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U.S. Rep. Joseph R. Pitts meets with members of Reading's Latino community on Tuesday at the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center.
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U.S. Rep. Joseph R. Pitts told entrepreneurs and leaders of Reading's Latino business community Tuesday that he is optimistic about Reading and that Latinos will be essential in the city's economic future.
Pitts met with the group for a round-table discussion in the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center on Tuesday about overcoming the issues that affect the Latino businesses most.
Listening and speaking to the audience's concerns, Thomas P. Tillett, the congressman's district chief of staff, said Pitts, a Chester County Republican who represents part of Berks, has a plan to strengthen Reading's image.
"I have spoken to some people about bringing people in from various organizations that are involved in working with cities that are economically distressed," Tillett said, "but we do not want to appear as if we are the white knights coming here to save Reading because that is not the truth."
Pitts' plans include two U.S. Small Business Administration seminars in Reading this fall. Among the topics will be how to access capital and grants, importation and exportation of goods and another about how small businesses can deal with federal government regulation and taxes.
In the meantime, Pitts offered encouragement to those in attendance.
"You have great assets, a great heritage and a great culture," he said. "You need to talk about your assets, not that someone rated you as the poorest city in the nation. The Latino community is going to be the leadership here in a matter of time. Assume your leadership."
That message struck a chord, but Pitts' audience also had a lot to say about the current business climate in Reading.
"Something needs to change," said Johanny Cepeda, owner and manager of the 5-year-old Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe on Penn Street. "I am behind on everything." Cepeda said that taxes, including school, city, county and sales, along with license and permit fees were weighing her down.
Elvin Gutierrez, president of the Reading Dominican Union, said business owners were bearing the cost of government agencies only to be fined by them.
Cepeda also cited parking as a specific problem.
"People don't come into the city because they cannot find parking," she said. "The city is failing me."
Cepeda and others said, and Pitts agreed, that business owners could do a lot to help clean up the city. But many found common ground in the benefits of investing in one another. Daniel Egusquiza, sales manager at the Crowne Plaza Reading, Wyomissing, said they had to collaborate to foster a better economic environment.
"If people are well received in Reading, they will come and stay in Reading," he said.
Contact Anthony Orozco: 610-371-5015 or aorozco@readingeagle.com.
