The Reading Eagle is mum on Reading's Main Street woes

The state’s Main Street program helped West Reading become a regional place to shop, dine and meet friends.

What’s up with Reading’s Main Street program, which helps municipalities get state resources for economic development?

The Reading Eagle has the latest news, but it’s hard to find, in the third paragraph in a story by a stringer in the middle of the B section:

“[Reading Community Development Director Lenin] Agudo and Community Development Manager Crystal Edwards said the nine-member Main Street board hasn't had a quorum since its inception in 2010 and currently has only four members.”

How the city is handling the state designation seems like news to me. But the local newspaper ignores issues such as this.

KeystoneEdge has a big story about how leaders in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are using art to develop their cities.

“Across the state, artists help rebuild and unify up-and-coming neighborhoods.”

What’s going on with Ricktown, Reading’s proposed arts district?

The newspaper is mum.

It appears the paper gets pressure to have big front-page stories when these efforts begin, and pressure NOT to report on them when they fizzle.

I think the public needs to know about such failures and why they happen so the problems in leadership and planning can be fixed.

These are examples of how a lack of good journalism is contributing to Reading’s stagnation compared to other cities in Pennsylvania.