In today’s Cedar Rapid’s Gazette appears an article about a couple that were able to move back into their home after almost two years. They’ve been living in an apartment which means they’ve had to pay both rent and their mortgage. Just six short weeks ago volunteers came and helped them make their home habitable and they were able to move back home. The Gazette reports the sound of the celebration was drowned out almost by the sounds of the destruction of two homes nearby. Do you know why those homes were being destroyed? Because those home owners did not have volunteers helping them rehab their homes. They did not have funds to do it themselves.
On March 3, 2009 the Citizens of Cedar Rapids voted for the Local Option Sales and Services Tax. We were told by the City Council in no uncertain terms that this money would be used to help rebuild all of the flooded homes. They changed that after the vote. I am still upset about it. I am still waiting to hear back from the Iowa Citizens Aide/Ombudsman if they, the City Council are wrong in being able to change the law as they have.
I mentioned in the blog before that perhaps the conversation with Mayor Corbett would be posted on CRsmells.com. The link to the audio of that conversation is now posted. You can go listen for yourselves and hear the Mayor say that it doesn’t matter what we voted for.
Does that anger you or am I in the minority?
