With early ballots arriving in just over a week and polls consistently indicating a majority of city voters are opposed to "The Lens" concept for a new St. Petersburg Pier, a late-hour effort to rally support for the controversial design is taking new life as a political committee has been formed by a group of 'local, thirtysomething' professionals.
Representatives for "Citizens for the St. Pete Pier, Inc." turned in paperwork with the City Clerk's office late Friday afternoon registering the organization as a political committee. City Clerk Eva Andujar was out of the office on Friday, so, officially, the paperwork was only "received" by the Clerk's office and must wait for Andujar to return on Monday to begin processing it.
Once this is complete, the group will be allowed to raise and expend funds, presumably, in support of "The Lens" concept, the fate of which will be decided by an August 27 referendum forced onto the primary election ballot by opponents of architect Michael Maltzan's vision for a new St. Petersburg Pier.
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The formation of "Citizens for the St. Pete Pier, Inc." comes after a series of recent meetings among many in St. Petersburg's increasing active 'Young Professional' crowd, specifically the Leadership St. Petersburg organization connected to the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.
"There has been a ton of misinformation disseminated over the past 6-9 months and we're simply trying to fight rumors with facts in the last two months before the vote," writes Nathan Stonecipher in an email to prospective supporters of the group.
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According to Stonecipher's email, "the non-partisan group" is coming together "with the shared goal of moving St. Petersburg forward and not wasting any more time arguing over the future of the Pier property."
Several members of the organization say "the city has dropped the ball" informing voters about the full scope of benefits of "The Lens" design.
In addition to Stonecipher, Jesse Landis is listed as a registered agent for "Citizens for the St. Pete Pier, Inc."; James Moriarty is listed as the treasurer.
