Topic: Scientology
Scientology's takeover of Clearwater, Florida A brief overview of the Church of Scientology systematically took over the town of Clearwater, FLby Gregg
(centrist)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Religion and Politics: Occupied Territory
Most people remember, or have heard about how Antelope, Oregon nearly fell under the control of an Indian guru called the Baghwan Sri Rajneesh. His cult moved into a property near the small town, and began working to take it over by placing his people in local government. After his followers perpetrated the first domestic incidence of biological warfare in the United States, it was learned that the motive was to make so many local voters sick, they wouldn't vote; the Rajneeshi candidate would thus win the election. The Bhagwan's compound was found to contain a lab in which the strain of salmonella used to poison the people of Antelope was cultured. This was a spectacular finish to a community saga that got increasingly bizarre as it unfolded.
The occupation of a sleepy Florida town began innocently enough. A group called 'United Churches of Florida' moved into Clearwater and began buying up properties, notably the Ft. Harrison Hotel where, long ago, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger wrote '(I can't get no) Satisfaction' in May of 1965.
When it came out that "United Churches" was actually only one marginally religious organization called Scientology, the mayor of Clearwater, Gabe Cazares, became concerned enough to do some research into the group. He learned that "United Churches of Florida" claimed to be renting the Ft. Harrison Hotel from the "Southern Land Development Leasing Corporation." Further digging revealed that both entities were actually run by Scientologists. Cazares' fears that Scientology intended to take over his town were confirmed following FBI raids in 1997, when a document labeled "Top Secret" was uncovered. Called 'Project Normandy," this document outlined precisely how the Church of Scientology planned to infiltrate and control Clearwater [1].
There were several other noteworthy documents retrieved in the FBI raids. Besides thousands of government records and documents stolen from offices, there were plans outlining the destruction of an author, Paulette Cooper, who was writing a book called 'The Scandal of Scientology.' It was refered to as 'Operation Freakout,' and the intent was clearly to drive her mad, or land her in prison. Also recovered was 'Operation Snow White,' a written outline describing the infiltration of government offices and the theft of the very documents recovered by the FBI.
Gabe Cazares publicly stated the opinion that Scientology's plan to take control of Clearwater was "a paramilitary operation by a terrorist group" [2].
He was immediately sued by the Scientology organization for questioning their civic virtues and intentions.
In March of 1976, Cazares was the target of a smear campaign involving sexual allegations, and was involved in a hit-and-run accident staged by the Church of Scientology. This was revealed by internal memos found by the FBI [3]. This incident ruined Cazares' chance at election to Congress. Cazares and his wife filed a $1.5 million dollar lawsuit, which was settled out of court.
Back in the 1970s, it was clear that Scientology's true intent was not what their representatives claimed. Scientology spokesmen claimed their only interest was in improving the community. They touted their involvement elsewhere, places where illiteracy, drug abuse problems, and other social ills were rampant. In this scenario, Scientologists quickly make themselves useful; volunteering for cleanup projects, community activities, offering to organize public events, etc. Scientology's multitentacled front group phenomenon is constantly morphing, spawning front groups of front groups as the various programs are exposed as nonsensical, or even dangerous frauds.
Gradually, Scientology's hold on Clearwater has tightened. It is now the largest property owner in downtown Clearwater, an unfortunate fact as the Church of Scientology pays no taxes.
Recently, a local put together a website featuring a photo tour of downtown Clearwater. There are blocks of closed, shuttered businesses, and not a soul in sight, save Scientologists being herded between Scientology buildings. At two o'clock in the afternoon, little health food stores, travel agencies and the like are closed up tight. Many storefronts are empty, or offered for lease.
Scientology's new Super Power building dominates downtown like a tarted up maximum security prison complete with guard towers. When it is completed, the Super Power building will be the largest commercial building in downtown Clearwater.
The Super Power building project was started in 1998 and was initially to be completed by 1992. Work was halted in 2003, leaving the building unfinished with a 15 foot gap in the walls.
It is felt that leaving the building incomplete benefits the Scientology organization in several ways. If the building is completed, it will have to be staffed, heated, air conditioned and it will have to generate income. As it stands, Scientology claims that funding is not a problem and that the project is fully funded, however, the organization is still urging members to contribute to it.
Also, once it's finished, the Super Power building is going to be selling the Super Power Rundown series, which claims to deliver, "A super fantastic, but confidential series of rundowns that can be done on anybody whether Dn [Dianetics] Clear or not that puts the person into fantastic shape unleashing Super Power of a thetan. This means that puts Scientologists into a new realm of ability enabling them to create a new world. It puts world Clearing within reach of the future. This is a parallel rundown to Power in Saint Hills which is taken by the Dn Clear. It consists of 12 separate high power rundowns which are brand new and enter realms of the tech never before approached. Power is still very much in use on the Grade Chart but is for those who didn't go Clear on Dn" [4].
