.Scientology in Clearwater
From Clearwater Florida
In Clearwater, much like on the internet, Scientology (also known as $¢i€₦₮o£o₲¥) is Serious Business.
Why Are They Dead? Clearwater information
There are currently two types of Scientology presence in Clearwater, the ownership of the buildings and the effect of the policies on the church on the sleepy, beach community. Why Clearwater? After L. Ron Hubbards boat, the Apollo was thrown out of yet another port (and called a "ship of fools), they landed in Miami and scouted Florida for a suitable base for the now landlubbing Sea Org. Lo and behold, they discovered a city called CLEARwater, with that name, how could they go wrong?
While the purchase of property is highlighted by the purchase of the Fort Harrison Hotel (done so using assumed names of corporations such as The United Churches of Florida and Southern Land Development and Leasing Corp.,. Local press soon found out who the true identity of the purchasers were and intended to go public with the information. At that time, Scientology announced that it was indeed them who purchased the building. The attacks against the city began prior to the purchase. In a confidential memo dated November 10, 1975 (Code Named: Operation CHINA SHOP, part of documents seized by the FBI) states:
Our target on this, very confidentially, is ownership or control of the paper. So, as you know, the finance information on the paper, its debts, its income (and how it could be cut) are prime information needs. Also detailed info on the posts of the staff editors, etc.
They are referencing the Clearwater Sun, who discovered the true purchasers. By March 1976, the first of a long list of lawsuits concerning the Church of Scientology began. What also began was the harassment campaigns targeting critics of the church which include former Clearwater Mayor Gabriel Cazares, Former Clearwater Sun reporter Bette Orsini.
Buildings
A St. Pete Times article dated 2004 says the number of church owned buildings in Clearwater to exceed 900.
Fort Harrison
Coachman Building
Super Power Building
Clearwater Bank building
Freewinds building
