Shops will revitalize CR downtown

What is happening to Cedar Rapids? Years ago, this great city's streets were filled with shoppers. Today, the streets are full of parked cars, but you don't see a single soul walking down the street. Why? The town itself is dead. Nothing here anymore. Sure, lots and lots of beautiful buildings, but no stores for shopping.

Mayor Ron Corbett is pushing for the casino. Why? His folly, the center, is dead. After meetings, the convention goers needs some place to go. They want to shop and to see what Cedar Rapids has to offer.

I remember when school teams were in town for tournaments. The stores were full of teenagers looking for something to take home. They aren't about to hop a bus or take a taxi to visit the half empty malls. They have their own Wal-Mart and Target at home. No need to visit them here. As for convention visitors, they will come once. Nothing here. They are the ones who decide if they are coming back, not your chief executive officers.

Why are we rebuilding malls? Go back and fill up all the stores in Cedar Rapids. Wake up your dead city. How many people actually drive downtown? Very few. Most of them are swinging around Quaker Oats on Interstate 380. All they see of this once great city is what they see off those bridges as they cross the Cedar River.

Dorothy Krivanek

Cedar Rapids