Corbett Wants to Try Again for CR Casino for Flood Protection Funds

[Mat_Hawks]

How would it create more gambling revenue statewide? 35% of revenue comes from problem gamblers. Are there that many of those in our state to tap? I see buses from CR to Meskawki on 30 all the time.

My co-worker would definitely visit a CR casino more often. He currently goes to Riverside or DBQ a few times a month on weekends only. A local casino that woudn't require 2 hours of travel (round trip) would allow him to go more often, especially on weekdays. I have been to Riverside a few times since it opened. I'm not really a gambler but I would visit a CR casino if it were available.

Also, don't forget that the CR casino was going to be smoke free. That would capture a lot of potential gamblers that can't stand the smell of smoke.

 

[mstp1992]

I get what you are saying, I just don't think there are that many new gamblers out there.

(no message -- wrong post)

 

[fredjr82]

I get what you are saying, I just don't think there are that many new gamblers out there.

Well there's a couple in this thread. I know my wife and I would certainly visit the casino more often if we had one here in CR. We never drive down to Riverside or Tama, but most certainly would find ourselves at the casino more often than not on date night.

 

[fredjr82]

Also, don't forget that the CR casino was going to be smoke free.

It was only going to be smoke free after the it was denied by the Gaming Commission. Some guy was trying to get it pushed through legislation but it never went anywhere. The original plan was smoking all along, although most of the casinos have a "non smoking" area.

 

[Mat_Hawks]

It was only going to be smoke free after the it was denied by the Gaming Commission. Some guy was trying to get it pushed through legislation but it never went anywhere. The original plan was smoking all along, although most of the casinos have a "non smoking" area.

You are correct, got my timeline mixed up.

 

[lucas80]

I just finished reading Mississippi River Tragedies: A Century of Unnatural Disaster. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids need to stop putting stuff in flood plains.
All across America the emphasis should be getting out of flood plains instead of incentivizing expansion into areas that will eventually flood. Man just cannot control water. Eventually it gets to the place it wants to go to. Stop putting stuff in it's way.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I just finished reading Mississippi River Tragedies: A Century of Unnatural Disaster. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids need to stop putting stuff in flood plains.
All across America the emphasis should be getting out of flood plains instead of incentivizing expansion into areas that will eventually flood. Man just cannot control water. Eventually it gets to the place it wants to go to. Stop putting stuff in it's way.

Too late.

Actually I agree with you. And I think CR is being smart about the things that are being built close to the river. They are putting the critcal infrastructure controls on the roof instead of the basement, putting parking on the lower levels that can survive a flood. The new amphitheater downtown can withstand a flood.

 

[isufan21]

I just finished reading Mississippi River Tragedies: A Century of Unnatural Disaster. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids need to stop putting stuff in flood plains.
All across America the emphasis should be getting out of flood plains instead of incentivizing expansion into areas that will eventually flood. Man just cannot control water. Eventually it gets to the place it wants to go to. Stop putting stuff in it's way.

Unfortunately the federal government has told Cedar Rapids they would not help out with the costs of the west side flood protection due to the wall costing more to build than damage would be done to property. Cedar Rapids is giving incentives for people to remodel build new over there in hopes that they can increase the property value by enough that the federal government would pay for part of the protection.

Of course that would put Cedar Rapids in the same position they are currently in on east side of the river protection, where the corps plan for a $100 million flood wall has a near 1/1 ratio for cost to potential damage prevented. Which is making it get passed over for projects in other communities that have a better ratio.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Corbett's actually been doing a pretty good job. I still maintain one of the toughest things in dealing with the 2008 flood was the city had just changed forms of government from full-time mayor and department heads to part-time mayor and council. Nobody really knew what to do (it seemed like) especially since they all had occupations outside of the city government. On top of that Kay Halloran (then mayor) was having some significant health issues that prevented her from providing any sort of leadership.

I am not shilling for Corbett, nor railing against him, but I agree very much with the notion that ALL of the Cedar Rapids city government deserves a major atta boy/girl for their collective efforts following the epic flood in 2008. The amount of turmoil that went along with the immediate reaction to that event and then the multi, multi year rebuild process is virtually impossible to wrap one's mind around.
Overall, the city of Cedar Rapids, helped in large part by their leaders, including Corbett, deserve a lot of credit for a job well done. Certainly, someone will be quick to point out that this or that took too long or didn't get done the way they preferred, etc, but an honest evaluation of the collective effort is worthy of respect and admiration.

Having said that...I am skeptical about the likelihood of "flood protection" ever getting done enough to make a real difference should the Cedar River make a repeat performance. I personally think that the only real flood protection is to stay out of the flood plain...but that ain't happening, I know. I just think that when Mother Nature gets that angry, there is no berm, or gate, or whatever that is going to be fail safe. But that's an opinion...if that's where CR wants to put their money, so be it.

 

[JRHawk2003]

They did take some stuff out of the floodplain, but its pretty hard to re-locate the downtown. It was mostly old housing that they razed.

 

[thedirtyglass]

Agreed, but a dog track and a casino are two completely different animals. I think it is crap by the gaming commission, but CR made its bed now it has to lay in it. How uncreative is the local government there anyway, this is their only plan to generate more revenue?

well, they could always put up more speed cameras

 

[thedirtyglass]

They don't need a casino, but they want those funds. It wont bring in out of state money. It will cannibalize Riverside and Meskwaki. Of that there is no doubt. The whole thing just looks unsavory.

a casino going member on the wifes side of the family thinks that If an in town casino is tight with the payouts and are better in riverside, the frequent gamblers will still go there.

 

[who r u]

Right, but it would not create more statewide revenue, it just shifts some to CR.

Mertz, a farmer, cast the lone vote in favor of the Cedar Rapids casino proposal. She said the state would see a revenue boost from a new Cedar Rapids casino and that the new competition would be good for Iowa's casino industry.

Iowa's casino industry, like farming, always comes with a risk, she said.

 

[Chewback]

I got nothing against CR, it was my home for over 30 years. They have made a lot of improvements since the flood that are very impressive. Especially embracing the biking community. That's why I don't understand why they can't move on from the casino and come up with a plan b.

They need more bike trails. That would stop the floods for sure.

 

[joelbc1]

Obviously the civic leaders in CR have to step up and support Terry B. better. Teflon Terry is all about paybacks...look who owns casino licenses and guess where their money goes. Polk County got Prairie Meadows because the Horse Racing folks supported Terry. Folks in CR are not kissing the Governator's ass enough.

 

[GarryO37]

Well there's a couple in this thread. I know my wife and I would certainly visit the casino more often if we had one here in CR. We never drive down to Riverside or Tama, but most certainly would find ourselves at the casino more often than not on date night.

I agree with this. I don't go to Riverside or any other Casinos simply because they are too far away and not worth it. I would go to a Cedar Rapids Casino several times a year to drop a few C-Notes. That's better than the no times a year I was going previously.

There are quite a few more new gamblers to be had in the surrounding CR area than JR thinks.

 

[The_Joker13]

They need more bike trails. That would stop the floods for sure.

That doesn't make sense.

 

[GarryO37]

That doesn't make sense.

It does if you think about it.

 

[The_Joker13]

It does if you think about it.

Go on...

 

[Chewback]

Go on...

Too deep for him, Garry.

 

[The_Joker13]

Too deep for him, Garry.