City greenway plan does not include cost to taxpayers

Why does Gazette publish long stories about new government plans and amenities without asking elected officials to even estimate total taxpayer cost?

This is bad journalism.

Let me offer something constructive — it would be fabulous if Cedar Rapids could score $350 million to $400 million in private funds to refurbish the riverfront, as Tulsa, OK, did about 10 years ago. (Tulsa received the money from a private philanthropist.)

But The Gazette allows the mayor and the city council to offer nebulous plans, without much of a concrete funding scheme. At least the NY-based planner got paid $262,800.

This occurs roughly six months after Cedar Rapids school district voters crushed a $220 million referendum for school improvements. The yes vote didn't exceed 40% of all votes cast. Not a single precinct reached the necessary 60% approval percentage.

And yet the mayor and the city council believe buried treasure is somehow available for whitewater activities and ziplining.

And our nation is only about a decade from a day of reckoning in which Congress will be forced to reduce Social Security benefits significantly. Check your Social Security website to verify.

Dreaming won't make our riverfront magically greener and lovelier. Alas, it will make planning consultants' wallets greener.

Kevin Wymore

Cedar Rapids