We’re still thinking about what Scientology leader David Miscavige reportedly promised on New Year’s Eve (which we know about thanks to some reporting by Mike Rinder): That he plans to open four new “Ideal Orgs” just in the first quarter of 2023 (which ends on March 31, if you’re keeping score).
Of course we’re curious to see whether he can pull it off. Miscavige hasn’t presided over the grand opening of a new Ideal Org since the February 2020 event at Ventura, California (for which a reader of ours snagged some sweet drone footage).
A month later the Covid pandemic started, but more lately Mike figures that Dave has been putting off new grand openings because process servers are looking for him.
Now suddenly Miscavige says four are going to open in the next three months. Which might they be?
The two most obvious that come to mind are Austin and Chicago. They’ve both been renovated and are ready to go, as facilities. They can open next week, if Miscavige feels like it.
But where else? Even before the pandemic hit, Miscavige had tried to speed up Ideal Org fundraising by taking less of a piecemeal approach and instead encouraging a lot of projects to be going on at the same time. Here, for example, is a list of Ideal Org projects that were being targeted recently, and pitted against each other in a fundraising flier.
Now, we’ve heard from a source that says that they’ve been asked to attend a grand opening coming soon to…
…St. Louis.
Could it be among the first four in 2023? We don’t know, but we do know they’ve been planning to renovate the building you see pictured here, and which the Scientology organization there posted to their Facebook account just a couple of weeks ago. (Hm, interesting.)
If you know more about the St. Louis project and whether it’s really so close to being completed, please drop us a line.
Meanwhile, we also heard from another good source of ours this week, The Insider. This is someone still inside the organization who, late in 2021, began telling us about the chaos caused by Covid, new details on the ‘Chase Wave’ financial debacle, a detailed description of the Ideal Org scam, and predicted the new ‘Golden Age of Admin’ that was on the way. In November, they gave us another update, about the Ideal Org program going through some changes, particularly in South Africa.
And now, they suggested that at least one, if not two, of the Ideal Orgs about to open may be in that country…
The Port Elisabeth building is completely finished, yet remains empty until the trainees return from Flag. I believe the other org will be Durban or Cape Town, in South Africa as well.
Previously I wrote that Miscavige cut the “cost” of all orgs in South Africa by two-thirds so that he can open them and claim “unprecedented expansion” abroad. They’re also going to claim that they’ve made massive inroads in working with the SA government.
In reality, they’re only going to be able to open Austin and Chicago because they’re already complete. The cult has no way to get money from people in the US anymore. Not like they were previously with the Chase Wave.
I think future orgs will all be IAS funded and many will be manned by the Sea Org – like LA and Orlando.
They’re having a hell of a time getting staff. Worse than ever.
When we asked for additional thoughts about Miscavige’s New Year’s Eve message, he sent us this…
I would add that the way this event was held is indicative of the state of Scientology as a whole.
Miscavige claims that Scientology is both expanding at an exponential rate and is in desperate need of fixing, hence the “Golden Age of Admin.” That these two conditions are mutually exclusive is not lost on all the (Scientology) public. He has painted himself into a corner.
Having funded and renovated several orgs over the course of the pandemic, he can claim that nothing has slowed down. But what comes after that?
Even with the financial fraud, it takes a decade or so to extract enough money from the field. So what happens when the field has no money left to extract?
I would make the following predictions:
1) The IAS will be used to fund future orgs.
2) Much like they’re doing in South Africa, funding will be “crowd sourced” from all Scientology Public in the world with smaller donations from more people, rather than big donations from a few.
3) The “cost” of new orgs will magically be a third of what it would have been previously and Miscavige will claim this is because of his brilliance and ingenuity.AdvertisementThe Ideal Org strategy has been more about filling the coffers of SO reserves than anything else. And in that regard it has been a roaring success.
With what has previously been documented in Africa, we can surmise that the markup on the renovations is somewhere in the area of 300 percent – of which two-thirds goes straight to the SO.
Miscavige is now forced to open orgs at cost, or admit the Ideal Org program is a failure; which of course he won’t do. Ideal Orgs were a cash cow, but they’re now a money pit – a beast with an insatiable hunger for more.
Miscavige (much like Hubbard) is the architect of his own demise.
Having a front row seat to it all almost makes the time I’ve wasted in this cult worth it… almost.
Has Miscavige overextended himself with the Ideal Orgs and the extreme fundraising? So far, he’s resisted dire predictions in the past.
Now he says Scientology is getting back on track in 2023, while he dodges process servers trying to get him into court for child trafficking allegations.
Sounds dire. But with billions of dollars under his belt, he’s not licked yet. We can hardly wait to see how this year unfolds.
