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 Todd DormanTodd Dorman is a columnist for The Gazette. His blog has been bringing smiles to readers' faces since November 2007. |
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Crunched LOST numbers give a clear signal
(Today’s print column)
Tuesday’s rejection of a local-option sales tax extension for flood protection looked razor close on paper.
But if you dig a little into the numbers, you’ll realize it’s one of those games that’s not really as close as the score indicates.
In 18 of Cedar Rapids’ 44 precincts, opposition to the tax topped 60 percent, compared to just three precincts where support hit 60 percent, according to unofficial results. The tax carried just 10 Cedar Rapids precincts total, failing 10,767 to 9,803 in the city, or roughly 53 percent to 48 percent. A 629-vote absentee voting advantage for backers was swamped by a 1,593-vote Election Day swing toward no.
The 60-percent-plus, no-voting precincts are scattered, from north of Boyson Road to south of U.S. 30. Fifteen of them were untouched by flooding in 2008, by my count, while three took on water.
But the tax extension also didn’t do so hot in the flood zone. Among seven precincts I sampled in the flooded heart of the city, the tax passed in two and failed in five, although it lost by just one vote in one and by two in another. Only one flood zone precinct, CR35, voting at the African American Museum of Iowa, posted 60 percent-plus support.
So basically, the extension took hits all over, from the core to high ground. Couple that with the fact that only about about two in 10 voters bothered to cast a ballot, and I think you’ve got a pretty clear signal.
And that signal is that a large, pricey, both-banks flood protection system is not a priority in this town. It’s an idea that was met on Election Day with animosity and apathy. Its merits couldn’t overcome dislike of taxes, distrust of City Hall, or any of the reasons big and small that voters checked no, or didn’t show up.
It was worth a shot. Two even. But barring a bolt from the blue, it’s shelved indefinitely.
Members of “We Can Do Better CR” say they hope to float another sales tax vote this year. The group’s plan would require, in part, that tax dollars be spent on river dredging, a concept that professional engineers, including the Army Corps of Engineers, have flatly dubbed expensive, ineffective and futile. If voters won’t pay a sales tax for protection measures that protect, why would they pay for a plan that won’t?
Instead, I think it’s time to get over it and move on. City leaders need to focus on coming up with the funding needed for east side protection. It has Corps support and would protect a lot of important private and public investments. An emotional appeal for two-sided fairness failed. It’s clear-eyed realism time.
And the hard reality is that Tuesday’s vote means our flood saga stumbles on through a fog of perpetual debate and uncertainty. The only conclusion is no conclusion.
I was looking at the precenct-by-precinct results too, Todd. The LOST was resoundingly repudiated, so CREST’s “stealth strategy” didn’t work, either.
Cedar Rapids citizens also voted “no confidence” in the current mayor and council: too bad this isn’t a parliamentary system where Corbett’s opponents could force an election. Now the hard organizing work begins. Instead of forcing yet another special election on their alternative plan, LOST opponents need to get together, map out their preferred paln, recruit and prepare SERIOUS candidates, and take the city council.
Would Lisa Kuzela be a viable contender for Corbett’s job?
jeff hits it dead center , this was a vote of no confidence in the city council/mayor. I am a bit surprised at how many in the media keep saying this was a vote for no flood protection… it wasn’t.
as for Lisa , she is a great person and a hardcore democrat with whom I have worked closely with on the vote no side. this vote made her a bit of an outsider in her own party at times and she is still recovering from her own flooded home, so i don’t think she would run. she would be one of the few democrats I could vote for.
an outsider and someone not affiliated with the chamber could clean up unless the chamber pours the same amount of money in they did last election.
I disagree Jeff. The CRSMELLS group has taken advantage of the recent anti-government sentiment that has been on the rise across the United States that doesn’t mean this vote was a no confidence vote for our Mayor and City Council.
http://www.crsmells.org/
In my opinion, most people figure if the people who live in the neighborhood, like Lisa Kuzela, don’t want flood protection then ok. We won’t do it. I agree with that and Todd, it’s time we move on and leave the west siders to their own resources.
As for any of the CRSMELLS group running for office. They won’t get my support. We have enough negative mud slingers involved in politics.
Jeff does raise an interesting point – I believe there are six seats, including the mayor’s, up for grabs in 2013.
There ya go, Kevin. How serious are you about providing the guidance you think Cedar Rapids needs?
I guess if you keep telling the same story long enough maybe people will believe it. Well at least the important people will.
It seems like all we have heard for the last 4 years ( In JUNE it will be) the flood this and that. It is time the city council do the job that we elected them to do.Bottom line is we have 2 years left on the current tax extension, we pay our property taxes yearly and should expect some accountablity for the monies. I have one question, however, where did we get the money for the “palace” out on Edgewood/Ellis road? It is time to move on and improve the “whole” city with road repair at the top of the list.
Here’s why much will not work and things will probably get worse. In the recent council race two of the canidates received in kind contributions from a large developer. Clearly as I read IOwa law a corporation such as this developer is not allowed to give contributions to political canidates. The reason is simple.The canidates might then be very helpful in this developer’s solicitation of the city for city biz. Recent news articles indicates it works quite well for developers and the current city crew. The really sad part of this problem is the gazette just looks the other way. Hopefully this vote is a sign that the voters are determined to return Cedar Rapids to the people and what is best for all the people
If Corbert and company have broken laws what’s the point of nagging them about it? Unless the slate is cleared and can gain our trust, he is a road block for the community.
1. Please provide the documented law and where we can find it.
2. Gather documented proof of when where and how the law was broke.
3. Is there a law that protects City board members from liability and prosecution?
If trust issues are holding back progress within the city, lets get to the facts,
If we don’t like their country club style we should at least help them understand what generates NO VOTEs.
Maybe the Gazette could help document, research and validate the findings?
They may have a hard time blaming themselves! after all they see us as the ones voting NO.
http://24hourdorman.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/council-silence-revisited/
revisited.
I know it may sound like a crazy idea, but maybe if failed simply because it is not a cost-effective solution and people think there are better ways to use the money.
Joel & Will,
It filled because for 2 reasons based on this quote from this story “Absentee Ballots — by a 1,593-vote Election Day swing toward no.”
1. The County Auditor to move polling places just a few days before the Vote allowed the 3 “No” orgainizations involved to make this clain”
“Do to probable Confusion that will result from the County Auditor screwing with Polling Locations, Are you pissed off enough ??? Are you tired of being lied to ?? Are you tired of the Few who benefit from City Hall Actions using their buddies to get their way.
It is very easy to go to the West Dale Mall east entrance – Election Commission and vote on Tuesday. No Lines, Very Easy.
Stop the Corruption – Stop the Fraud – Stop the Waste !
(And it has – Watch what happens over the next 6 months, how the Council responds to investigation after investigation).