Governor Rendell asks voters
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell will be calling
local voters this week encouraging them to
support Mayor McMahon in the November 6
election. "We are making progress, and with
your support, we'll continue our efforts,"
October 27, 2007
Chief Heim: K-9 unit to return
to the streets of Reading
Reading Mayor Thomas M. McMahon
and Police Chief William Heim have
announced that the police K-9 unit
will be up and running with three
specially trained dogs by next
spring. Here's the full story.
October 25, 2007
Mayor McMahon featured on PBS program
Reading Mayor Thomas M. McMahon will be featured on program airing tonight on Public Broadcasting System affiliate WLVT. The program, Tiempo, will air at 7:30 p.m. and will focus on efforts to fight gang activity. www.wlvt.org
October 17, 2007
WFMZ TV reports on Eppihimer calling
Mayor McMahon a "racist"
Local TV station WFMZ featured a news story today about former Mayor Joe Eppihimer labeling Mayor McMahon a "racist." The charge is among others in a 'scandal sheet' being widely circulated throughout the City. "Is it old fashioned politics or grounds for a libel lawsuit," asked WFMZ's Joel D. Smith. You'll find full coverage, and link to the news video, here.
October 17, 2007
Eagle columnist exposes Eppihimer's "mudslinging"
Don Spatz, a reporter and columnist for the Reading Eagle, today says that "Reading's mayoral campaign just went from nuts to nasty."
The Eppihimer campaign is distributing literature that calls Mayor McMahon a racist, and says he wants to remove Latinos from the city. Click here to read the column.
Mayor McMahon confers with the Rev. Nick Camacho and Nelson DeLeon, both of whom have endorsed the Mayor for re-election.
October 17, 2007
Downtown Reading ready for a boom
Today, in an editorial, the Reading Eagle concludes that downtown is "on the verge of a breakthrough," and that public safety is the key to making it happen.
Following a series of articles that examined other downtowns in our region, the newspaper concludes ther is "no single factor" that transforms struggling downtowns -- and what worked in one area may not work for another. However, active engagement of the public and private sectors seems to have been key to successes for many communities.
"For the better part of four decades, there was no comprehensive approach for center city." But the County and City are now working together on a development plan for the Penn Street corridor, and many pieces of the puzzle are coming together. These include the Sovereign Center, the Sovereign Performing Arts Center, the new Miller Center for the Arts and the Goggleworks Center for the Arts. Also in the plans are the new IMAX theatre movieplex, new shops across from the Goggleworks, and new condominiums going up on the 1000 block of Penn Street.
"Reading is on the verge of a revitalization. It won't happen overnight, but it is happening." Click here for the full editorial from the Eagle.
October 14, 2007
In debate, Mayor slams Eppihimer's false accusations
The College Heights Neighborhood Council hosted a debate among candidates for Mayor of the City of Reading tonight at Albright College.
Mayor Tom McMahon took former Mayor Joe Eppihimer to task for a number of allegations being circulated in a scandal sheet -- and at one point, when Eppihimer was making a run for the door after our Mayor was given a chance to respond to slurs from his opponents in their closing remarks, said "Hang around for this one, Joe, because I'm going to set the record straight." The former Mayor accused McMahon of not repaying a loan which the McMahon said he never received in the first place. "You got the wrong McMahon, again, Joe," he said.
Eppihimer shocked the audience, saying he fired Chief Heim in 2000 because the Chief was "cooking the books by falsifying crime reduction information."
Mayor McMahon told Eppihimer, "You better be prepared to back that statement up with evidence."
Eppihimer also drew outright laughter when he said "In my lifetime, I have never been sued." In fact, he was sued more than 20 times during his tenure as Mayor. Eppihimer was shouted down by the audience at one point, when he attempted to speak well beyond the time allowed.
October 10, 2007
Columnist takes to task Mayor's opponents
Referencing a "scandal sheet" being circulated by former Mayor Joe Eppihimer, Reading Eagle columnist Don Spatz today set the record straight about Mr. Eppihimer's fiscal record. He claims when he left office he also left behind a $2 million surplus; in fact, he had racked up a $3 million deficit. In four years, Mayor McMahon has built up a $7 million surplus -- a $10 million turn-around.
