Snow removal gets the bum's rush on the city's list of priorities

Mayor McMahon delivered his state of the city speech yesterday, and council voted to prioritize 42 services and activities under its Act 47 rejuvenation.

Snow removal ranked as 32. (Couldn't they release this list in July?) Hazardous material cleanup got short shrift, too. And the Pagoda can go to hell.

The newspaper only lists the top 10 and bottom 15, so we'll have to guess what trumps such outcasts as contributions to the Reading Public Library and free chow for top administrators.

Reading's beloved Joe the Plumber plans to lift the city out of the swamp

Finally, we're getting candidates in this race with some teeth in their gums.

Say hello (again) to Joseph D. Eppihimer, who revealed Wednesday that he aims to reclaim the job he abandoned eight years ago.

Who can forget the wonderful tenure of Mayor Joe, when leaves were green, finances were lean and there was a gamecock in every pot. With Joe back in the saddle, Reading can once again be Shangri-la.

Rather than annoy voters with standard political gas, the feisty 72-year-old said he won't even reveal his platform until early next year. That's because everybody knows his governing style: fire anybody who gets in his face, replace them with cronies and relatives, then bray like a jackal at council meetings when anyone questions his leadership.

Joe in '11!

The volunteers are lining up.