Driving C.R. requires care

Mayor Ron Corbett was quoted in the Jan. 5 Gazette: “We're having some success in this community because we've put our foot on the gas pedal, and I'm not interested in taking our foot off the pedal, and I'm certainly not interested in tapping the brakes.”

Mr. Mayor: As you drive the vehicle we call “Cedar Rapids” around town, please drive carefully. Some “good driving” tips:

l Regardless of your intended driving strategy, there will be times when you have to slow down. You might want to tap those brakes occasionally to make sure they are working.

l Many of our streets and highways are monitored with cameras - so we will know if you ignore cautionary signs and signals.

l Many of our streets are in such a condition that driving too fast could damage the vehicle.

l Don't take out too much of a lien on the title of the vehicle - we don't want the repo man to get it.

l There will be people in the passenger seat and back seat shouting directions and criticizing your driving. It's not personal; they are worried about arriving safely.

Please remember that we elected you to be our driver. When your driving duties are completed, we would like the vehicle left in as good, if not better, condition than you found it. You have said that we are “open for business.” Let's make sure it's not the used car business.

Joe Kelly

Cedar Rapids