Poll: Majority Still Disapprove of 'Lens', Council, Mayor

Nearly two-thirds of the 1,524 people surveyed June 17 by StPetePolls said the city of St. Petersburg should not continue with the "Lens", which is the Michael Maltzan design slated to replace the now closed St. Petersburg Pier. 

The reason respondents disliked the new design varied but according to the survey the most common answer was because St. Pete residents were denied a public vote on the chosen design. 

Other reasons the respondents were not in favor with the city continuing the "Lens" design included: There is no protection from weather (11.5 percent), there will not be enough to do on the "Lens" (12.6 percent), the "Lens" does not create enough jobs (9.9 percent), do not like the design 18.5 percent and 12.5 percent said some other reason

On Aug. 27, after a successful petition drive by Concerned Citizens of St. Pete, residents will get the chance to vote on the city's contract with Maltzan on the primary ballot. 

City council, Mayor Bill Foster and red light cameras also saw their approval ratings decrease in StPetePolls latest survey. 

In the scientific poll, which has a margin of error of 2.5 percent, council's approval rating is 31.4 percent, Foster's is 43.9 percent and red light cameras are 41.4 percent. 

Monday Stop the Lens advocate Lorraine Margeson filed to challenge District 2 council member incumbent Jim Kennedy. According to StPetePolls, Kennedy and Margeson are virtually tied in the race. Kennedy has 21.8 percent support compared to 21.9 percent for Margeson. More than 56 percent of respondent were undecided. 

Although the pier and the "Lens" have dominated council discussion and public debates, respondents of the survey 65.9 percent to 27.6 percent, said the most important issue in the city was job creation and not the future of the pier.