Lessons for C.R. board from recent bond vote

I think what we got with the recent bond vote for Cedar Rapids is, ironically, a teachable moment for the board and the administration.

You enlist a group of engaged citizens to be on a commission to help guide the master plan and they give you their best effort to take into account everyone’s concerns. Then you essentially go against their opinion. It looked completely disrespectful and just a little shady.

This city can give developers like Steve Emerson millions in incentives to restore “historic” buildings downtown for office space nobody wants and we couldn’t come up with a way to save a truly historic school building on the Northwest side. C’mon.

We have a steadily declining student count as people opt out with vouchers and changing demographics. If that’s what Iowans want from their state government then let the private sector pay for the new schools.

Scott Burnett

Cedar Rapids