Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate says the failure of a gambling referendum yesterday in Linn County will have no bearing on the city’s 10-and-a-half million dollar “Vision Iowa” grant from the state. Pate says there’s a master plan for using that money to develop the Cedar Rapids riverfront and the city has a plan for meeting the state’s demand that Cedar Rapids match that state grant.Gambling proponents had hoped to open a floating casino in Cedar Rapids if state gaming regulators lift a moratorium on new operating licenses. Pate says he did not endorse the idea of having gambling in Cedar Rapids, but he and the rest of the city council appointed a “citizens commission” to develop plans for including a riverboat casino in the city’s “River Run” concept. Pate believes gambling proponents will probably try to pass the referendum again. Pate says two years is a long time, however, and a lot can change in that time period. He says city leaders need to develop an economic development strategy, and gaming will not be a part of it. Yesterday’s gambling referendum in Linn County failed, with 53 percent voting “no” to gambling and 47 percent voting “yes.”
Linn County gambling vote not expected to hurt Cedar Rapids project
by admin | Nov 5, 2003 | Politics & Government, Recreation / Entertainment