In 2003, the cranes that had stood, unused, for months were finally removed from the building site.
Despite the lack of work on Scientology's flagship building, it has been busy elsewhere downtown. It is building a 4 story parking garage, and has plans for a 13 story waterfront highrise. The 251 rooms would serve as lodging for visiting Scientologists attracted to the Super Power building. That is, if the city approves permits them to transfer development rights from another of their less desirable properties. Regarding the transfer, Mayor Hibbard says, "It's not real unusual, I don't think it's a big deal. I can't imagine it won't pass."
Well, it certainly is unusual, in that the Church of Scientology is currently racking up hundreds of dollars a day in fines since abandoning work on the Super Power building. As a letter to the editor of the St. Petersburg Times put it, "This story states that the Church of Scientology has not met city code enforcement deadlines and that fines are accruing to the tune of $40,000 to date. It also stated that the city and the church have agreed on a new timetable for completion, and if these new deadlines are met, the fines may be forgiven."
Still, that poke in the pocketbook was just what was needed to get the organization's attention. The seemingly abandoned project was increasingly becoming a blighted area, with litter collecting around the site. Supposedly, the project is under way again, with a completion date of 2008.
The views expressed in this
article are those of Gregg only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Gregg is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
"The views expressed in this article are those of Gregg only and do not represent the views of Nolan"
Some of the article is correct, but like the above statement suggests, its only Greg's opinion [with plenty of imagination added into it]
The True Story Of Scientology.
The true story of Scientology is simple, concise and direct. It is quickly told.
A philosopher develops a philosophy about life and death.
People find it interesting.
People find it works.
People pass it along to others
It grows.
When we examine this extremely accurate and very brief account, we see that there must he in our civilization some very disturbing elements for anything else to he believed about Scientology.
Also the Catholic church has properties in Rome so what is the problem that a church ownes some buildings where courses and other church services are delivered. If you don't find Scientology workable for you just follow a different religion and leave Scientology and scientologists alone... I think that any person has the right to decide for himself and follow the religion he likes to follow. So all these attacks against Scientology are a waste of time. Just find something productive to do and do it.
A staged hit and run, man I hadn't heard about that one. But it is well known that scientology has pull stunts like this in the past.
I disagree that the scientologists should be "left alone" if they are pulling schemes like what they did the mayor who opposed them. This is fascism at it's finest. This is rigging an election and playing dirty political games and something that does not belong in America.
Posted By: The Commode, or?
Date: 2008-09-21 20:41:02
@ONN: You have hit the nail on the head. The easiest way to find out the crimes of Scientology is to see what they accuse their critics of. Research the unlawful employment of off-duty Clearwater cops by the CoS or their harrassment of the Lisa McPherson Trust for even more disturbing information. None of the apologists here will even engage you on these factual issues.
@Kevin Owen: Do you really think anyone outside the cult falls for this kind of "thought reform" doublespeak?. Sorry, you don't have us alone in a room gripping the cans here. Let me fix it:
"The true story of Scientology is wrapped in 50 years of lies, deceit and fraud. It goes like this: there was a hack writer who was a paranoid schizophrenic with delusions of grandeur. Failing to succeed as a writer, he decided to utilize the crude mind control techniques that existied in the 1950s to create a group that would be relentlessly dedicated to aggrandizing him forever. When we examine this extremely accurate and very brief account, we see that there must be in Scientology some very disturbing elements for this soulless scam to have been perpetuated for as long as it has." . . . FIX'D. Come on, the guy died with drugs in his system - give it up already! Do you really respect the reign of terror that David Miscavige has instituted in the aftermath of LRH's death?
@frankg: The CoS has in the last year alone many times deployed their "lawfare" attorney teams, Private Investigators and their own Office of Special Affairs agents against anyone who dares to question their practices. This is merely exposing the hardball intimidation tactics that are the actual operating procedures of the organization. You can spout sunshine-y platitudes here all you want, but in the age of the internet, the factual information is available to anyone who wants it. Based on these responses alone, no one would say that the current criticism of the group is "a waste of time". In fact it's the most effective exposure of their practices ever accomplished.
But don't take my word for it, folks . . .. Google is your friend. Try "David Miscavige" for starters! Surely the head of Scientology ("the most ethical group in the world") has nothing to hide?
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