Why replace Pier?
Focus elsewhere I visit friends in the St. Petersburg area monthly, and as I do, I take a hard look at the city in which I spent my formative years. I see much of the infrastructure in need of repair and am depressed by the numbers of abandoned buildings and homes. With all of these things in dire need, it is curious that the city wants to replace the Pier. Fifty-million dollars is a lot to spend on a project that does little for the majority of the local residents. The city leaders need to take a hard look at the “charm” outside the 10-block area of downtown and realize that there are other things in critical need of repair. My suggestion: Sell the Pier to a Hollywood studio for $50 million and have them blow it up for a disaster movie. While everyone argues over what to replace it with, it would make for a nice place to park one’s skiff and fish for supper. Richard DesChenes, Williston Here’s an idea: Let’s recycle the Pier I agree we have spent too much money on the Pier. The only t
