Flood recovery in C.R. will be slow but sure

I couldn't agree more with The Gazette's June 12 editorial “Signs of Progress.” I remember that terrible day in 2008 and the unbelievable destruction of Cedar Rapids' core. Being originally from Santa Cruz, Calif., I know all too well what Mother Nature can do. Santa Cruz was near the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and almost 15,000 homes were damaged as well as losing 40 percent of our downtown.

We in California haven't forgotten Cedar Rapids's troubles and have eagerly followed the rebuilding progress. Recently, my partner and I stayed with friends in Cedar Rapids and saw the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library's move, a positive message things are improving.

I know nothing is particularly easy or wonderful about any of this. It continues to be a huge burden to all who lived through the nightmare of destruction. In Santa Cruz, it took more tan six years for our downtown to resume normalcy and it involved tremendous hand-wringing and planning to make it happen. Many streets were ripped up to replace 100-year-old infrastructure, which in the end made Santa Cruz a better town than before - a positive investment in the future.

It will be a few more years, or longer, before Cedar Rapids feels “normal.” Cedar Rapids has a rare opportunity to build a better vision - take the time to put in as much infrastructure as necessary, always support your local merchants and don't be afraid to dream big.

Stewart McKenzie

San Francisco