In downtown Clearwater, Scientology's bid for an expanded role is a matter of scripture

[HAB911]

Scientology's long-standing zeal for expansion and penchant for secrecy have manifested in several ways: the scale of its plans for Cleveland Street, its private meetings with elected officials and its hushed effort to snap up millions of dollars' worth of property after promising the city it wouldn't.

It's an assertive approach that comes up time and again in teachings by founder L. Ron Hubbard and other writings. When it comes to handling governments and widening influence, the church's strategy is a matter of scripture.

In a 1961 series of letters on church policy called "Keeping Scientology Working," Hubbard writes about skirting government approvals.

"Do they think a society in this shape will approve Scientology into power? Hell no! And to hell with this society. We're making a new one. So let's skip the approval button from a lot of (non-Scientologists) and settle down to work to make new people and better people."


http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/in-downtown-clearwater-scientologys-bid-for-an-expanded-role-is-a-matter/2318663

[Heddi]

1. If Miscavage had his way

the entirety of downtown Clearwater would be 100% owned by Scientology. It's already heading in that direction. The "storefronts" are just that -- fronts. Big picture windows looking into buildings of....people standing around or sitting at desks. Flag Base staff walk around in groups of 10-20 in their creepy flight attendant uniforms.

They want to buy up the Marine Aquarium land and they've got a couple of buildings that they bought using shell companies -- a gas station and car lot or something like that.

It's a real shame. I like Clearwater (hell, like it enough that I bought a house here!) but these Scientology jerks really make downtown a complete dump. There's nothing there. Just one, big, tax-free church for block after block after block.