Hello All, A lot has happened since we started this campaign. For the time being, the finalists have been kept at 3 (Pier Park, Alma, Destination), however, the possibility of the process being opened up by council sounds to be plausible if they so choose, and, most importantly, people have really come together in support of public space! Before I go any further, this much you should know: The council, the mayor, the city, our community is listening. We have a chance to voice support for public space, tomorrow, starting at 6pm. The Pier Selection Committee meeting is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. in Council Chamber, St. Petersburg City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N. The committee will listen to the three shortlisted design teams present answers to the committee's requests for clarification and ask any follow up questions. This meeting is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC for observance only -- I will be there. The committee will then re-convene at 6 p.m., also in Council Chamber, for the purpose of conducting their deliberations and ranking the shortlisted design teams. This second meeting is really where it counts: You will be able to add your input regarding where this city should be investing their money -- Public Space. The options for our future are as follows: 1) The committee recommends a design that the council doesn't favor and the council takes it upon themselves to pick a design -- this appears to be a possibility (the details of which I'm not sure anyone fully understands). It is my hope that if they choose this option, they will side with Blue Pier. The reality is that that's a LONG shot...but it's possible -- fingers crossed and keep up the pressure! 2) The committee sides with the only option left of the 3 finalists that embodies public space: Pier Park. It's not our first choice, some of you may not even be all that keen on it, but compared to Destination or Alma, it's a compromise that does emphasize public green space over parking lots, activated urban land over traffic lanes, bike and pedestrian lanes over buildings and un-activated concrete. 3) The committee chooses something other than Blue Pier and, secondarily, other than Pier Park, and then we take our voice to council who seem to be keen on investing in public space over static structures, especially placed in the context of what the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan is recommending: Pedestrian, bike focused design that pulls parking lots back, extends the park system, and brings people closer to the water. We need to show our public support tomorrow. If you want to speak on behalf public space by emphasizing the inclusion of Blue Pier, then please show up! If you want to advocate on the only other option of the top 3 finalists that offers public space, then tomorrow is the day! I will be there, shoulder to shoulder with a group of peers that are really impassioned that the trajectory of our city should embody solid and consistent investments in public space, ecology, and, subsequently our future. Stand with me. Stand with your community. Stand for our future. -Ryan P.S. -- This is why it matters: http://imgur.com/CDzZpUh