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Technology Cocktail
“We know very well that people interiorize into a body, into other bodies, into MEST objects, into planets. So, if you were to run this one all the way backward you would take somebody who is obviously seen to be interiorized into earth, and what would you have him do? You would say, ‘All right now, give me something earth could say to you.’ If he is really interiorized into earth he’ll think up something. Then you have him say Okay. The next thing you know he will get the ball of earth ‘way out there somewhere.’ Maybe it’s the first picture he has ever had! You will say, ‘That’s fine. Now give me some more things that earth could say to you.’ ‘Now give me some things you could say to earth,’ and very ordinarily he will come right on up the tone scale. You will never see such perfect behavior of a tone scale as when you use a MEST object.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1954
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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?
— The Underground Bunker Podcast
[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
— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial
[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen
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“This FBI man wanted his fortune told. So I waxed up my mustaches and readjusted the bath towel, said, ‘I see you working on a case.’ A very intelligent remark to an FBI man. Said, a case which is very, very confidential. Case number 132678.’ I said, ‘The man you want isn’t there.’ I said, ‘That’s all. Next.’ This guy goes off, and he starts figuring this out. And you could see this, you know; trying to clear this up. How did I know the number of a confidential case? Because it was the right number. Naturally it was the right number; he had the case card right in front of his face in a facsimile, and all you did was read the numbers in the upper left-hand corner.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 9, 1957
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“Orgs should be warned. The Le Moate affair was rough on Paris and DK only because they weren”t fully warned she was a psychotic. Although why they reached for it is a bit of a mystery. There’s an old principle involved — experiential track. I have nothing against these people. Orgs are in the pc business, not Flag. We are in the management and OT business. Handling purely pcs here in these high velocity areas of top command introduces the flow at the wrong point. The purely pc flow enters at lower org levels. It is our job to put orgs there that can handle such cases. Sooner or later orgs will have to acquire and start running an institutional annex. It is too hard on them handling psychotics without these facilities. A psychotic is in a Condition of Treason on the first dynamic and extends it to the third and fourth with covert destruction. This isn’t because anyone else declared the condition. It just happens to be a fact. Being in treason on the first dynamic doesn’t always mean covert destruction on the other dynamics. Unhappy people, unhappy subject.” — The Commodore, January 9, 1971
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“You are right on the threshold casewise to undertake what in my book is the greatest adventure yet, Solo NOTs. When are you starting? Based on the gains, spiritual betterments as well as new abilities, especially in handling what appear to be impossible tasks, I consider this level more important than my immediate physical life. Merely the fact that I KNOW I cannot be planted back into any area, body, identity or autorun activities any longer is beyond anything I could ever have bargained for when I came into Scientology.”
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2002: London Locals reported that Scientology organized a fundraiser for Narconon in the Knightsbridge area. “Belgravia musician Baroness Soujata Devaris has organised a special afternoon of music at the Carlton Towers Hotel in Knightsbridge to raise money for the Narconon Drug Prevention campaign. A mixed musical and dance programme was scheduled for November 18th in the hotel’s beautiful ballroom featuring Soujata Devaris herself, and Dellal McDonald. There was pop music as well from Laura Comfort. Baroness Devaris hopes to raise several thousand pounds to tackle a problem which she says is causing great concern to all parents. ‘We are all aware that society is openly struggling with the rapidly growing drug problem amongst youngsters with children as young as seven addicted to heroin. Narconon has helped an estimated one million people worldwide, including more than 115,000 school children in 1997 alone. This is a very
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“I’ve never ever really been worried about a Scientology Jonestown. There’s no apocalyptic scripture and it’s too much about the money, and the participants are way too yuppie white bread for something like that.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Plea deadline scheduled for December 16.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to time served with three years supervised release, restitution of $9.7 million.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial hearing December 9.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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
[ONE year ago] Is Scientology clown prince Grant Cardone slagging on super-richie Bob Duggan now?
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s tough marketing sell, from the man who sold Dianetics to the masses
[THREE years ago] MASTERSON: Scientology wants Bobette Riales dismissed, others forced into arbitration
[FOUR years ago] Scientology slimes ‘Aftermath’ guest with its favorite tactic: The P.O.W. video
[FIVE years ago] ‘It was my job to get Mike Rinder’s trash’ — A former Scientology spy begins to spill her guts
[SIX years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s writing about women that Scientology DOES want you to see!
[SEVEN years ago] ‘Archetypical newshound’ Paulette Cooper described in ‘thrilling account’ — Kirkus
[EIGHT years ago] Full Forrest Ackerman interview from 1997 ‘Secret Lives’ film released for first time
[NINE years ago] Jeff Hawkins: How Scientology’s ‘Third Party Law’ explains anything they want it to
[TEN years ago] Excerpts of Lawrence Wright’s Book on Scientology are Predictably Awesome
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology: Secrets of the Super Power Building
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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 2,904 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,409 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,959 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,949 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,840 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,145 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,015 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,120 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,593 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,909 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,475 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,394 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,562 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,143 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,404 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,440 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,155 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,720 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,035 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,210 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,761 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,892 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,230 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,085 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,204 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,560 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,863 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,969 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,367 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,243 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,826 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,321 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,575 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,684 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 9, 2023 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
