The mayor isn’t selling the sales tax extension

A Gazette editorial asked Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett for a road map. He doesn't have one. Another editorial cited the importance of trust. He hasn't earned it. The facts and numbers stacked formidably against the mayor show:

The mayor campaigned and promised to improve city operating efficiency by 15% - he reneged.

He misclaims that the city will be protected from flooding (from the proposed plan) - the Corps of Engineers says only 91 percent of the time, based on outdated, drier climate data. Current, wetter climate data will worsen protection to about 60 percent. Iowa casino slot machines pay back 94 percent of the time, and gamblers lose their money on them.

City residents rejected a casino and won't gamble money on a 94 percent slot payback - much less their businesses and homes on a 91 percent payback.

Iowa City and Coralville residents were told the Coralville dam protected them from flooding - but were flooded twice in 17 years. Des Moines residents and businesses were flooded six times in 33 years when the Saylorville dam emergency spillway was topped.

The mayor insists on dangerously occupying the Cedar River flood plain - at prohibitive costs and risks.

Recklessly hitting the throttle, blowing the whistle and running red lights, as the mayor does, is disastrous. His sales tax increase must be soundly defeated!

Dick Fredericks

Palo