Improve treatment of downtown workers

Despite all the hype about the city wanting a vibrant downtown, when you work downtown, you are treated like a second-class citizen.

Last year, this treatment took the form of the city tearing up the sidewalks on both corners of our First Avenue block at the same time. The effect was to prevent anyone from parking in front of our office and to force everyone coming to our office to jaywalk across First Avenue. To make things worse, the demolition was done immediately but the repairs inexplicably took many weeks to complete.

This year, the city is tearing down two downtown parking ramps so we can have a new events center. This has forced everyone who parked in those ramps to find alternative parking. We moved to the Five Seasons Parking Ramp.

Now the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Cellular Center has been closed for demolition. The only way to cross First Avenue is the pedestrian crossing near the railroad tracks. Each time you cross, you take your life into your own hands.

Perhaps the city might consider the needs of the folks who are already downtown before undertaking any further downtown improvements.

Chris Bruns

Cedar Rapids