Letter: Bring a smoke-free casino to Cedar Rapids

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission couldn't have been more deliberate in dividing the population and economic center of Cedar Rapids, plus the surrounding communities as a gift to existing casinos.

Get a map and put a dot on the following cities: Waterloo, Tama, Riverside, Bettendorf, Clinton, Dubuque and Marquette. Now connect the dots, you have a circle of cannibal casinos around Cedar Rapids, draining its economic base.

Cedar Rapids, being the center of the economic circle, should have the opportunity to draw on what is local and not have it taken away. The seven surrounding casinos need to get more creative and competitive, if they offer better payouts, entertainment, lodging, meals and service that a new Cedar Rapids casino can't match, they would reap the rewards.

A Cedar Rapids casino could keep and return to the community what has been taken away for years. Start anew with a smoke free Cedar Rapids casino, let us see what happens!

Bert Graham

Marion