Some of Scientology’s orgs around the country are boarded up. What gives, Dave?

 
Hey, Dave, what gives?

We heard this week from a reader who sent us a photo when he realized that the Scientology “Ideal Org” in Mountain View, California — called the “Silicon Valley” church by Scientology — was all boarded up, as you can see in the photo above.

Here’s another view of it…

 
We first saw Scientology orgs boarded up in Los Angeles in May, but that appeared to be a reaction to the street unrest following the death of George Floyd. Those protests died down and Scientology also claimed that it was winning against the pandemic and was in the process of re-opening orgs where it could.

But recently, we’ve heard reports that Scientology orgs in Los Angeles and New York were boarded up, and it seemed to have no connection to anything in the news at all.

We asked some of our readers to fan out and see what was going on elsewhere.

The reader who photographed the Silicon Valley org went to the nearby mission in Los Gatos and found that it too was tight as a drum…

 
On the other hand, he found the mission in San Jose to be free of plywood and was open for business.

Another reader went by the Washington DC Ideal Org, and found that it too was boarded up…

 
Kestrel found that the Dallas Ideal Org was boarded up, but cars were in the parking lot…

 
Shorpy in Detroit found a mixed bag at the Ideal Org there. The entrance seemed to be unaffected, but the windows on the side of the building were boarded up…

 
Our correspondents in England and Denmark say the orgs there aren’t boarded up, and neither is the Ideal Org in Cambridge, Ontario, Phil Jones tells us. It only seems to be affecting some of the orgs here in the US.

What’s the situation in your town? If you have an Ideal Org near you, please do us a favor and go by to see if it’s boarded up or not. In the meantime, we sent a message to Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw asking her if they were preparing for riots or going out of business or what.

We can’t help wondering about one tantalizing possibility. Just the other day we cited a court document that suggested the feds were taking a close look at Scientology, and wouldn’t it be fascinating if Dave was preparing for a raid?

Come to think of it, that would be way too appropriate and befitting. And that never seems to happen when it comes to Scientology.

 
UPDATE: Our reader who sent in these photos says the Pasadena Ideal Org has been boarded up since before the election…

 
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Jon Atack on the craziest Scientologist he ever knew

 
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Source Code

“You go in one of these modern cemeteries, one of these nice modern ones. Boo! There’s more trapped thetans around that joint than you care to measure up in a long day of Sundays. And if you want to amuse yourself, put out a line on them and say, ‘Hey fella, why don’t you get on your way?’ And they sort of feel groggy, ‘Huh? Voice of God, must be the voice of God.’ So you want to play God? Well you ought to go down and do this some time just for kicks. Put a little bit of an energy beam on them and, or plant the thought, ‘You are now on top of the grave.’ Or, ‘You are now on top of the headstone.’ And if you really want to pour the juice into them — it’s kind of bad to hypnotize thetans, I usually feel sorry for them — if you want to pull the, if you want to pour the juice in on them and go just brrwhack! ‘You are now on top of the tombstone.’ There isn’t any doubt about your getting them out, truth be known. You can put out enough energy. Beam in, sort of bore a little hole in the guy’s head and then, and then put the energy concentration flow into the center of his forehead, in in in in in in in, and his skull will go spatter, brains and all. This is no joke. I mean, I’m not joking about this.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 6, 1952

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Div 6 had better start looking to crew entertainment. Terri Gillham had to capture a British Submarine to give the crew some movies. I think that’s a bit extraordinary.” — The Commodore, December 6, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“All this talk about Scientology being some major sinkhole of money really makes little sense, especially in the FreeZone community. Even Church of Scientology costs are not that crazy, and they’re much higher than FreeZone. I’m not going to say Scientology is the only way people will become happier and better in their lives, but there is something valuable here. For $2,500 you could talk to a psych for about eight hours and then get a prescription for a bunch of meds which would just fuck you up more and make you feel less in control of your life. For $2,500 in the FreeZone you could most likely get to a point where your self confidence is restored and you start feeling in more control of your life. Honestly if after spending $2,500 you do not feel any more in control or confident in your life, LEAVE AND LOOK ELSEWHERE. Most of the people who complain about Scientology are those that got sucked into the culty parts and never really got far in it. It doesn’t take a lot of independent research to realize people like Chris Shelton don’t know a lot and he even admits it in his videos. He talks about classified materials, but his understanding is just what he got from watching South Park and skimming websites.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: Graham Berry reported that Scientology has won an effort to find sanctions against him as non-dischargable in bankruptcy court: “The cult has spent at least three times the value of their aggregate claim amount (est. $300,000.00) to obtain a ruling that the Pattinson case Rule 11 sanctions order is non-dischargable in bankruptcy. This was the Moxon v. Berry adversary proceeding within the Berry bankruptcy proceeding. It is a hollow victory for the clams because they have fair gamed me out of employment. The judge denied our cross Rule 11 motions and my request that he refer the entire record in this and the underlying and related cases to the FBI and US Attorney. However, the judge did state that the FBI had an office in the bankruptcy courts ‘and I encourage you to take the matter over there.’ The judge also stated that he did not want the Moxon v. Berry case in his court room any longer. An observer thought the judge looked as though he was scared of them. As our litigation starts drawing to a close, with all of the proof of Scientology’s 1991 litigation misrepresentations to the IRS exposed, I can now move on to my volunteer work in the information dissemination and criminal investigation area.”

Random Howdy

“Posting any old Scientology video isn’t automatically relevant. It should relate to the subject of the day’s article.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 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 filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— 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.

 
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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.

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’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] Jackie Lacey insider: Unseat her in March if you want to see Danny Masterson charged
[TWO years ago] When Tom Cruise go-fer and budding flak Tommy Davis was getting his Scientology hat on
[THREE years ago] Why is it so hard for governments to crack down on the Church of Scientology?
[FOUR years ago] Tonight on Leah Remini’s series, two more families get ripped apart and ‘fair gamed’
[FIVE years ago] Postscript: How David Miscavige spun the death of Lisa McPherson
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack: How to get a convinced Scientologist on the road to recovery
[SEVEN years ago] How Does Scientology Take Over a Mind? Jefferson Hawkins Tells Us About “PTS”
[EIGHT years ago] Vance Woodward’s Book Addicted to Scientology Is An Amazing High
[NINE years ago] Michael Fairman Sues his Chiropractor — in Part to Legitimize the Independent Scientology Movement?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 6, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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

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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