License denial a relief for elderly, poor

I'm shocked at Thursday's 4-1 Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission vote to deny a license for the proposed Cedar Crossing Casino. As one who trudged through snow to knock on doors to get a 'no” vote in last year's referendum, I thought it was greased to go the other way.

Then again, I wouldn't have been surprised if the very accommodating City Council had closed First Avenue West for the casino. (Council members, unfortunately, set an east-side precedent several years ago on Second Avenue.)

On the other hand, I am relieved. Casino backers said their plan would create new gamblers and that is exactly why it was so wrong. With so much going for us here, we need not build our community at the expense of the elderly, the poor and the gullible.

Meanwhile, his recent disavowal notwithstanding, Dan Kehl needs to step up and build the water park he proposed a year ago (using his Riverside Casino profits). His last-minute brainstorm right before the election did much to give the pro-casino forces an undeserved supermajority.

Kurt Rogahn

Cedar Rapids