Patty Moher drops in on the ‘ideal’ Scientology scene in New Haven

I went to the New Haven Org on November 6, a Monday morning. I was curious how they were doing on their “Ideal Org” project.

Until it gets done, the temporary New Haven org is now located at 980 Whalley Ave. It’s about half a block up and across the street from both the original NH org and the current dilapidated Ideal org.

According to Google the org opened at 10 am. I arrived at 9:30 to find one car and a Jeep with a mounted snow plow that looked like it’s been sitting there for a long time, and an old yellow Volunteer Ministers van in the back parking lot.

This location used to be a medical facility of some sort and it has a lot of rooms. Take a look inside at this Zillow link.

I was wondering, but I have no proof that some staff might live there. I know that the orgs had a policy of Night Watch where staff had to stay overnight at orgs for security, but I don’t know if this continues. It probably does but I would need some kind of evidence. Maybe a Connecticut SP could drive by after 10 pm and see if any cars are parked in their lot.

By 10 am two more cars arrived. One could be staff, but one looked like he was carrying a course pack in a bag, so he was probably a student. To me, it looked like two staff and one student, or maybe one staff and two students at 10 am on a Monday morning. Just pathetic. Connecticut will be the first Cleared state in the US anytime now.

Then I drove down a few hundred feet and across the street from the 20-year-old ramshackle Ideal Org building.

This building used to be a landmark furniture store and originally some kind of Mason thing. I remember walking through it some 30-plus years ago. It was old then.

The first thing I noticed was that there was no fence. It used to be surrounded, but the fence was gone which means there is no construction going on. Also, there is some kind of permit on the door dating back to 2018.

What a dump. Take a look at the pictures.

Also of note is that the org is located in Westville, a very nice section of New Haven and I’m sure the locals hate the fact that the building is going to shit.

From Niche.com: “Westville is a neighborhood in New Haven, Connecticut with a population of 7,333. Westville is in New Haven County and is one of the best places to live in Connecticut. Living in Westville offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Westville there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Westville and residents tend to be liberal.”

So you can imagine the poor PR image Scientology has in New Haven. Here’s an article from a few months ago from the New Haven register.

According to the city’s online tax records, the church, which operates out of a rented commercial storefront up a block across the street, has not had to pay any property taxes on 949 Whalley for at least a decade. The property remains tax-exempt today despite dissent between the city’s tax assessor and the Board of Assessment Appeals… The city last appraised the property as worth nearly $3 million.

I include a photo I took of the NH Ideal org in 2006, it’s the one with the banner. It’s good for a chuckle.

— Patty Moher

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A wrong action is wrong to the degree that it harms the greatest number of dynamics. And a right action is right to the degree that it benefits the greatest number of dynamics. Many people think that an action is an overt simply because it is destructive. To them all destructive actions or omissions are overt acts. This is not true. For an act of commission or omission to be an overt act it must harm the greater number of dynamics. A failure to destroy can be, therefore, an overt act.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1963

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“Though little progress has been made in the field of psychic phenomena in Dianetics, we have made enough progress to raise the hair of the whole society — just as we are doing on the subject of processing. But it is interesting to me that some of the past concepts of what life is seem to be very antique at this time. We haven’t had time to look up some of the confirmations thoroughly enough, but there is just a little bit more evidence in favor of immortality and the individuality of the human soul than there is against it….The preponderance of the evidence is in favor of individual immortality. I never thought that would be the case. All my life, I had supposed that when a person was dead, he was dead. He looks awfully dead! Actually, that was all the scientific evidence the society had on that basis a few short months ago: ‘He looks awfully dead’.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 21, 1950

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“PORT: Well, we sure left that port cool. Ship’s Rep rounds taking the usual presents, found all very high ARC hoping we’ll come back. The hostile newspaper was ordered to suspend publication. You all did very well there and I’m proud of you.” — The Commodore, November 21, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“If people really believed in their OT powers then they wouldnt worry about insurance and locking doors, and i kinda live like this. If something bad happens then ive gone a little pts and regardless of locking doors or not that something bad would have happened anyway. So probably avoiding suppressives is more important than getting insurance.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: The head of Scientology in France and 14 other members were convinced of manslaughter and fraud in connection with the suicide of a Scientologist in 1988. Patrick Vic was being pressured for money for the Purification Rundown and jumped off an apartment building. From UPI: “A court Friday sentenced the former head of the Church of Scientology in France to 18 months in prison for his role in the suicide of a member of the church. The court in the southern city of Lyon also handed Jean-Jacques Mazier a further 18-month suspended sentence and fined him 500,000 francs ($100,000) after convicting him on charges of second degree murder and fraud. The sentence was more severe than that sought by prosecutors, who had demanded a three-year suspended sentence and a 500,000 francs ($100,000) fine. Fifteen other church members received suspended prison terms of eight months to two years for being accessories to fraud. But the court dropped charges against another eight members, including the church’s spokeswoman, Daniele Gounord, and Jean-Paul Chapellet, the former head of the church’s security section.”

 
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Random Howdy

“It’s not a question of whether the Church of Scientology has ever been capable of world domination, obviously that’s absurd. It’s that Hubbard’s writings state this as his goal which lays the groundwork for banning Scientology and similar organizations by governments around the world, justifiably so, in my opinion. If you’re going to talk shit, don’t cry foul when people make you choke on it.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing October 30.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, Scientology submitting anti-SLAPP response Oct 26.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Discovery phase.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] While Danny Masterson’s jury takes a holiday, we talk and talk
[TWO years ago] Scientology founder’s breathless promotion of his ability to ‘endow another body with life!’
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s super couple throws in the towel and finally agrees to pay $3.5 million tax debt
[FOUR years ago] Scientology not only wants Danny Masterson rape lawsuit quashed, it wants sanctions
[FIVE years ago] Things to be thankful for — the new Scientology holiday catalog is here!
[SIX years ago] Tonight: Leah Remini and Mike Rinder wrap up their 2nd season with questions from viewers
[SEVEN years ago] Shelley Duvall is ill, but is Scientology’s Vivian Kubrick the best person to step in?
[EIGHT years ago] Scenes from the divorce of the second marriage that L. Ron Hubbard never had
[NINE years ago] Swiss politicians sue Scientology for libel in battle over anti-drug front group
[TEN years ago] The “Ethics” of Political Power: Scientology’s Worship of Ruthlessness
[ELEVEN years ago] No, Kelly Preston is Not Rebelling Against Scientology By Acknowledging Autism

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 21, 2023 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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…

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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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

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