The latest Tracey McManus article on scientology ran yesterday, announcing that Aaron Smith-Levin is running to join Mark Bunker on the Clearwater City Council. Unfortunately, the editor chose a photo that featured me more prominently than Aaron and some thought I was running (I do not live in Clearwater so am not eligible to serve on the City Council). This is a significant event in Clearwater. Mark Bunker was elected to the City Council earlier. There is a new regime in Clearwater -- a new City Manager (Jon Jennings) and City Attorney (David Margolis) are coming to town, hopefully they … [Read more...]
Scientology Human Rights — An Oxymoron Update
Following up on this piece, Scientology Human Rights -- An Oxymoron, Tampa Bay Times intrepid scientology reporter Tracey McManus managed to speak to a number of the people concerned as covered in the story above. It turns out that Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen was unaware of any scientology connection. Turns out people who read this blog contacted his office and he then found out about the link. “This isn’t what I thought it was,” Cohen said on Tuesday, confirming he dropped out of the event. “Scientology and a human rights summit, I don’t know they are compatible with one … [Read more...]
Why Is Chris Latvala Supporting Scientology and What is a “Safepoint”?
Please see the article on Tony Ortega's website yesterday about the crazy Twitter war FL State Congressman Chris Latvala started -- first with Tracey McManus of the Tampa Bay Times, then with Tony Ortega and subsequently with me. I tweeted about this after Tony' story was up, and the Congressman responded to me in a similar fashion: As you can see my last offer is to meet with him to help provide the education he needs. I hope he takes me up. He said he was unaware of the scientology connections to the books that were offered. Maybe that is the case, but … [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...]
Episode 12: Mark Bunker
This week, Leah and I have a conversation with Mark Bunker on the Fair Game podcast. Download at midnight tonight. I will add a link to the show here when it becomes available. We talk to Mark about his history with scientology, him becoming the newest Clearwater City Council member and what the future of the City of Clearwater holds. We cover the land grab by scientology so ably reported by Tracey McManus in the Tampa Bay Times "How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years" : Tracey updated her story a few days ago "Vacancies in Scientology-tied … [Read more...]
Scientology “Tech” Backfires Again
Marlow Stern has written quite a number of stories relating to scientology. They have often questioned scientology's practices and have failed to regurgitate the scientology propaganda they try to feed the media. That makes him an "enemy." And what does Hubbard say about enemies? You threaten what they seek to protect and cost them their jobs. See this post for the exact words from Hubbard: Dealing with Critics of Scientology: The L. Ron Hubbard Playbook What never ceases to amaze me is how proudly scientology comes right out with the very worst of themselves, proving time and time again … [Read more...]
City Councilman Mark Bunker and Scientology Tax Exempt Status
The news has sunk in, Mark Bunker is now a Clearwater City Commissioner-elect. As Tracey McManus put it, this is a historic day for Clearwater. There is another piece in the Tampa Bay Times (top of article screencapped above) this morning. It makes some interesting points - first of which is noting Bunker's "desire for the city to urge the IRS to revoke Scientology's tax exempt status..." Some have poo-poo'd this idea "The City of Clearwater doesn't grant tax exempt status, the IRS does" -- as if Mark Bunker is unaware of the difference between a city government and the … [Read more...]
Where Clearwater Candidates Stand on Scientology
Tracey McManus published another of her uniformly excellent articles recently: Where every Clearwater City Council Candidate stands on Scientology I have excerpted most of the answers to her survey and offer my biased views on them. I believe there are just two reasons why scientology is actually being spoken about in this election. It has been a taboo subject for local politicians for decades. They have steered clear of this topic like it was the plague... Now for the first time in recent memory, it is something to be debated. The two factors are Tracey's bombshell article … [Read more...]
More on Miscavige and Clearwater
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...]
Miscavige Schmoozing City Officials
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...]