A review of Scientology policy to take over

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

"But the meaning of that and similar passages is just what it sounds like, said Mike Rinder, who spent 25 years as a senior Scientology executive before defecting in 2007. Once the church's international spokesman, Rinder said Scientology leader David Miscavige's retail plan for downtown is an embodiment and fulfillment of its preachings 'to take over governments.'
'Really it's not specifically Clearwater,' he said. 'Scientology believes that they are going to take over the world. This means bringing everybody into compliance with the goals and objectives of Scientology.'
With the church's international spiritual headquarters located downtown at the 300,000 square foot Flag Building, Rinder said insulating that footprint is a priority for church leaders.
If Miscavige succeeds and recruits retail to the struggling downtown, Rinder said he will instruct local and visiting Scientologists to frequent the shops. That, he said, would create a 'perimeter of safety' around the Flag headquarters and the Fort Harrison Hotel, so parishioners can take courses and buy church counseling sessions and not have to cross paths with outsiders."

This is a great review of  Scientology "scripture" that tells to take over the surrounding environment, including governments.  This especially targets Clearwater.

Scientology offers more for aquarium land

http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-leader-david-miscavige-ups-offer-for-aquarium-property-before/2318489

"The church has upped its standing offer for the property and threw in a 'sizable donation' to sweeten the deal, spokesman Ben Shaw confirmed Wednesday. He declined to disclose the church's new offer but said in a statement that it 'far exceeds what the city can pay.'
The City Council is scheduled to vote on its $4.25 million deal April 20.
Shaw called the new bid a win for all: The aquarium would receive a substantial amount for its property and the donation; the city would not have to expend taxpayer dollars; and the church would be able to build a swimming pool and amenities for its members at the adjacent Oak Cove religious retreat."

Boy they really want that property.  Not for the good of the city, but so they can privatize even more of downtown.

A Clearwater resident gives his views on Scientology's plans

Tampa Bay News; Clearwater leaders should stop kowtowing to Scientology

"One by one, Mayor George Cretekos and other City Council members trooped to Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel to privately meet with Miscavige and hear his pitch. They circumvented public meetings requirements by meeting one at a time, and only City Council member Doreen Caudell had the good sense to reconsider and decline the invitation. Some who did go, including Cretekos and City Council member Hoyt Hamilton, went out of their way to be nice after their audiences with Miscavige and his consultants. Either Miscavige has had an epiphany, or city officials have decided to overlook Scientology's four decades of deceit and disingenuous dealings and are preparing to surrender.
All Clearwater residents know is what city officials recounted after their meetings. The Tampa Bay Times' Tracey McManus reported Scientology is focused on recruiting businesses to Cleveland Street rather than controlling every downtown block they don't already own. Miscavige suggested Scientology might pay for all of the facade redesign along Cleveland Street. And there apparently were some lovely renderings and video simulations.
Yet the public remains in the dark, and its elected officials should not be fooled by a slick sales pitch and Miscavige's new eagerness to collaborate. Remember Scientology bought more than $26 million in downtown properties earlier this year after Community Redevelopment Agency director Seth Taylor says he was assured by Miscavige in October that the church's plan did not include buying more property. Remember Scientology already has accumulated more than $260 million in real estate and is downtown's largest property owner. Remember Scientology already controls at least half of some 40 storefronts along a key stretch of Cleveland Street either directly or through its parishioners and Scientology-owned businesses that rent space. And remember what Miscavige really wants."

I just don't understand why the city representatives pretend like they are dealing with any other economically powerful entity. THIS entity has since 1975 had the stated goal of taking over Clearwater.  THIS entity has used nefarious and illegals methods to accomplish that goal.  Why pretend that is not a part of Clearwater history?  What advantage can be gained for the city by doing that?

Article; the history of Scientology in Clearwater

http://www.fsunews.com/story/life/2017/03/19/history-scientology-clearwater-florida/99381438/

"Four decades ago, the Church of Scientology began planning to take over the city of Clearwater, Florida by infiltrating local government and other influential non-government entities in the city. Now it appears that the Church’s plan has come to fruition. With control over more than a quarter billion dollars of real estate in the downtown area, Scientology has the largest influence on city officials in regards to development. Scientology’s presence has for decades casted a shadow over Clearwater, and has led to the city being known for its geographic concentration of Scientology rather than its miles of pristine beaches. This article is intended to summarize the sordid history of the relationship between the city of Clearwater and the Church of Scientology."

Nice summary.

Religious organizations allowed to own commercial businesses

http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-retail-plan-is-rare-as-few-churches-back-non-religious/2317024

"The largest-scale retail development known to be backed by a religious organization in the U.S. is the City Creek Center built in downtown Salt Lake City in 2012.
The development of 104 stores, seven restaurants and 536 condos and apartments was financed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The development is owned by the church's for-profit real estate arm, City Creek Reserve, and managed by Taubman Inc., so there is no ecclesiastical oversight...

The project is credited with turning around the struggling downtown that was reeling from the recession and lingering disruption from a massive 2002 freeway construction project.
Its opening in 2012 prompted about $3 billion in additional private development in the city, according to Salt Lake Chamber CEO Lane Beattie."

Clearwater and Salt Lake City are much different from each other.  The question for Clearwater is, what is Scientology trying to get out of their new proposals?  Is it what's good for the city, or what's good for Scientology?  This should be the point of research.

City Council defends their meetings with Scientology, ignores the elephant in the room

This is all well and good, and yes freedom of religion is important.  But the council seems quite deliberately to be ignoring the fact that since 1975 Scientology has wanted to and even tried to take over Clearwater.  Mark Bunker even spoke at this meeting and brought that up clearly.  Why are they ignoring this important point?  Surely they must know at least some of the history of Clearwater - Scientology relations?  That they tried to smear a former Clearwater mayor as a bigamist, and set up a fake hit-and-run to get him in trouble?  That a Scientology magazine says precisely that their goal is to "make Clearwater the first Scientology city"?  So why this deliberate blindness on the part of this council?