Another excellent piece of investigative journalism from Tracey McManus in the Tampa Bay Times yesterday: Email detailed plans to obscure Scientologists role in Clearwater project No wonder scientology spends so much time and effort trying to smear her -- accusing her of being a bigot and a hater. It's all they've got. Her stories are carefully researched and documented, and in this case she has a smoking gun email. Her story details the land grab ongoing just north of downtown Clearwater, spearheaded by an Arizona real estate developer named Rodney Riley. He is a newcomer on … [Read more...]
City of Clearwater and Scientology Maneuverings
The latest reporting from Tracey McManus highlights the tensions in the city as they try to deal with the maneuverings of David Miscavige. The Mayor and City Manager are on one side, and the City Council on the other in the battle over parcels of downtown property scientology wants. Tracey's earlier report goes into more detail about the plans to build affordable housing across the street from Miscavige's office and the termination of that planned construction after Miscavige got involved. Now, City Council members (notably Mark Bunker and Kathleen Beckman) are upset that they have … [Read more...]
Premature Ejaculation in Clearwater
I included an item in last week's Thursday Funnies about a new "hang out" coming to Clearwater. I am not sure who had put this on Facebook as the posting was forwarded to me and I have no way of tracing it back... It certainly made it sound as if the Prelude Coffee and Tea bar was a happening thing. The excitement was barely contained in the posting. This is the thing everyone has been wiating for in downtown Cleqarwater, finally being made a reality... Not so fast. Here is what this property actually looks like -- photos taken Friday: Apparently the idea of … [Read more...]
Oh, The Irony
Programming note: Regraded Being will return next week,. Given the events of yesterday with the end of the Masterson Preliminary Hearing (and the news he is going to face trial) I felt it was important to keep that post available. Scientology mouthpiece in Clearwater, Pat Harney, was scheduled to give the Invocation at the Clearwater City Council meeting this week. It is part of a rotational system where different faiths are invited to do their thing. Of course, Pat was at a disadvantage as scientologists don't pray. They don't have any set belief in God, and they certainly don't ask God … [Read more...]
Scientology in Clearwater — Big Brother is Watching You
George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big Brother is watching you." If you visit downtown Clearwater, Big Brother (scientology) IS watching you. Anywhere and everywhere. While they claim the dozens of cameras mounted on their buildings are for "security" -- the truth is a little less palatable. And they showed their hand this past … [Read more...]
The Scientology BS is Deep
Tracey McManus article reporting on a meeting David Miscavige had with the Clearwater Mayor and City Attorney last week isn't very revelatory on the surface. But I will try to read between the lines and explain the significance of this meeting based on scientology policy and my experience. The first thing to know is that short of testifying under oath (and even then, good scientologists have no fear of lying if they believe a lie is for the "greatest good"), the real story (either what happened in the past or intentions fo rthe future)is never going to be revealed in … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Clearwater Scam
The scientology scam continues in Clearwater. How revealing this FB posting is. This public person is "helping" the Freewinds to get a 17 year old kid to the ship. She is begging someone to give him a room (if he is going to "pay" why isn't he just staying in a hotel?) and that's OK because "he is not going to be on services." For anyone who doesn't know this, people who come to Clearwater for services at Flag must stay in a scientology owned hotel. They would not want any of their money actually going INTO the community. Remember this City of Clearwater when scientology … [Read more...]
Mark Bunker Settles In at City Hall
Mark Bunker was sworn in to the Clearwater City Council seat 2 on Monday. There is a public ceremony being held in City Hall on Thursday evening. This is his new desk. And his first visitor. Mark tells me Bobblerinder will be a permanent fixture at his desk. It is quite an honor. … [Read more...]
Tampa Pastor Jailed. What About Scientology?
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (Tampa) arrested and jailed a Pastor who held Sunday Services yesterday in violation of social distancing laws. It now begs the question: What about the flagrant violations of scientology? Will the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office (@SheriffPinellas on twitter) or the Clearwater Police Department (@MyClearwaterPD) do anything? It seems unlikely given their past track record. But one can always hope. With a new Clearwater Mayor and City Council coming online imminently, perhaps there is a hope that instead of responding to calls from the Security … [Read more...]
Scientology Orgs Shuttering? Flag is NOT (update)
While it appears to be business as usual at Flag (and likely the other Sea Org orgs), it seems there may be a shift at the lower echelons of the hierarchy. One of our dedicated readers sent in a report that a local org is telling their public "they will be closing for 2 weeks." Another called the NY Org and asked simply "Are you open?", and the guy on reception said "No." The caller waited, thinking there would be some elaboration and the line remained silent. No further information was forthcoming. Perhaps some of our other readers could call your local org and ask them if they are … [Read more...]