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The Economic Impact of Scientology on Clearwater

November 30, 2019 By Mike Rinder 15 Comments

Scientology spews out paid ads proclaiming their wondrous contributions to society, most especially to Clearwater. I see these things on Twitter and when I respond they delete my responses. So, in keeping with the time-honored solution of “doing what Ron says,” I am putting my response on my own channel of communication where it cannot be altered (or deleted). Their tweet above makes the bold claim that scientology paid $3.1 million in property and tourist taxes in 2018. And that they "generate $1 billion impact into the local economy." As for the first claim -- this may well be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater, Economic Impact Study, FSU, irs, Mark Bunker, public relations, scientology tax exemption

More on Miscavige and Clearwater

November 27, 2019 By Mike Rinder 37 Comments

  Further on the blog post from yesterday (Miscavige Schmoozing City Officials) -- some important points I omitted to mention and an update. First: Why were these 3 city officials at the meeting? As I said yesterday, Miscavige considers Bill Horne and Pam Aiken to be his buddies. But the real reason is that they are not ELECTED officials.  If there were two ELECTED officials in the room it becomes a "public meeting" subject to the Sunshine Act laws. Bill Horne and Pam Aiken are very well aware of this. They were complicit in making sure this meeting was not one that had to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, David Miscavige Tagged With: Bill Horne, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Mark Bunker, Michael Delk, Pam Aiken, public relations, Tracey McManus

Miscavige Schmoozing City Officials

November 26, 2019 By Mike Rinder 30 Comments

Tracey McManus is on the ball again. Reporting on the ongoing efforts of Miscavige and Co. to fulfill their plans to make Clearwater the “first scientology city”. Her latest story covers a recent meeting between scientology’s capo di tutti capi and three non-elected city officials. Miscavige has had a long term relationship with City Manager Bill Horne and City Attorney Pam Aiken. It seems they brought along Michael Delk so he could be introduced to the big cheese. Miscavige first began schmoozing Bill Horne and Pam Aiken when he was here trying to keep his ass out of a sling in the Lisa … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, David Miscavige Tagged With: Bill Horne, Clearwater, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, George Cretekos, Mark Bunker, Michael Delk, Pam Aiken, tampa bay times, Tracey McManus

Why Clearwater is Losing to Scientology

November 25, 2019 By Mike Rinder 72 Comments

Tracey McManus broke another story concerning downtown Clearwater and scientology on Friday. It speaks volumes about why scientology has been able to proceed unchecked with its announced plan of making Clearwater the "first scientology city." The elected officials of Clearwater are so intimidated by the organization, and so lacking in understanding of how it works, they stumble along "trying to get along." They are forever being quoted saying "you have to play the hand you deal" and other explanations/excuses for being outplayed, outsmarted and outwitted by scientology. David Miscavige … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater, David Miscavige, George Cretekos, Mark Bunker, Scientology, Tracey McManus, Trish Duggan

Clearwater Politicians Weigh In

October 21, 2019 By Mike Rinder 25 Comments

An interesting follow up piece by Tracey McManus quoting reaction from members of the Clearwater City Government to her bombshell expose from yesterday. Unsurprisingly, the Clearwater politicos don't have much to offer in terms of how this happened to their city, what they think it means or more importantly, what they are going to do about it. They have been overwhelmed by a far more sophisticated and well-funded opponent that doesn’t care whether they hurt anyone’s feelings as long as they get their way.  Politicians in Clearwater in the last couple of decades have been more concerned … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, David Miscavige Tagged With: Bob Cundiff, Church of Scientology, Clearwater City Council, Clearwater Florida, David Allbritton, David Miscavige, George Cretekos, Hoyt Hamilton, Jay Polglaze, Mark Bunker, tampa bay times, Tracey McManus

Scientology Has Bought Clearwater

October 20, 2019 By Mike Rinder 33 Comments

Tracey McManus' meticulously researched article dominating the front page of this morning's Tampa Bay Times is a bombshell. I doubt many people in Clearwater realized just how complete scientology's takeover of the downtown is.   This is why I have been supporting and promoting Mark Bunker for the city council. Scientology ALWAYS Comes First Why Elect Mark Bunker? And the urgency of this is further highlighted by a passage in the article. For the non-residents of Clearwater let me give you a little background that is explained in the article. It concerns the dispute … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, David Miscavige Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, David Miscavige, L. Ron Hubbard, Mark Bunker, Office of Special Affairs, public relations, tampa bay times, Tracey McManus

Scientology ALWAYS Comes First

October 12, 2019 By Mike Rinder 23 Comments

Here is a perfect example of why scientologists cannot be trusted in positions where they are supposed to act in the public interest. Paris Morfopolous is the poster child of a fundamentalist scientologist. He has been a scientology business owner that has relied on scientologists' patronage in downtown Clearwater for decades. He is the head of Clearwater's Downtown Development Board. Tony Ortega's article describing Morfopolous' rant against Mark Bunker at the most recent DDB meeting tells the most recent story of his dedication to following the dictates of L. Ron Hubbard. With the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Scientology Tagged With: Clearwater City Council, Clearwater Florida, Downtown Development Board, Mark Bunker, Paris morfopolous, public relations, Ray Cassano, Scientology

Why Elect Mark Bunker?

