Clearwater City Council debates selling the Church of Scientology a city-owned street
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The Brief
The Clearwater City Council discussed the next steps in selling the Church of Scientology a city street.
The Church is trying to buy a strip of South Garden Avenue between Court Street and Franklin Street that the city owns.
Council members said they agreed to discuss a possible sale with the Church but differed on what that sale could look like.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater City Council discussed the next steps in a potential sale of a downtown street to the Church of Scientology in a work session Monday.
The city owns the strip of land in question on South Garden Avenue between Court Street and Franklin Street. Council members said they agreed to discuss a possible sale with the Church but differed on what that sale could look like.
“This is a perfect example, and a prime example, of why this isn’t only such a tough discussion to have is because the fear and the willingness to not speak about these issues in front of the public is probably what got us here the last 40 or 50 years,” Councilman Mike Mannino said. “Whether we agree or disagree, respectfully having these discussions is probably in the best interest of every one of the citizens out there, whether they agree with the decision or not.”
The backstory:
Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said the Church of Scientology indicated about a year ago they wanted the city to close the street, wanting to build an auditorium right next to the land the city owns.
Content retrieved from: https://www.fox13news.com/news/clearwater-city-council-debates-selling-church-scientology-city-owned-street.
