The past year for Reading was one of measurable progress built through cooperation and steady management, Mayor Eddie Moran said Friday during his 6th annual State of the City address.
Speaking to more than 300 elected officials, community leaders and residents gathered at the Redner’s Event Center at FirstEnergy Stadium and many more watching by livestream, the mayor described 2025 as a year marked by collaboration, stable growth and steady progress.
“I am proud to say that 2025 tells a clear story, a story of momentum built on stability, on progress, that defines who we are as a city and what we can accomplish when we commit to working together,” Moran said.
Early in the program, Moran asked elected officials, government workers, nonprofit staff, business owners, neighborhood leaders and residents to stand and be recognized, emphasizing that shared effort is behind the city’s recent gains.
“Your presence reflects a unity and shared purpose that continues to move Reading forward,” he said.
Reduction in crime
A central theme of the address was public safety.
Moran cited sharp drops in crime alongside strong emergency response performance.
Jack Gombach, Reading city managing director, leads the Pledge of Allegiance during the annual State of the City address at the Redner’s Event Center in FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“Public safety is one of the clearest places where that momentum shows up in real life,” the mayor said.
Police activity remained high despite staffing gaps, the mayor said, with officers responding to more than 41,000 dispatch calls.
Serious crimes declined by 14% in 2025 compared to the previous year, he said, with double-digit reductions across violent and property crime categories.
Robberies fell by 17%, aggravated assault dropped by more than 20%, and citywide gun violence crimes fell, with shots-fired incidents reduced by roughly 40%, Moran said, adding that the city recorded 12 straight months of double-digit crime reduction.
Specialized units seized firearms, cash and narcotics, including a large methamphetamine bust during a routine patrol.
“These are drugs that are taken off the street because our city officers stay alert, and we are sending a clear message, illegal drugs do not belong on our streets, plain and simple,” he said.
He also pointed to targeted policing and technology investments, including expanded camera coverage and automated access controls in key areas.
Moran also highlighted training and pipeline efforts, noting the police academy’s 50th anniversary and the graduation of 36 cadets last year.
The Police Youth Academy, a community outreach and education program, is also growing, with strong interest from applicants for the coming year, he said.
Fire, EMS services
The mayor devoted significant attention to fire and emergency medical services, citing both performance and community support work.
The annual State of the City address at the Redner’s Event Center in FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Firefighters responded to more than 3,000 calls last year, he said, including over 2,000 fire-related incidents and more than 5,000 EMS calls and assists.
Moran noted response times remained strong, with fire units typically arriving within four minutes and EMS within five to 10 minutes.
The department recorded zero firefighter fatalities and injuries during the year.
He recounted a major three-alarm fire Sept. 3 in the 100 block of North Fifth Street, where crews encountered heavy smoke and limited access but successfully prevented any loss of life.
“No lives were lost, and no occupants were reported trapped,” Moran said. “However, 38 residents were displaced, a reminder that even when response is successful, the human impact is real.”
Moran praised the coordinated response that followed, crediting relief partners and educators.
“In the days after, the city and partners worked together to support the displaced residents,” he said, noting help from the Red Cross, local businesses and the school district. “This is the spirit of community.”
Moran also recognized Fire Chief James Stoudt Jr. for his leadership and upcoming retirement, thanking him for his work in helping to keep the city safe.
Other areas
Beyond emergency services, Moran tied safety to broader city operations, including capital projects, code enforcement, blight reduction and neighborhood upgrades.
Service delivery in those areas has become more responsive, he noted.
“More services requests are being resolved faster and more effectively than in the past,” he said.
Moran also praised local developers, calling them key partners in the city’s progress. These included Leopoldo Sanchez of Super Natural Produce, Alan Shuman of Shuman Development Group and others the mayor thanked for their continued investment in Reading.
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran and his wife, Ruth Errazuri-Moran, pray during the annual State of the City address at the Redner’s Event Center in FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Moran said Reading benefits when developers have a long-term stake in the community and thanked those who “chose to stay here” and keep building rather than walk away, adding that their continued commitment helps turn underused and blighted properties into productive assets that strengthen neighborhoods, expand the tax base and support downtown revival.
The mayor also highlighted the proposed redevelopment of the former Dana site, now known as One Workshop Place.
CMB Development LLC proposes a mixed-use project for the approximately 50-acre parcel in northwest Reading, he said. The project, he noted, is expected to bring hundreds of permanent and construction jobs along with tens of millions in private investment.
Summing up the year, Moran said the city’s direction is the result of collective effort and discipline.
“I’m here to say that the state of the city already is strong, and it’s growing stronger, more confident and more united every day,” he said.