Well that didn’t take long. On Tuesday we told you about Ted Reinhard, the Clearwater, Florida tour guide who has decided to start offering guided walking tours of the city’s creepy downtown, which is dominated by the Church of Scientology and it’s “spiritual mecca,” the Flag Land Base.
“Cult City Tours,” Ted calls it, and his idea was a big hit with our readers. After some test groups, Ted began his business in earnest this week.
And last night, he decided to introduce himself and his business to Clearwater’s Downtown Development Board which is, gulp, dominated by Scientologists.
City councilman Mark Bunker is an advisory member of the board, and he alerted us last night that Ted had spoken to the group. He put together a video cut of the city’s recording.
What you’ll see is Ted introduce himself and his new business, and emphasize how it would be bringing paying customers downtown. He pointed out, for example, that he’s timing his tours to take place from 10 to 11:30 am so that when it’s done, his customers will be ready to spend money on lunch in local restaurants.
Just what a development board wants to hear, right?
Well, after a long silence, Bunker himself spoke up to thank Ted, saying that his new company is a great idea. And why not, it was Bunker himself who had first suggested that Clearwater might take advantage of Scientology’s presence to turn it into a tourist attraction.
But board chair Paris Morfopoulos, who is a Scientologist and the owner of One Stoppe Shoppe, a well known local store, wasn’t happy, calling Ted’s company a “bigoted hate group” and a “front.” Check it out and let us know what you think:
Morfopoulos: OK, I would just like to make one comment, if I may, one comment about that particular group. Lest anybody be deceived, it’s not a new business. It’s basically a front for a bigoted hate group. I’ve already had tours come by my store, where my name is called out and I’m being defamed, my store is being pointed out as a target. It’s happened twice already. This is basically a front for an anti-Scientology group. So let’s, you know, all this smiles and friendly stuff, it’s a front. Please don’t be deceived. No, you don’t have permission to respond. But I just wanted to say, please don’t be deceived by the friendly, the apparent friendliness. That’s not what this is about. This is strictly a bigoted hate group trying to promote divisiveness in our downtown. And that’s all I have to say about it.
Ted Reinhard responds:
Let’s just say the response we received from the Board was a kilo of 100 percent pure Cult City Crazy! Bring tourists downtown by the hundreds each week to shop and dine… we’re bigots. Offer to volunteer for downtown events… we’re a hate group. Tour guide points in the direction of his shop… he’s being targeted. Smile and be friendly… we’re promoting divisiveness. He didn’t start yelling “LIES!!” and speaking in tongues while writhing on the floor, but there’s always next month’s meeting.
——————–
Bonus items from our tipsters
Grifters gonna grift…
“Scientology is liable to be around for a long time, because that really isn’t a split terminal. Somebody’d have to dream one up which ran a parallel to get a total throw-out of the subject called Scientology. But then it throws itself out, which is the only thing that makes it safe to have around. Probably the only subject on Earth today which solves itself without liability or continuance of itself, which is quite interesting. It’s a safe subject.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 4, 1957
——————–
“Odd time of the year to speak about Christmas. But in this case it’s a statistic. Public Popularity increase over the world was very marked this last Christmas. The general public response was up very nearly 35% over previous years. The volume of public cards to me personally would indicate an increased popularity of Scientology by a full third! Gifts were 40 – 45% higher than in previous years. While it was a joy hearing from so many at the time, now in retrospect, it can be viewed as confirming a general public upsurge. My hard working personal staffs here and in other areas were impressed with the increase. In previous years it was already enormous. My staffs work for many weeks after Christmas caring for the flow, the address corrections and tabulations and do an excellent job of it. So the full picture is now in and the fact emerges. Public Popularity has increased a full third.” — The Commodore, February 4, 1971
——————–
“Is religion and spirituality all part of the trap to keep us down involved in MEST as we appear to be? Auditing is the only answer to get rid of charge. It is that which holds us trapped and doing crazy things. If we wait until we can do it perfectly, we won’t ever do it. A lot of engrams got run from those who simply read DMSMH and did it even poorly. If we fight the Corp Church we take our eyes off the ball, create a game and problem that will hang in time and achieve nothing. Let’s just get on with clearing the planet. The church tells us to be careful: That’s suppression. LRH gave us a gift. Let’s get busy and use it. It is the most fun you can have.”
——————–
1998: The UK newspaper Express on Sunday carried an article on a wealthy Saudi Arabian woman who has turned to Scientology. “Her billionaire father was once the richest man in the world and she has everything she could ever need. She had a mink coat at the age of three and luxury homes all over the world. But for Nabila Khashoggi, daughter of the Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, money did not bring happiness. Now after leaving London for Los Angeles, she has become even deeper involved in the Church of Scientology. The 35 year old mother says the much-derided Scientology has helped her find fulfillment and ‘handle problems in my life.’ She claims her colourful family — her mother Soraya is said to have a reckless appetite for lovers and in 1989 her father was imprisoned in Switzerland accused of fraud — all approve of her decision.”
——————–
“Raining on other people’s parades is one of my specialties.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[TWO years ago] Mark Bunker: Clearwater’s Officer (now Chief) Slaughter oversaw the Scientology detail
[THREE years ago] Are you Sci-Curious? Here’s Scientology’s 2018 Super Bowl ad
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s Super Bowl ad: Here’s your sneak peek at what it’s going to be like
[FIVE years ago] When David Miscavige was riding high with ‘The Basics’ — Scientology’s 2008 New Year’s event!
[SIX years ago] LEAH REMINI IN TALKS TO SUE SCIENTOLOGY: MIKE RINDER TESTIMONY
[SEVEN years ago] It’s a make-or-break day for Monique Rathbun vs Scientology in a Texas courtroom
[EIGHT years ago] Best Twitter Reactions to Scientology’s Super Bowl Ad
[NINE years ago] Scientology Wants It Both Ways: The Church’s Opposite Legal Strategies In Florida and Texas
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,202 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,706 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,226 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,246 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,137 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,444 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,312 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,086 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,890 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,206 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,772 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,691 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,859 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,440 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,701 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,739 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,452 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,977 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 332 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,507 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,058 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,207 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,527 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,382 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,501 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,857 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,160 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,266 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,668 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,540 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,123 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,618 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,872 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,981 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 4, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
