'Stop the Lens' Hires Firm to Gather Petitions

The Concerned Citizens of St. Petersburg, Inc, the sponsor of the Stop the Lens campaign, announced an effort they say will help reach their petition goal within two months.

"It's our waterfront and all of us should have an opportunity to vote on what we want to have on our waterfront," Group spokesperson Bud Risser said.

Bud Risser announced the hiring of Los Angeles based PCI Consultants, Inc on Thursday. Risser says the firm is the largest and most successful petition gathering organization in the United States.

"By engaging them, we are certain, we are not only going to complete our petition drive, but we're gonna do it in a very expeditious manner," Risser said.

Risser says the group has reached the halfway point of their drive. They need 15,652 valid signatures from St. Pete residents to get the issue to a public vote. The group is aiming for about 17,000 total.

The cost of the hire is unclear as Risser says the price will be based on the amount of work the firm will do for the group. Volunteer contributions and monies raised throughout the drive will pay for the services, Risser said.

"They are going to help us gather petitions - all over the City of St. Petersburg - they will be here with seasoned petition collecting people."

The "Lens" is the pier design slated to replace the existing St. Petersburg Pier. The pier is still on track to close May 31 with demolition beginning in August.

Related Coverage:

• Video: 'Feeling of Sadness' at St. Pete Pier
• Video: Pier Business Owners Want Public Vote
• Columbia Restaurant to Open New Location at 'The Lens' in St. Pete
• Pier Lawsuit Mediation Ends in Impasse

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