dm_mccabe

then I ask you let me take you through those details. Not hyperbole, but documented details. At a minimum, you would get a preview of what will be brought forth if we are forced to litigate.

Following the Church’s protest of the CWPD, in December of 1997, based on parishioner concerns about the continuing pattern of prejudicial treatment by the police, I recognized that a major change was needed and took steps to change dramatically the Church’s relationship with the City. This was confirmed by the City Manager in the December 27th, 1998 edition of the Miami Herald, in statements such as this:

many years. A lot of mistakes were made on both sides. Now both sides are trying to work very hard to find compromises and move forward.”

I have met with City officials on many occasions both before and after the Felony Information and I know they join in the desire for resolution. As I mentioned earlier, prosecution will inevitably entail rehearsal of the whole history of the Clearwater Police Department and its unlawful crusade against the Church, which is legendary. No good can come from putting it on trial too. Such a trial of the police would cut against the grain of what Scientology and its membership have tried to accomplish in community betterment activities.

In the past year alone, more than 167,000 hours of volunteer work was performed by our members in Clearwater. As just one example, a group of 170 local Scientology parishioners have worked thousands of hours helping to rehabilitate prison inmates. Another group provides 250 hours per week of free tutoring to youth in need. Efforts like these have made an impact on community redevelopment plans.

In that regard, on November the 21st 1998, we broke ground and began construction on a new 370,000 square foot Church facility in downtown Clearwater. We will also shortly begin construction on a new 4,500 seat auditorium which will be available for all local community events when not being used for Scientology events.

I know of two large corporations that have noted the stable Church presence in the downtown area as a reason for locating in Clearwater. It has been estimated that our economic impact in the community will rise to $150 million per year by 2001.