Approval ratings for Saint Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and members of City Council have hit their lowest mark in years, according to a new survey from St. Pete Polls gauging residents opinion.
Foster’s approval rating is upside-down for the first time at 49%/51%, down from December when the mayor was at 54%/48%. Opinion of City Council has also turned negative since last year; Council’s approval rating is also upside-down at 38%/62%, a marked decrease from the 45%/55% standing it held two months ago.
Foster has drawn criticism for his handling of the debate over a possible new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. Foster has refused to allow the team to look beyond St. Petersburg and Pinellas for a site for a new stadium.
However, city residents are in favor 57% to 36% a proposal to allow the team to look at new stadium locations outside of the city if they paid the city’s yearly costs for operating Tropicana field and are still bound by the terms of the current contract.
The other major issue hanging over Foster and Council is the future of the St. Petersburg Pier. But don’t expect the issue to go away any time soon. 70% of city voters say a candidates position on the Pier be an important factor in who you vote for. Almost as many respondents (67%) would like to see the the question of whether to demolish the inverted pyramid pier on the ballot before its planned demolition.
As for what voters think of plans for a new pier, 75% of voters think their taxes will be raised to pay for it.
