crime campaign events currently planned in the City of Reading that are planned for National Night Out on August 2nd:

3) College Heights will have its 3rd annual Ice Cream Social in conjunction with National Night Out at 6:30pm at Hampden Park. They have invited the 13th & Green and the 11th & Pike Crime Watch Groups.

They’re planning on having a banner across 13th Street announcing National Night Out after clearing it with Kyle Zeiber.

4) Reading Volunteer Crime Watch, Inc. will be hosting neighborhood block parties from 6-8pm. They are supplying hot dogs, drinks, and Crime Watch handouts, etc. They are asking that if anyone would like to bring anything, they need snacks.

4a) District No. 7 will be at Centre Park in the 600 block of Centre Avenue

4b) District No. 8 will be in front of 1566 Haak Street

4c) District No. 10 will be in front of 707 Warren Street

4d) Officer Robert Dunmoyer will be taking the DARE car to the different crime watch districts.

5) Given the recent tragic drowning in the Schuylkill River, the following was written by Fire Chief Rehr with respect to river safety: “The “dog days of summer” can be an invitation for a refreshing swim in the cool waters of the Schuylkill. While it is not illegal to swim in the river, it is not advisable. The recent drowning tragedy emphasizes how deceiving the benign appearance of the river can be. What seems to be a shallow riverbed of three-foot deep slow moving water can suddenly become, in one step, a fifteen foot deep channel, with a dangerous undertow, that is far from the shoreline. The unexpected plunge into deeper water can challenge an experienced swimmer, let alone someone who can’t swim. Even rescue personnel who occasionally have to venture into the river wear personal flotation devices and other life-saving equipment. The Schuylkill can be best enjoyed from its tree-shaded banks, where you can at least safely dangle your feet in the cool water.”

Economic Development

1) Opening of the Goggleworks is slated for an Arts Weekend on September 18 from noon to four p.m. Carriage rides will be run from the Goggleworks to the River and multiple arts venues will be participating in the weekend events, such as the Reading Public Museum and the Friedman Gallery at Albright College.

2) The Board of the Reading Parking Authority has approved retail space for the first floor of the 2nd and Washington garage.

3) Sister City relationships: As many of you already know, I took my vacation this year with the Berks County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council to Russia. During this time, I was able to establish business, educational and cultural contacts and we are exploring the possibilities of an additional sister city with Penza or Togliatti in Russia. This week, a small contingent of us will be traveling to Reutlingen, Germany for a reciprocal visit with Lordess Mayor Barbara Bosch, who visited Reading last summer. We will be formalizing our agreement with Reutlingen at a ceremony in their City Hall and meeting with leaders from other sister cities, including Aarau, Switzerland, Szolnok, Hungary, Roanne, France and Neston, England. We are optimistic that many economic development, educational and cultural opportunities will enfold as we begin to market Reading as an international destination for business and pleasure.

4) Special thanks are due again to Traffic Enforcement for the fine job they are doing with the Jehovah’s Witness conventions. Many reports are coming to the Mayor’s Office on the professionalism of our police force and the enthusiastic reception that all visitors are receiving from our community. This will have a great economic impact on the entire community.

Neighborhoods

1) Meetings have begun with the Berks County Conservancy, the Penn’s Common Neighborhood Association and the Recreation Department to create a new Playground for City Park and begin the work for a master plan of the park.

2) Please join me in patronizing and welcoming three new restaurants to our downtown: Ocean Blue, a steak and seafood restaurant in the Wachovia building at the 600 block of Penn; Café di Gemelli’s, a restaurant in the 300 block of Penn in the old Chubby’s Sandwich site; and Mezcal’s, a new Mexican restaurant near the Sovereign Performing Arts Center on N. 6th Street.

3) A good time was had by all at the 2nd annual International Latin Festival of Reading in City Park sponsored by the Centro Hispano These events promote an awareness and understanding about the strengths and needs of our Latino community.

Upcoming events

1) Riverfest 2005: Friday, September 23-Sunday, September 25, 2005

2) Mid Day Cafes: Wednesday, June 29 A MidDay Café with Antiques & Oldies

Wednesday, July 13 A Greek and Gardening MidDay Café

Wednesday, August 3 A MidDay Café for the Kid in All of Us

3) Wachovia Bandshell Concerts in City Park:

Friday, July 16th:Entrain (percussion grooves)

Friday, July 22nd: Richard “Jah”Ace and the Sons of Ace (reggae)

Friday, July 29th: J Street Jumpers (swing and jump blues)