A disappointing defeat

The voters have spoken, again.

And after Tuesday's defeat of a sales tax extension that would have helped pay for flood protection in Cedar Rapids, the second defeat in less than a year, the message appears clear. Flood protection on both banks of the Cedar River is not a voter priority, or at least not if the protection plan is funded with local sales taxes.

That's disappointing. And in our view, shortsighted. Future Cedar Rapids citizens may look back on this decision years from now, far removed from the fights and grudges of today, and wonder what happened. What exactly made the citizens of 2012 turn away from protecting the city from a threat that was a tragic reality just four years ago?

Only 22.4 percent of voters in the metro bloc cast a ballot. Also, disappointing. But the verdict is clear, and must be respected.

There will be a lot of hashing and rehashing Tuesday's results in the days and weeks ahead. But it's time to move on, and focus on what is now still possible.

The city must continue to push for the federal and state dollars needed to protect the east side of the river from future flooding. The east-side plan has the backing of the Army Corps of Engineers. It remains critically important to protect businesses and vital industries.

The west side will remain unprotected, unless a new approach emerges. Voters given the option of providing local funding for west side protection measures turned it down. Development and redevelopment efforts will and must continue, but without the important shot of confidence future flood protection could have delivered.

The vote is a setback. But Cedar Rapids' recovery must continue moving forward.