Vendor payments should be made

Many of us realized, when 'newbo evolve” was first announced with $400 ticket prices, it was going to be a financial bust. That has now come to pass, and it is time to move on. However, a lingering sore spot concerns the payment of vendors.

While it appears the city of Cedar Rapids does not legally have to pay vendors that were stiffed, ethically the city should do so. It's the right thing to do.

The city can argue it was not legally connected to the event, but when people see that city-owned and -run venues were being used to host an event heavily promoted by local politicians, the appearance to most observers was a city-sponsored event. Take the $800,000 owed to vendors from some of the $2 million per year the city was reaping from traffic cameras.

Steve White

Cedar Rapids