Here we go again, Cedar Rapids, another brain-dead idea: spend $150,000 on a ridiculous welcome sign. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the Sept. 11 article, especially the quote from the lady heading the project saying, “Well, don’t you want your city to look nice?” Are you kidding me? A huge, ridiculous, overpriced sign doesn’t make your city nice. What’s inside your city makes it nice — streets, shops, restaurants, city services, and most of all, the people.

When was the last time you drove through another town, looked at the welcome sign and said, “wow, this must be a very nice place?” Well, guess what these same people still have to drive through here? Our dilapidated city. And, if you are going to waste taxpayer dollars on a large project, don’t hire an out-of-state company, this too is stupidity.

Michael Ray Northland

Cedar Rapids