Daniel Agosto Launches Mayoral Campaign With “A New Direction for Reading” Platform

At a September 19 campaign launch at Pendora Park, Daniel Agosto introduced his “A New Direction for Reading” platform, covering public safety, blight, small businesses, youth opportunities, and city services.

Pendora Park’s field house felt more like a neighborhood reunion than a campaign kickoff on Saturday, September 19, as residents, community leaders, and familiar faces gathered for the official launch of Daniel Agosto’s run for mayor of Reading. People mingled, caught up, and shared hopes for the city. Pastor Ty of Life Impact Empowerment Ministries opened the event with a prayer, giving the afternoon a calm, reflective start. While the launch brought supporters together, it also marked the public debut of Agosto’s policy agenda—a platform he calls “A New Direction for Reading.” Public Safety and Community Presence Agosto placed public safety at the center of his message. One of his key proposals is an RPD Auxiliary program housed directly within the Reading Police Department. The idea is to strengthen neighborhood presence, create a pathway for young people interested in law enforcement, and ease some of the daily workload on sworn officers. He stressed that the auxiliary would support—not replace—existing violence‑intervention programs already operating in the city. Turning Blight Into Opportunity Agosto also addressed Reading’s long‑standing struggle with vacant and deteriorating properties. His “Blight‑to‑Bright” initiative aims to take on roughly 100 of the city’s most problematic structures using stronger code enforcement and tools already available under Pennsylvania law, including Act 135 conservatorship. The goal is to move beyond routine citations and actively push neglected buildings back into productive use. Empowering Reading’s Small Businesses Supporting local entrepreneurs is another major pillar of the platform. Agosto wants to create an “Empower Reading” small‑business hub inside City Hall. Each of Reading’s seven districts would have a dedicated liaison to help business owners navigate permits, grants, financing options, and city services. Agosto said he wants City Hall to feel like a partner to small businesses—not an obstacle. Creating Pathways for Young Residents Youth engagement also plays a central role in Agosto’s agenda. He’s proposing a Youth Advisory Board to give young residents a direct voice in city decision‑making. The platform also includes scholarship opportunities for participants, stronger collaboration with the Reading School District, and targeted outreach for homeless and vulnerable youth. Quality of Life and City Services Many conversations inside the field house drifted toward everyday issues—the things residents deal with constantly. Agosto’s platform highlights the basics: repaving streets, repairing sidewalks, keeping neighborhoods clean, improving city services, and keeping property taxes under control. He also called for a full overhaul of the Reading Parking Authority, a long‑standing frustration for many drivers. More Than a Campaign Launch After the event, Agosto reflected on the turnout and the atmosphere. “Saturday, September 19, wasn’t just about launching a campaign,” he said. “It was about sitting down, talking with people, enjoying ourselves, and having conversations about the city we all call home. Change needs to happen.” He thanked the team behind the scenes—Campaign Manager Luis Negron for handling logistics, RoxAnn for neighborhood outreach, and his girlfriend Monica for transforming the field house into a warm, welcoming space. Agosto joked that he’s still adjusting to the constant photo‑ops that come with campaigning, but throughout the afternoon he stayed focused on listening to residents and explaining his vision for the city. A Campaign Takes Shape With his platform now public, Agosto’s campaign moves into its next phase as election season ramps up. Whether his ideas resonate with voters will unfold in the months ahead—at town halls, on doorsteps, and eventually at the ballot box. But for those who gathered at Pendora Park, the launch offered a clear first look at what Agosto hopes will be a new direction for Reading.