The columnist also spotlighted the naive claims of Jenarro Pullano, a Green Party candidate for the office of Mayor, based on comments in a recent candidates' debate aired on BCTV and hosted by the League of Women Voters.
October 2, 2007
Mayor submits preliminary City budget for 2008;
no tax hikes, but more codes officers
Mayor Thomas McMahon yesterday submitted a preliminary budget for 2008 for City Council review and comment.
September 24, 2007
Mayor McMahon endorsed by United Labor Council
Mayor McMahon has earned the endorsement of the United Labor Council of Reading and Berks Counties.
G. Fred Shaeff, Jr., President of the United Labor Council, cited the Mayor's support of Labor issues.
Mayor McMahon is the only candidate standing for Mayor who has been endorsed by labor and the business community; the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced its endorsement earlier this month.
"I am very honored to receive these endorsements from two highly respected organizations, as they are further evidence that we're on the right track," Mayor McMahon said. "There's more to do, and with victory on November 6, we'll keep doing everything we can to bring our community together, promote economic development, fight crime and improve the quality of life for all of our citizens."
September 12, 2007
Mayor McMahon kicks off re-election campaign
Tom McMahon tonight welcomed an overflow crow at his general election campaign kick-off rally at Adrienne's Inn at Centre Park.
Ramona Turpin introduced the Mayor, saying "Tom is my brother, and I love him. He has brought more change to our City than any Mayor in recent history." Her comments focused upon the Mayor's "character, honesty and sincerity," and his "commitment to this City that we love so much."
Nelson De Leon offered a welcome in English, Spanish and Russian. "Tom is inclusivie and invites everyone who will work for our City." He spoke of the Mayor's recent trip to Puerto Rico to brush up on his Spanish.
"There are no other serious or capable candidates for Mayor," Mr. De Leon said. "They are all left of zero."
Mayor McMahon introduced several dignataries present, including State Representative Thomas Caltagirone, State Senator Mike O'Pake, and City Council Members Jeff Waltman, Dennis Sterner, Maria Baez, and Marsha Goodman-Hinnershitz. He also acknowledged many members of his campaign cabinet, including Ginny Hand, his former Chief of Staff.
In remarks, Mayor McMahon expressed gratitude for the support of the voters in the Primary Election, and reflected on that victory. "Voters want more of what we're bringing, and they want it faster. I'm committed to continuing the progress we're seeing in our City. We have a lot more to do, and we're doing it."
He also held up his leadership in the Intitative for a Competitive Greater Reading that has already brought more than $150 million in economic development to Reading and Berks County.
"The City of Reading is a complicated organization, and being Mayor means you have to deal effectively with several constituencies," he said. "Our cooperation with the County is important, renegotiating labor contracts is important, and when we do these things we unleash many possibilities. There is so much more that we will do in the next four years."
Mayor McMahon indicated a goal of closing the transfer of Antietam Lake to the County of Berks as soon as possible, and reiterated his support of Police Chief Heim, whose plan for capturing wanted criminals has driven the crime rate down by 30%.
He also affirmed his support of inter-regional cooperation in fightng crime, busting gangs and disrupting the regional drug trade.
"Our problems are complicated, but the progress is showing up in the statistics," he said. "We are making real progress, we're bringing in new jobs, we're working to strengthen every neighborhood in our City, and now is not the time to shift to a new person who has no idea how City Hall works, or, worse, has proven they have no idea how to lead."
September 10, 2007
Mayor supports renovation of basesball stadium
Mayor Thomas McMahon today reported to City Council that after earlier considering a new stadium be built downtown, he prefers that the existing stadium be refurbished. A new stadium would cost about $67 million, he said, but return only about $5.5 million a year to the City.
Click here for a report from the Reading Eagle.
September 6, 2007
Mayor hosts regional anti-gang summit
Mayor Thomas McMahon today was joined by U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan, Chief William Heim, and other Berks County officials to announce improved tools to fight gang activity along the Route 222 corridor. The group also unveiled a new web site, www.222antigang.org.
