Poll Shows St. Pete Strongly Supports Foster, Light Rail

Since December 2011, Mayor Bill Foster's job approval rating has increased nearly 12 percent according to a new poll released by StPetePolls Thursday night.

Foster's approval rating stood at 49.7 percent in December and results from the current poll show Foster's approval rating at 61.4 percent.

According to the new poll, which was randomly taken by 2,670 St. Pete residents on May 1 and 2, Foster's colleagues at city council also have favorable approval rating from the public, though its approval rating is down 51.6 to 51.2 from March to April.

In the not so good news category for Foster, is St. Pete's overwhelming dissatisfaction with "The Lens". Only 29 percent of those polled supported the city's selection of "The Lens". A majority of respondents, 58 percent, wants the city to renovate the existing inverted pyramid. 

The but the plan has come under increased scrutiny in light that one of the key aspects of the design may not be possible. 

According to a report from the Tampa Bay Times, the interior reef of "The Lens" might not be possible. 

"In coming months, though, the Michael Maltzan Architecture design team and city staff will work with Tampa Bay marine science experts to determine the viability of the underwater garden, a process that will be covered in the upcoming contract."

Other local issues the polls weihged in on were light rail, red light cameras and mobile surveillance cameras. 

More than 65 percent of respondents support a plan to build light rail in Pinellas County. The poll showed that St. Pete is split on the idea of red light cameras. In November 2011, 53 percent of residents supported the installation of red light cameras while only 49 percent support them now. 

The clearest result from the poll is the city's support of having the police department use portable surveillance cameras to monitor crime hot spots in the city. That program has a nearly 75 percent approval rating.