Poll: 67% of Residents Oppose 'Lens', 68% Closing Pier

Results from a new survey from StPetePolls show overwhelming opposition to the city moving forward with the "Lens" pier design and to closing the St. Petersburg Pier before a public vote. 

The release of the poll comes just hours before the St. Petersburg City Council votes on $1.54 million for funding the next phase of the "Lens" project Thursday morning. 

According to results released Wednesday at 11 p.m., 67.2 percent of respondents said they would vote 'yes' to terminate the "Lens" pier project contract if a public referendum were held today. Only 27.8 percent said they supported the "Lens", with 5 percent undecided. 

Around 68 percent of respondents said the city should keep the existing inverted pyramid open until a vote on the future of the pier could happen.

The St. Petersburg Pier is set to close May 31 with demolition slated to begin later this year. 

In the scientific poll, 1,653 people were polled with a margin of error at 2.4 percent.

Other Results from the Latest StPetePolls Survey:

• Only 33.6 percent of respondents said they approve of how city council is doing their jobs. 66.5 percent said they did not approve of council. 
• 56.4 percent of respondents said they did not think installing red light cameras was a good things, compared to 43.6 percent so said it was. 
• Mayor Bill Foster's approval rating was a 47.6 percent. 
• 65.2 percent of respondents said the city should have curbside recycling instead of the optional curbside recycling offered currently. 
• Only 30.8 percent said city they think city leaders are doing enough to address homelessness in St. Petersburg. 

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