Chief Heim touted the educational and prevention resources available at the new web site. "It has a wonderful education and prevention component for parents who want to learn more about gang issues and maybe keep their kids from getting involved."
September 3, 2007
Mayor issues statement on future of city municipal solid waste collection issues; endorses the new system of all households having hauler of their choice
Thomas M. McMahon, Mayor of the City of Reading, has released the following statement on September 3, 2007:
When I took office four years ago, I promised to work hard to make the city cleaner and safer. At that time, I thought the best system for a cleaner Reading would be one that eliminated the finger pointing and the incentive for illegal dumping, by having a single contractor pick up all the trash all over the city.
Other cities have done this and it has helped make cities cleaner. I proposed it and the question then went to the voters of the city of Reading.
At the last election, the referendum was voted down and voters of Reading opted to stay with the current system, one that retains the choice of haulers. This is what the people have chosen and it’s my goal to move us forward and avoid wasting precious energy on a continuous debate
Since I respect that vote, therefore I pledge not to support another referendum on trash as long as I am in the mayor’s office.
What I do pledge to the citizens is to work within the system that the voters have chosen and at the same time, try to find ways to hold the people accountable who do not hire a hauler. I think all of our citizens expect that every property owner, and renter, should do their part to make the city cleaner. Cleanliness affects property values and quality of life for all of us.
Most property owners are responsible and do the right thing by contracting with a hauler, and many have chosen the city contract currently served by Allied Waste. But we know that about 15% have not done so.
City Council recently adopted an ordinance which is designed to close that loophole. This new ordinance will ensure that all residential properties in the City have a licensed hauler.
If a property owner does not choose a hauler, the city will assign that property to the city contract. Trash will then be removed and the property owner billed for the service.
If the property owner fails to pay for the service, a lien will be placed against the property insuring that the city taxpayers will be reimbursed for the cost of picking up trash from that property.
It’s a starting point towards making the system we have as effective as possible.
We can’t go back to bickering over our trash collection system. I believe that most of you agree with that. It's a waste of our time and energy.
With this new legislation the current system should work much better than the old one, when hiring a trash hauler was voluntary. It will help me fulfill your mandates to city government for a cleaner city. It will also help ensure everyone has a responsible, licensed hauler.
This will also help protect the livelihoods of private haulers and free enterprise, which is very important to the voters as well. The debate on trash needs to be over. Our energies must be used to make what we have effective for trash removal and now we need to turn our attention to a well organized litter campaign.
I ask you now to work together with the administration and council to make the city safer, cleaner and attractive with a good quality of life for all our citizens.
It is time to move forward.
August 1, 2007
Mayor Tom McMahon announces Riverfest: the River Sings, to be held September 21-22, 2007
Tom McMahon, Mayor of the City of Reading, announced a smaller focus this year for the City’s annual RiverFest as the City of Reading concentrates its events efforts on planning the celebration of a structure
that’s uniquely Berks County –the Pagoda, completed in 1908. A comprehensive set of events and activities are being planned to celebrate
the centennial anniversary of our local icon through 2008.
Mayor McMahon launched RiverFest in 2004 as a means to reacquaint the citizenry with the beauty of the Schuylkill River and to take pride in out city. Mayor McMahon remarked “with new efforts to revitalize the river area through Riverplace Development Corporation and Reading Area Community College, we have had numerous successful events down by the river. With the new amphitheater and Miller Theater to bring even more visitors back to the city, RiverFest has met its goal. We intend to have a smaller focus this year of music and fun down by the river to preserve resources for the Pagoda celebrations.”
Two evenings of free concerts will be held for RiverFest 2007- The River Sings- the weekend of September 21, 2007. Friday, September 21 will be Celtic and bluegrass night, from 4:00-10:00 p.m. The Mountain Folk bluegrass band will open the show, followed by the Celtic sensation “The Tartan Terrors”, followed by the main headliner “Tanglefoot” quoted as “one of Canada’s most accomplished musical mythologizers!”
