Now that the confetti has settled in Austin, we’re wondering if Scientology is going to hold to its announced schedule and open Ideal Orgs in Mexico City on Friday and Chicago on Sunday.
We’re hoping to have a report from Mexico City soon, but we really don’t know what kind of shape the building there is in.
In Chicago, meanwhile, we’re still mystified at the lack of activity at the Clark Street building. Our most recent photo from our helper, taken Tuesday, still showed no signs of an imminent opening there.
Meanwhile, Val Ross did some digging for us and found some rather astounding facts about this building and Scientology’s stewardship of it.
“They bought that building on April 1, 2006 for $2,750,000, which is $2,034,000 more than it sold for in 2004, just two years earlier,” Val tells us.
It’s true. Records show that the building was sold for $716,000 in 2004 before Scientology paid almost four times as much two years later. (Scientology leader David Miscavige is not bargain hunting when he goes after properties to turn “ideal.”)
And Val sent us records showing that Scientology had to pay $110,550.53 in taxes on the property the first two years. But in the 17 years since then?
Not a dime.
“One of my granddaughters was born 2 months before they bought it. That girl turned 18 a month ago. She’s got 3 months of high school left. They milked the tax exempt status close to a generation before opening the building,” Val says.
Those early tax invoices were sent to the address of the original org that the new building would be replacing, and Val suspects the locals there got stuck with the bill .
It’s pretty incredible that Scientology could let a building in a key downtown location simply rot for so many years (and the city did complain about it), and without paying any taxes, even though there was no “religious” use of the property in that time.
But hey, this is Scientology, and governments seem to have the hardest time looking into this stuff. So Dave has gotten away with owning an unused building tax-free in one of the best cities in the country, and now they get to have a party as he comes to town to christen the place.
Like we said, however, it sure hasn’t looked ready.
Will everything there get done at the last second? We’re hoping to get a new photo later today.
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Technology Cocktail
“In OT sections we sometimes hear of a person who is ‘exterior’ and so can’t be audited any more. The symptoms of the person have not changed. So he still has aberrations. The answer is to clear the word exteriorization with them. They often are exterior into a never-never non-extant universe. Or exterior in a past death. When the word is cleared with them, they often don’t really say what was going on. They experience a strange reaction and change. If one then runs a bit of objective havingness, they come into present time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1968
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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
“Bad programs and clumsy projects develop useless traffic (Dev-T) and tie people up all over the place, pull them off normal needful actions and send the existing scene even further from the Ideal Scene. They make people very busy but nothing beneficial is gained and as the useless actions distract from normal duties, the whole place is at risk. Staffs subjected to programs that are not based on sound observation Evaluation, a REAL WHY and the points in Data Series 23, become apathetic as they see no result, So programs that are bad and programs that are right but don’t get fully done are alike deadly. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CORRECTLY DONE DATA ANALYSIS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT GETTING CORRECT PROGRAMS DONE. In this way and only in this way can one raise the Existing Scene toward an Ideal Scene. Data Analysis is a powerful tool. YOU CAN USE IT.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 29, 1972
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“Usually the first thing I run out in sessions is myself as the effect point or victim. Interacted with Hubbard last life and came back to finish the job and successfully ‘killed the Buddha,’ metaphorically speaking. In Freezone ran Whole Track fixated Hubbard interactions back to cause point, no more fixed postulates re Hubbard. Very appreciative though, very appreciative. He kept me pointed to ‘static’.”
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1999: Karin Spaink posted an update in Scientology’s case against Dutch Internet providers concerning the webbed version of the secret OT materials. “In 1996 Scientology sued 16 or so ISP’s in the Netherlands plus me, and we won. On the day of the preliminary court case Scientology filed a subpoena for a more elaborate court case. Charges are the same as original. We mustn’t have anything from the Fishman Affidavit on our sites, we may not quote, and providers should close such pages immediately. Next Monday, March 8 1999, 9:30 Juliana van Stolwijklaan 2, The Hague. The court session is open to the public. There are three judges in this type of court. Verdict won’t be due before the end of the year, perhaps even later.”
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“I’ve met or known Rastafarians, Wiccans and Satanists but I’ve never met a Scientologist in real life except my sister, which doesn’t count seeing as how that’s an accident of birth. Oh the shame.”
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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 March 26, 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: motion to file new complaint, hearing on March 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, hearing on March 26.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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
[FOUR years ago] Amended complaint filed against Scientology & Danny Masterson with new stalking allegations
[EIGHT years ago] Billboard decrying Scientology ‘disconnection’ will be going up on Hollywood Blvd
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,825 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,320 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,835 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,385 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,375 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,256 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,560 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,431 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,983 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,324 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,891 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,810 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,978 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,559 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,820 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,856 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,572 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,136 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,451 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,626 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,177 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,308 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,646 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,501 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,619 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,976 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,279 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,385 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,783 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,659 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,224 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,737 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,991 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,100 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 29, 2024 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, 1995-2022 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
