Scientology has a permit in Austin for this Saturday, but the ‘Ideal Org’ looks unready

What is going on, Dave?

Scientology leader David Miscavige boasted more than a year ago that he was going to open up four new “Ideal Orgs” in the first quarter of 2023, and nothing happened. Then, in November (at the IAS gala) and December (at the New Year’s event) he bragged that the four were definitely going to open in “January and February,” and he made big presentations about where they were: Paris, Mexico City, Chicago, and Austin.

All four of those facilities have had their grand openings delayed for years because of the pandemic, but this time Miscavige really made it sound like he was going to get it done.

So far, however, the only permit we’ve found in online records is one that Scientology paid the city of Austin $328.87 (with a remaining balance of $704.38) so that it could have its big party this Saturday, January 13.

But one of our readers went by the org yesterday, and it looks the same as ever, and not close to being opened…

Scientology has canceled its Austin permit in the past, so we’ll see if this one gets moved again, but that is not an org that’s about to have its David Miscavige closeup.

Alex Barnes-Ross spotted some Scientology social media posts which suggest the Austin org is still only in staffing mode, which suggests it’s far from ready to open.

Chicago, meanwhile, is the same story. This week, another of our readers went by and it looks the same as always. Also, no filming permit is on file.

It’s the same ugly plastic wrap on the signage, and no sign of life inside.

Alex told us that he’d heard the Paris org might open up as soon as this Saturday. And Miscavige himself made it sound like Paris would go first. But so far neither of us has managed to get confirmation of it, and now Alex think it won’t happen this weekend after all.

“So 66 staff have been recruited already to get to the target of 80 before they can open,” he says. “They’re doing an all-hands on Saturday to blast through the last of the filing project.”

Could one of our French friends help us out by giving the place a look? If it’s having its grand opening soon, it might show some signs of it.

As for the “Del Valle” org in Mexico City, we’d love to hear from someone there who could also go by and check on it for us occasionally.

We really don’t know what shape that building is in presently. We hope someone can let us know.

If Dave’s throwing a party (and he keeps insisting that he is) we don’t want to miss it!

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A real Clear is of course on the other side of the Reactive Bank and above all these states. It is completely stable. One needs to know how to audit to get there. A real Operating Thetan is of course a Clear who has been familiarized with his environment to a point of total cause over Matter, Energy, Space, Time and Thought… And of course nobody is going to go OT before they have been Audited, Released, trained and cleared, all of which are currently standard actions in Scientology today. We are definitely on our way.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1965

 
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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

“I do not know if it can be established for sure what I say about the deteriorating size of a thetan is a curve, but I believe it to be, and that the composite track of 74 trillion years might be the banks of cells which you now have, which once ran bodies. And you might have a rather brief tenure on the track really. Because it would be almost impossible to separate these things. And that’s why you couldn’t give a damn whether you have a past life or not. It just doesn’t matter. The point is you’ve got a future one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 12, 1953

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“A new CLASS VI (plus HDG) recruitment campaign is being telexed out to CLSs. We are offering a Petty Officer (Tech) rating to field VIs, VIIs, VIIIs, so they become fully contracted SO Members. They will be shipped direct to Flag where we will jump them through AB, Mission School, SS I, SS II, Class VIII, IX and X. These will be purely tech ratings…Target is to make every Scn org as big as SH was in 1967. So that’s where we’re going. The blocker is Tech Personnel and we’re hammering hard on that.” — The Commodore, January 12, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“We audit beings, the thetan. Even if it has two different bodies in different planets, the being is the same. So we are facing here the tech necessary to audit the being when it has two or 10 bodies running simultaneously. Do you know the steps necessary to do that? Does the Church of Scientology have that tech? Does Freezone or Ron’s Org? Does the other LRH in the other planet?”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: The Tampa Tribune reported this week that Bob Minton will be charged with battery for an incident during a protest at the Fort Harrison Hotel in October. “An outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology was formally charged with misdemeanor battery late Friday. New Hampshire millionaire Robert S. Minton Jr. faces a maximum penalty of one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of striking Scientologist Richard W. Howd Jr. during a protest Oct. 31 outside the church’s spiritual headquarters in downtown Clearwater. State Attorney Bernie McCabe had the option of not prosecuting the case, and Minton had been waiting since his arrest the night of the incident for a determination. Neither could be reached for comment late Friday. In the battery incident, Minton was carrying a protest sign up and down the sidewalk outside the Fort Harrison Hotel on Halloween night while Howd filmed him at close range with a video camera. Minton testified that he struck Howd with his placard when Howd would not back away as Minton left the area.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Burroughs thought that psychedelics could help him break his junk addiction, but he also thought the same thing about Scientology.”

 
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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 January 29, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
— 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] The prosecution’s argument that won the day for a retrial of Danny Masterson
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: An unprecedented glimpse inside Scientology’s royal family
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s anti-mask star Leigh Dundas may have overdone it at Capitol riot
[FOUR years ago] Scientology honors its bodysnatchers with stars on its Xenu-rrific walk of fame
[FIVE years ago] David Miscavige in South Africa: The new ‘Advanced Org’ gets its castle
[SIX years ago] When Scientology tried to convince the FBI that a college prof ran a cabal of critics
[SEVEN years ago] LAPD to Leah Remini on her records request about missing Scientology leader’s wife: ‘Go fish’
[EIGHT years ago] A great peek into how Scientology uses fronts to love-bomb a public official
[NINE years ago] Monday Funnies: More evidence that Scientology is gearing up for a really tough 2015
[TEN years ago] Gary Weber: Another former Scientology official talks about women forced to have abortions

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 12, 2024 at 07:00

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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, 1995-2022 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…

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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone