An open letter to Cedar Rapids officials

The hole you've dug for yourselves regarding the mismanaged newbo evolve festival is deep enough.

On Oct. 24, Mayor Brad Hart indicated even if there had been public money protection and oversight protocols in place, 'none of them would have prevented this. The hole was too deep to dig out of.” Please stop talking.

The optics are bigger and wider than you seem to want to face, but they are there, nonetheless. I hear people - voters, if you will - talking in outrage over this mess.

Are we really to believe all of you with your law, accounting, business/development, marketing and banking degrees cannot come up with some plan to pay the $800,000 owed to entertainers and vendors? Have you approached our city's corporate leaders who might be willing to help? Does this city have any properties that could be put up for sale to raise funds?

And, if not, perhaps you might scrape together enough to change the signs to read: Welcome to Cedar Rapids, the City That Reneges on Contracts.

This city's integrity is in danger, regardless of who created the mess.

R'becca Groff

Cedar Rapids