On November 2, voters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa will determine if they want a casino and who they want for mayor: incumbent Brad Hart or challenger Tiffany O’Donnell. Both support a Cedar Rapids casino.
Linn County voters passed a gambling referendum in 2013. However, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission rejected four requests for licenses for Cedar Rapids casino projects in 2014 and 2017. But the commission now has new members, the state has legalized sports betting and Omaha casinos are presenting competition. “The landscape has changed and it’s my hope that should voters pass this referendum, that the Racing and Gaming Commission will take all of that into play when making their decision” to approve a Cedar Rapids casino, Hart said.
He noted, “Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and we don’t have a gaming license. So, it’s still a long road ahead. A new casino will provide another entertainment option for Cedar Rapids and it will bring more people in our community and create jobs.” Hart said.
He pointed out the city would not get to choose the casino’s location. “The developer or developers will have to decide the best location. If it could be downtown, that would be terrific, and I think that would be ideal for the developers, too. But they’ll have specific needs, and the size of the land available that may or may not work downtown,” he said.
Regarding revenue sharing with the city, Hart said, “We would certainly advocate that the casino operators give us back the highest percentage allowed.”
Hart’s challenger, O’Donnell, said, “In light of what we’ve all been through with Covid-19, especially our nonprofits, I’m advocating increasing revenue sharing to 5 percent. Let’s have the casino give back 5 percent to our local non-profits.”
O’Donnell recently stated on Facebook Live, “I’m a huge advocate for Cedar Rapids voters passing the gambling referendum. I think it’s a huge opportunity for us. We’ve passed it before. And even further, if we do it again, I’m advocating to put it downtown. A huge part of my platform is waking up our downtown and with a casino here, acting as a linchpin for further development around it, I think it gives us a really good head start.”
O’Donnell added the Double Tree Cedar Rapids Convention Complex would be a possible casino location. “Putting a casino in our downtown, using existing assets, infrastructure like the city-owned hotel could be a win-win for the city and the casino,” she said.
O’Donnell worked on the capital campaign and was vice chairman of the board for the NewBo City Market shopping, dining and entertainment district. Currently she’s the director of the national nonprofit Women Lead Change. She said the casino project would be similar to the NewBo City Market project. “You know I was fortunate to be on that capital campaign and serve on that board. We knew back then it would be a catalyst for development around it and it’s played out that way,” O’Donnell said.
