Opinion: Flood Rebuilding

In comments posted to a Cedar Rapids Gazette online article, the question of political correctness arose. The June 13th article by Adam Belz was a basic news report about comments Gov. Chet Culver made to encourage people generally depressed by or directly devastated by the floods. A poster identifying himself or herself as Ask Why cited James Madison’s 1794 rejection of a Congressional appropriation in the amount of “$15,000 for relief of French refugees.” Ask Why notes that Madison did not believe the U.S. Constitution permitted federal dollars to be used for benevolent relief. In response, a person identified as Cedar Rapids Resident tells Ask Why, “now is not the time” to express such opinions because “thousands of people [have been] affected by this tragedy.”

The people who thrive do not wait until a flood happens to prepare for it nor wait until evacuees show up on a doorstep to figure out how they will be fed and sheltered. Similarly, recovery planning cannot wait for people to finish their grieving. Already the state legislature has talked about holding a special session for flood relief. Media outlets are reporting on financial damages. The governor has stated Iowa will rebuild.

As the Des Moines River rose in downtown Des Moines several days ago, I wondered how much money would have been diverted from Project Destiny tax revenue to rebuild the Riverwalk, had that sales tax proposal been passed by skeptical voters. Similarly, I grow very nervous about who is going to benefit under governmental incentives related to flood relief. Add in the tremendously-negative citizen response last month to the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Horizon Year 2035 transportation plan, and now is exactly the time that Iowans need to be thinking about flood relief, who should pay for it, and who should get to decide how the relief is distributed.

As a side note, the National Association of Regional Councils is meeting at the Des Moines Marriott now through June 17th. The theme of this transportation gathering is “Building Regional Communities.” The agenda also shows a heavy discussion focus around public/private partnerships, including one on emerging energy markets such nuclear power. I suspect this relates to the possibility of using clean-burning nuclear power plants to generate energy to run electric trolley systems and to fuel personal electric cars. I would love to be able to cover this gathering but my schedule will not allow it.

All the questions that have been raised before about economic development, urban sprawl, and the best use of rural land should continue to be raised during any discussions around post-flood rebuilding. The diversity of Iowa’s economy also needs to be a subject of conversation. As a whole, the state is diversified. We have national headquarters, regional call centers, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and education. However, we could do a whole heck of a better job at diversifying entrepreneurs and connecting people with ideas with people who have the resources to make business happen.

M.R. Field has written extensively about new ideas to increase wealth for women and minority business owners.

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