We have several new options in town besides a gambling casino. We can see online that the Five Seasons Hotel (now DoubleTree by Hilton) with accompanying huge convention complex is due to open this year. It will have space for concerts, great speakers and sports.

We’re already enjoying the beautifully enhanced Paramount Theatre’s symphony concerts, operas and plays, and the riverfront amphitheater is soon to be completed on the southwest side poised for entertainment.

For readers in Cedar Rapids, the fine new library will soon invite us in. Matthew 25 has a rec center in the plans and a huge garden area in which to plant your favorite vegetables.

The newly moved and expanded Czech museum invites us in as well as the African-American Museum of Iowa, which has great new displays. Our parks in Linn County are being readied for swimming, tennis and golf for the upcoming seasons.

All of these healthy, enjoyable activities are or soon will be available for us, so why consider a casino involving gambling that may amuse some but cause addictions with resulting family problems in others?

Let’s not let this happen. Let’s all get to the polls on or before March 5. Keep Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha and all of Linn County a family-oriented area.

Marian Arens

Cedar Rapids