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The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted on Feb. 6 to grant Cedar Rapids a casino license. Recently, the Iowa Legislature declined to pass a moratorium on new gambling licenses in the state. But while many awaited the outcome of those make-or-break decisions, some were fighting tooth and nail for this grand casino as if the fate of our city depends on it.
What I have found the most appalling during this yearslong struggle is not the actual act of putting a casino in Cedar Rapids but the amount of effort that so many Cedar Rapidians have put into it. The most distressing aspect is that the priorities of this city, its leaders, and its citizens lie in building a casino and not in issues that affect everyday people: housing and education.
In 2023, the last time Waypoint and Willis Dady conducted counts of homeless people in our city, they found 123 people living outdoors. That number doesn’t include people who may stay with a friend, in a motel or in a temporary shelter. In 2015, the last time the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) released data, there were 603 students without permanent housing, or one out of every 30. The struggle with affordable housing shortages and homelessness is nationwide. But even in a city that prides itself on its economic affordability and opportunities for families, we too struggle to provide that for everyone.
Our school district also has pressing needs. In 2023 61% of voters rejected a $220 million bond presented by the CRCSD. This year voters will be given another chance to support a district with century-old, crumbling buildings that contributes to producing the future workforce of Cedar Rapids. Will it suffer the fate of the last one?
Cedar Rapids shouldn’t have a “right” to a casino, as I have heard from many leaders; if its citizens don’t have a right to homes and quality education. It doesn’t need a quarter-billion dollar casino to spur development; it needs support for the services that improve rather than detract from our community. Investment in education prepares Cedar Rapids for a future of competitive and sustainable development.
This casino will create problems while our actual needs fade into the background. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment proposes dedicating 8% of profits to local nonprofits, a sad joke. Why as a community can we not put the same money and energy into our nonprofits? It’s comical, because at the end of the day the house always wins.
Did we elect our mayor, city council, and state legislators to be the unofficial spokespeople for this casino? Our elected officials have fought harder for this than any other recent issue I have seen. Why are they not doing more to support our schools and our unhoused? The casino represents our community’s priorities and values — values that don’t seem to promote a better future for all. I’m proud to call myself a Cedar Rapidian, but I’m not proud of what this development says about our values.
Nicholas Arnold of Cedar Rapids attends Washington High School. Ranked second in his class, he is active in many clubs and activities, and is involved with many community issues.
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