Will city put convention center before buyouts?

Cedar Rapids has another gap to fill. This new gap is the money needed to upgrade the U.S. Cellar Center and build a convention center next to the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel.

The first gap was for the flood victim buyouts. I suspect the City Council will work much harder on filling the new gap than it has on the buyouts gap. Flood victims still are waiting for buyout money, even though the city has been collecting sales tax money for this.

I do not oppose updating the U.S. Cellular Center; however, we should not close Third Street between First Avenue and A Avenue to build the convention center. That street is needed for good traffic flow and for emergency vehicles when trains are blocking east/west traffic.

Dan LeGrand

Cedar Rapids