In his first major policy speech since announcing his candidacy for Mayor of St. Petersburg, former City Councilman and State Representative Rick Kriseman came out in opposition to the proposed ‘Lens’ design and offered a detailed plan on the way forward should the project be discontinued by voters.
“My plan balances a sense of urgency with a spirit of collaboration,” said Kriseman.
Kriseman proposed a series of steps on how to move forward with plans for the pier including appointing a new task force after the November 5 election, instructing the task force to complete their work within the first three months of his administration, ensuring that a final design is in place within the first nine months of his administration, and working with the architect to have the new pier built by the end of 2015.
“It’s an ambitious, but necessary timeline,” said Kriseman.
Speaking of the importance of getting the pier ‘right,’ Kriseman stressed that regardless of how big St. Petersburg’s challenges have been in the past, the residents have always moved forward unified.
“The referendum to stop the Lens is not the end. It’s the beginning. The hard work starts the day after the election,” he said. “I urge residents to join me in voting yes to Stop the Lens and yes to solutions that move us forward.”
