On August 27 voters will choose whether to move forward with the new St. Petersburg Pier, or go backwards starting the process of choosing a pier all over again, and again, and again. Why would voters choose to reject a free waterfront attraction? Why would voters ignore a hundred year history of St. Petersburg piers and choose to be without one? I think it's because those so adamantly opposed have fallen for the Big Con.
There has been such an effective misinformation campaign against the new pier that even its supporters have fallen for it. Opponents have managed to con many into believing false statements and invoked fear with scare tactics. They rail against the new design making outrageous statements none of which are based in fact, but to counter their claims, one has to read the documents and look carefully at the plans – and few have taken the time to do that. History has shown that people are often easily fooled. When it comes to complicated issues, it is much easier to believe a convincing voice than to do your own research. And when there is any prejudice involved, even the slightest, it's all the easier to pull off the Big Con.
The prejudice I'm talking about is the first reaction many had of the Lens design. It was different, didn't look like other piers, and where the heck do all those bridges go? And what's wrong with the old pier anyway? Opponents filled in the missing information with misinformation. They did it early and they did it often, falsely claiming the old pier could easily be saved, and making more false claims that the new pier lacked shade, restaurants, events, fishing, ADA access, and on and on. Even in the face of humiliating rebuke: solid engineering analysis proving the canopy's resistance to corrosion, and wind tunnel tests exceeding safety and comfort expectations, opponents continue to use the same corrosion and wind scare tactics. They hope repeating their claims over and over will convince people they're true.
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But opponents' claims are not true. People can easily see for themselves by going to the city website and looking at the pictures and video, or just skimming a few of the documents. Don't believe the fantasy that some other new pier is around the corner if the Lens is voted down. It's not. And even if it was, what guarantee is there that another new design will meet your expectations? Don't let St. Petersburg be conned out of their city pier. Don't be Fooled. Don't be Conned.
Vote NO on the Big Con and Build The Pier!
http://pierfacts.com/
http://www.thenewstpetepier.com/
