Regardless the Outcome Of New Pier Vote, Opponents Will Lose

The new St. Petersburg Pier will most likely be on the ballot this August, but no matter how the vote goes, opponents from organizations such as Stop the Lens will lose.  Those that will lose the most will be the leaders and people with the loudest voices.  

If the new pier is voted down, the "victory" will be hollow. The old pier will still be demolished, and St. Petersburg will be without a pier for many years. Nearly $4,000,000 of taxpayer dollars spent on the new pier will have been wasted, and years of meetings, studies, and analysis will have yielded nothing. The city would have to start over, ask for new designs, but from whom? What architectural firm is going to spend the time and money drawing preliminary plans only to have them voted down by yet another referendum.  What guarantees are there that another design will not create controversy? No design is going to please everyone, so expect more opposition. Years will go by, and still no pier. The old pier will be gone, and people will be missing a pier, any pier.  Second Avenue will end abruptly with a barricade and red stop signs – reminiscent of the red "Stop the Lens" signs and its members. I doubt you'll see anyone wearing those red shirts anymore,  or admitting they ever wore one.

If the new St. Petersburg Pier is approved and opens on schedule in the fall of 2015, obviously Stop the Lens loses, but they lose more than just a vote.  People will see for themselves what the new pier has, and many will remember the opposition's false claims and misinformation.  Events will be held on the new pier as they have on the old.  There'll be music, dancing, places to eat, and spectacular views.  Regardless of what the critics say, St. Petersburg will embrace its new pier. The main reasons opponents dislike the new pier are the very reasons others will want to see it.  Opponents say the new pier is ugly, strange   looking, doesn't fit our city, but people will come from all over to see for themselves, and they will discover the many amenities the new pier will have.  Love it or hate it, it is the new pier's unique design that will create buzz and draw people to it.  The new St. Petersburg Pier will be successful, will attract tourists, and will be St. Petersburg's new icon.  And there won't be any more red shirts, just red faces.