Saturday, September 22, also from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., will be Oktoberfest with European polka style bands. Both venues will be in a gated tent, beer garden style with dance floor and food. Beer will be sold with half the proceeds donated to the non-profit Friends of the Liberties Firehouse. Admission to the concerts will be free with photo identification required to purchase beer.
To conclude the event on Saturday at 10:15p.m., RiverFest 2007 – The River Sings - will have its signature fireworks off the Penn Street Bridge.
Additional information on the Riverfest may be seen on the City of Reading’s website at www.readingpa.gov or by calling Cindy Kauffman, Events Consultant for the City of Reading at 610-655-2584.
July 31, 2007
Eppihimer Unfit to be Mayor, Eagle declares
The Reading Eagle reminds voters that Joe Eppihimer was one of "the most unprofessional, incompetent, ineffectual, petty, vindictive, spiteful and vengeful people ever to be mayor of Reading." Here's the story.
July 22, 2007
Mayor McMahon suggests publishing the names of "johns" in stepped-up fight against prostitution
Tom McMahon, Mayor of the City of Reading, suggested today on his blog that he intends to publish a list of people arrested for solicitating prostitutes and outlines some of the efforts planned to crack down on prostitution. Mayor's Blog.
July 9, 2007
Mayor Tom McMahon and Chief William Heim
welcome 18 new Police recruits to Reading;
215 officers to be on the streets in early 2008
Mayor Tom McMahon of the City of Reading and Chief William H. Heim welcomed ten new Reading Police Department trainees at the Reading Police Academy at Alvernia College today. These trainees, along with 18 other academy trainees comprise the class of 2007 at the academy. The Reading Police Department has a total of twelve new hires, two of whom went automatically to field training, as they had previously completed the academy course.
Mayor McMahon remarked “we are pleased to welcome these new police officer trainees to the City. Their hiring completes the eligibility process for Governor Rendell’s Police on Patrol program, giving the City supplemental funding of $50,000 per year for five officers for three years. We appreciate the Commonwealth’s assistance in helping us get more police officers on the street.”
Police Chief William Heim commented that “with these new recruits starting to patrol Reading in the early part of 2008, the Department will increase to 215 officers. This will enable us to further implement crime reduction activities.”
One of the new officers is Nathan L. Matz, a Reading resident and graduate of Kutztown University with a degree in Political Science. Nathan left his job as a Lancaster County Adult Parole/Probation Officer to become a Reading Police Officer. “I want to help ensure the safety and security of my community,” he stated.
Additional information on recruitment for the Reading Police Department can be seen on the City of Reading’s website at www.readingpa.gov or by calling Sgt. Felix Mateo at the Crime Prevention and Recruitment Office at 610-655-6346.
May 31, 2007
Public meeting announced for June 6 to discuss
new amphitheater and riverfront park
Citizens are invited to a public meeting to provide input on the design of a new park and amphitheater planned for downtown's riverfront. The meeting will begin with an open house at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St. at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday June 6, with a public discussion to follow at 6:00 p.m. Free parking is available at the Goggleworks.
The new park will be located west of the new Miller Center for the Arts and new Schmidt Training and Technology Center at Reading Area Community College. It is the first major project coordinated by RiverPlace Development Corporation, and will play a role in the emerging "Entertainment Square" which will include the Goggleworks, a new 10-screen and Imax theatre development which is now under constrution, and the Miller Center. A new parking garage is nearing completion that will serve the entertainment district.
May 22, 2007
Mayor McMahon joins other Pennsylvania mayors,
governor, to promote legislation to fight illegal guns
Mayor McMahon and members of the League of Cities joined Governor Rendell in Harrisburg this morning in support of legislation aimed at curbing the number of illegal guns on the streets in Pennsylvania cities. Mayor McMahon is Chair of the League's Task Force on Reducing Gun Violence.
According to Mayor McMahon, the league favors a number of proposals, including restricted access to firearms by minors and a limit on sales of handguns to no more than one per month to any person. Pending legislation also provides for a registry of stolen guns and requirement for timely reporting of the theft, and setting stiff penalties for anyone transferring firearms to a person who is unqualified to possess or use a firearm. Another measure would enable local communities to enact their own restrictions on the flow, distribution and use of handguns.
