1 has interesting elements, benches, lights and board walk, but the photo is dull. 2 has a nice feeling about it. i like that statue and it's nicely exposed. the background doesn't do it for me. with a lower perspective you might get a better background.
I like the incredibly high contrast in the first one. I don't know if it is, but the horizon line feels off to me, like it's tilting to the right. LOVE that deep black sky. Cropping to a panoramic is the right choice for me.
Number two... that rock behind the statue and the white buildings in the background just pull focus and ruin my enjoyment of the statue. Again, the horizon line feels off, only this time tilting left.