Do 'Lens' Images Need to be Updated on City Materials?

For more than two years, council member Wengay Newton has been a champion of allowing citizens to have a vote on the future of the St. Petersburg and the "Lens" pier design. 

On Aug. 27, St. Pete residents will get a chance to vote on the city's contract with Michael Maltzen Architecture to build the "Lens" pier. 

Now, Newton is going after the city for its use of what he calls inaccurate "Lens" materials. 

He says current images of the "Lens" on the city's website, posters and pamphlets are inaccurate. 

At the July 11 council meeting, Newton wil request that the city remove all images of the "Lens" that do not reflect the current changes to the design presented by Maltzan this spring. 

"Now that the ballot language has been set for the August 27, 2013 primary, elected officials have a moral obligation to make sure that only updated, truthful and factual images of 'The Lens Canopy' are being promoted by the city," Newton wrote in his memo to council. 

However at the June 20 council meeting, Newton himself admitted to stating inaccurate information about the new design. 

Newton said he has called it a "sidewalk to nowhere" with nothing to do on the "Lens."

"I'm amazed council member Newton just admitted to giving out bad information," council member Jim Kennedy said at the June 20 council meeting.  

"I think there is intentional misinformation given out by a variety of people and not necessarily the leaders of the (Stop the Lens)," Kennedy said.

At the same meeting, council member Jeff Danner asked city staff to update "Lens" materials because he said the public still does not understand what they will be able to do on the "Lens."

"Regardless of how you feel about the design of the lens," Danner said, "the only majority in this city is those that are misinformed." 

He said when he talks to the public they think there is not any shade, no bathrooms and nowhere to eat. All of those are untrue, Danner said. 

"People don’t know that there’s a restaurant and that it will be hurricane proof," Danner said. 

The onus, Danner said, is on the city to make sure the public knows more details about the "Lens."

"Why is anyone afraid of informing the voters," Danner said. "It has to do with leadership. If you are not afraid, inform the voters. It's just that simple."