October 2, 2019 By Mike Rinder 34 Comments

Tracey McManus article on the Downtown Development Board should be sounding alarms for the citizens of Clearwater. She explains: Three of the five candidates running for three seats in the Oct. 8 election are downtown business owners who are also Scientology parishioners. Three of the seven current board members are also parishioners: Stu Sjouwerman, founder of cyber security firm KnowBe4, whose term ends this year and who is not running for re-election; Ray Cassano, owner of Station Square Realty, whose term ends in 2021; and Paris Morfopoulos, owner of One Stoppe Shoppe, who is running for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Church of Scientology, Clearwater, Clearwater City Commission, Mark Bunker, public relations, Scientology, Tracey McManus

Mark Bunker for Clearwater City Council

September 5, 2019 By Mike Rinder 45 Comments

A message from my friend Mark Bunker - far more important than Thursday Funnies which will run on Saturday: HELP WANTED   The Clearwater City Council campaign season officially starts on September 19th! In advance of the 19th, there are two things we'd like some help with. We are still looking to nail down someone to be the CAMPAIGN MANAGER who has previous experience running a campaign. This is a PAID POSITION. The challenge has been finding someone with prior experience who is ALSO willing to put themselves in the cross-hairs of the Church of Scientology. We … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater Tagged With: Clearwater, Clearwater City Commission, Mark Bunker

A New Golden Age for Clearwater?

June 22, 2019 By Mike Rinder 82 Comments

Our friend Mark Bunker is in the news again. But this time it isn’t about what scientology is doing to Fair Game him. Some of you may have seen the announcement that Wise Beard Man intends to run for a seat on the Clearwater City Commission. It was reported in the Tampa Bay Times yesterday. Clearwater, Bunker said, has “got a unique problem here in Scientology. And I think the city ought to balance it out with a unique council member who understands Scientology.”   Mark has a long history in Clearwater and with scientology. We discussed some of this in 2 episodes of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clearwater, Public Relations, Scientology Tagged With: Clearwater Florida, David Miscavige, Flag Service Organization, Mark Bunker, public relations, Scientology, The Aftermath

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Important Reading

Troublemaker - Leah Remini
Ruthless - Ron Miscavige
Going Clear - Lawrence Wright
Bare Faced Messiah - Russell Miller
Counterfeit Dreams - Jeff Hawkins
Blown For Good - Marc Headley
Abuse at the Top - Amy Scobee
Unbreakable Miss Lovely - Tony Ortega
The Church of Fear - John Sweeney
Fair Game - Steve Cannane
Inside Scientology - Janet Reitman
Jenna Miscavige - Beyond Belief
My Billion Year Contract
Escaping Scientology - Karen Schless
Commodore's Messenger - Janis Grady
Commodore's Messenger - Book II
Scythe Tleppo - Nathan Rich
Expert Witness - Jesse Prince
Perfectly Clear - Michelle LeCaire
Ron the War Hero - Chris Owen
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It’s #GivingTuesday! Please find it in your heart to give. All amounts, big or small, make a difference. Donate to a charity of your choice, or you can find a list of charities dear to my heart on my website. 

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In violation of IRS code, #scientology soliciting members not to vote for @MarkBunker4U in @MyClearwater City Council election in March. They think they own the city and don’t want anyone elected they don’t approve of. #VoteBunker. @TB_Times @TroMcManus
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"Far from being a boon to the #Clearwater economy, the tax exempt status of #scientology has hurt Clearwater more than any other single community on earth." [email protected] #MikeRindersBlog #ScientologyTheAftermath

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Once again #scientology is serving up complete bs to @MyClearwater citizens about how much they contribute positively to the community. Elect @MarkBunker4U. City leaders must speak up. He is not afraid. He will. https://t.co/iVvv8M9D5a

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@UltioetVeritas @MikeRinder @KarendlaCariere @MyClearwater @TroMcManus @TBTimes_Opinion @TB_Times I sincerely hope @MarkBunker4U gets elected to City Council, and then we'll see how the co$ reacts.

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