Casino will not benefit our city

To the editor:

Has the Cedar Rapids City Council heard the song 'Let It Be”? I wonder this regarding the casino. The Iowa Legislature said no last April for a license. There are good reasons why a casino in Cedar Rapids would not be practical.

Parking could propose issues as the location would need additional parking. There are several other cities that have casinos - Riverside, Waterloo, Tama, Davenport and Dubuque. All of these are located within a short drive. Also, why pick a location within blocks of a church? Outside the city limits would be more practical especially as there already is traffic congestion with trains and stoplights. It will be much worse if the casino comes.

This opportunity would provide jobs - but what kind of jobs would they be? What this city needs to do is attract additional professional employment. We have several buildings that could be occupied for this purpose in downtown Cedar Rapids, including the property that the city is saving for the casino.

Why not focus on family-friendly entertainment? A casino does not fit the bill. Build an indoor playground or water park as I am sure Cedar Rapids is losing business to other cities for those amenities. I believe the City Council stated that if the casino did not pass, that Cedar Rapids would gain a water park or family-friendly entertainment. I think it should be built elsewhere, though.

Molly Heffernen

Cedar Rapids