Mark Bunker's council replacement explains his vote for Scientology

[David Miscavige and Clearwater: 'I want it all']

Tonight, Clearwater’s city council is expected to vote to give David Miscavige and Scientology what they’re asking for, and hand over the property under S. Garden Avenue so the church can use it as part of its plans to build “L. Ron Hubbard Hall.”

Why it’s a big deal that the council is handing over property to Scientology is easier to understand if you’re aware of the history of the place. In 1975, after running Scientology for several years from a small armada in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean, founder L. Ron Hubbard decided he wanted to bring the organization back to shore and surreptitiously invaded Clearwater, buying up the Fort Harrison Hotel and Clearwater Bank buildings before anyone realized what was going on.

Since then, Scientology has expanded its grip on the town, but then in 2017 current leader David Miscavige, angered that the city wouldn’t deal him a particular small parcel, had his wealthier followers go on a spending spree, more than doubling his grip on downtown property, something that was uncovered by then-Tampa Bay Times journalist Tracey McManus.

The result of Scientology’s grip on downtown is that it has made it a ghost town. The city has tried various ways to revive the place, and on occasion the idea of land swaps with Scientology has come up. But as Mark Bunker warned when he was on the council from 2020 to 2024, it was important to get Miscavige to make the first move and prove that he was really going to do something with the properties he’s sitting on before giving the church any more parcels.

Tonight, however, the city is poised to give Miscavige something for nothing.

The block of Garden Avenue, outlined in red, will be “vacated” and given to Scientology as it builds its new venue adjacent to the Flag Building. And this is going on after, we learned, Miscavige met individually with the current council members to persuade them.

The construction of L. Ron Hubbard Hall will only continue Scientology’s cancer on the city, and in no way will benefit the non-Scientologist residents of the city, who make up about 95 percent of the town’s population.

Residents aren’t happy, and one of them wrote to the council member who replaced Bunker in the last election, fire captain Ryan Cotton.

We have Cotton’s reply. And we want to say up front we think this is a thoughtful, detailed explanation and we appreciate that he took the time to lay out his position to a constituent in this manner. But as you will see in Mark Bunker’s response, Cotton’s answer only makes sense if he was talking about any other organization than the Church of Scientology.

Here’s what Cotton told his constituent about tonight’s vote…

Thank you for reaching out and for your continued engagement in the future of downtown Clearwater. Thoughtful debate and civic involvement are the lifeblood of a strong community, and I truly appreciate your perspective.

To address you questions directly:

Yes, the closing of Garden Avenue benefits downtown by transforming the space into a landscaped park and driveway, enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality while shifting maintenance costs away from taxpayers.

Yes, it benefits constituents by ensuring the upkeep and infrastructure of the property are privately managed, reducing financial burdens on the city while preserving a walkable connection to Fort Harrison Avenue.

Yes, it supports future downtown development. There is a broader commitment from scientology to activate vacant storefronts, lease at market rates, and encourage economic activity along Cleveland Street. We are already seeing tangible progress, with previously empty spaces undergoing permitting and construction.

Yes, it benefits economic development. Increased business activity and property investments bring tax revenue and revitalization. And while scientology, like any religious institution, has exemptions, it remains one of the largest taxpayers in downtown Clearwater. Hyperlinked here are the 2024 tax rolls from the property appraiser; scroll to find "Clearwater Downtown Dev." (TaxRoll)

Our brand is more than scientology. As a second-generation native, I believe downtown Clearwater can and should be more than it is today. A thriving city is not defined by any one institution, but by its people, its businesses, and its vision for the future.

The true danger lies in doing nothing. For decades, a strategy of avoidance has allowed a single entity to accumulate property wherever the city pursued development. This cycle has stifled growth and left us with a downtown struggle to reach its full potential. If we refuse to engage, if we dismiss every proposal outright, then yes we are conceding. But if we negotiate wisely, with safeguards and accountability, we are shaping the future rather than surrendering to it.

As for concerns about city services, I have not heard opposition from any of the entities you mentioned. As a first responder myself, I can assure you if there were serious concerns, I would have heard them. The saying goes, tell a friend, tell a phone, tell a fireman. And yet, I've heard no alarms.

We may have to agree to disagree on this issue, but I truly believe this is a step in the right direction. If scientology does not uphold its contractual and spoken commitments, there will be no further deals. But we must start somewhere because if we refuse to start, we've already lost.

I remain committed to building a future for Clearwater that serves all its residents. Thank you again for your thoughtful engagement. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to discuss further.

Sincerely.

Ryan Cotton

We showed that message to Mark Bunker, and as he points out, Cotton’s message might make sense in another context, but not in regards to David Miscavige:

Ryan's optimism is charming and if this were any other entity I would agree with much of what he said but Scientology is its own beast that operates unlike any other organization.

While it is true that Scientology pays more taxes than other businesses downtown, other businesses have been driven out of the downtown by Scientology. Now, if they'd be taxed like any other business, the city would actually be getting money that could be used to combat Scientology's presence.

“We can't keep doing business as usual.” But you are. You're rolling over and giving Miscavige what he wants. All Slappy had to do was wait until he had a council that would agree with him.

We look forward to Mark Bunker giving the council this message tonight.

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For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:

Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea

Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time

Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology

Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain

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