According to a news report, "Statistics bear out the mayors' concerns," said WFMZ's Joel D. Smith. "In 2005, the rate of gun homicides rose twice as fast in the rest of the state than it did in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties. 83-percent of total homicides in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Reading and York in 2005 were committed with firearms. And, on the average, more than one person is killed per day in Philadelphia, usually with a firearm."
Click here for coverage from WFMZ.
May 17, 2007
Mayor McMahon thanks voters for victory,
congratulates opponents, and thanks volunteers
Mayor McMahon today thanked voters for their support in the May 15 primary, saying "I am very grateful for this mandate to continue fighting for positive change at City Hall and in the City of Reading."
"Four years ago, we laid out our plans to bring positive change to our troubled community," the Mayor said. "We have worked hard on that agenda, and have had some very positive results. The City is upbeat, our crime plan is working, we're bring new jobs to Reading and to our region, our Governor now calls us Pennsylvania's comeback city, and the voters have endorsed that vision. But we still have more to do."
"I congratulate my opponents also," he said. "To run for public office is an honorable enterprise, and I appreciate their efforts and the personal energies they contributed to a helpful debate about the important issues we face as a City. We had a relatively clean campaign that focused on issues rather than personalities. Each of them contributed to the American democratic process which is, I think, the best on Earth. I hope they will continue to be involved."
He also praised more than 250 volunteers who worked on his campaign for re-election.
"I so appreciate the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and real work our cadre of volunteers put into this effort," McMahon said. "In every neighborhood, I heard that we need to do more as fast was we can, and that we're on the right track. People everywhere are impatient for the change we're bringing. We've charted a course of progress, and the voters have endorsed that. The dedication of committed volunteers who contributed their time and talent is at the heart of our victory. This isn't about me -- it's about making our City better, and people get that, and respond to it."
May 15, 2007
McMahon wins bid for re-election; friends on
Council all win by substantial margins
Mayor McMahon celebrated an election victory tonight, defeating three opponents in the Democratic primary election for Mayor. The Mayor received 2,138 votes, while opponents Moyer received 1,531, Figueroa received 1,683 and City Council President Spencer earned 818; there were 5 write-in votes cast.
Incumbent City Councilman Jeff Waltman defeated his opponent by a 437 to 293 margin. Councilwoman Maria Baez won her race by a vote of 512 to 369. Councilwoman Marsha Goodman Hinnershitz won her re-election bid by a vote of 514 to 299.
"This is a great night for the City of Reading," Mayor McMahon said. "We are making progress, and this round of results is a mandate to continue our efforts for more positive change."
In the Democratic race for County Commissioner, Judy Schwank was once again the top vote-getter in the primary, with 14,302 votes, followed by Tom Gajewski, with 8,575. They will face Republican incumbent Mark Scott and Christian Leinbach in the general election; three will be elected to serve in office in that race.
May 14, 2007
Ground-breaking celebration for new theater complex;
more new job announcements to follow soon
Mayor McMahon joined other community leaders on Monday, May 14, in breaking ground for a new, $10.5 million movie theater complex at Second and Washington Streets. The 10-screen, state-of-the art facility will feature the area's first IMAX theater which will show commercial films; it is scheduled to open next spring. The compex will be operated by Maryland-based R/C Theatres, one of the nation's largest theater operators.
The new complex is across from the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts; the Miller Theatre is nearing completion at Second and Penn Streets, as is a new parking garage at Second and Washington.
"This is yet another link in the chain of economic development we are doing here in the City of Reading," the Mayor said.
Wayne Anderson, Chairman of R/C Theatres, praised the Mayor's efforts to bring the project to fruition. "He worked very hard to make this happen, and the whole team at City Hall was great to work with."
Senator Mike O'Pake was on hand to present a ceremonial check in the amount of $5.25 million, representing the support the Mayor's economic development team secured for the project.
Last week the Mayor welcomed Sun Rich Foods, a Canada-based fruit packaging operation, which began construction on a new facility that will bring up to 250 new jobs to the Buttonwood Gateway in the City. The Mayor will soon announce two additional companies that will be building new operations there, bringing in even more new jobs.
