Why is the state involved in a dispute between Scientology and Clearwater?
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is breaking from his predecessors and stepping into hyper-local debates.
He has opined on whether Pensacola should allow a Christmas drag show in a city-owned theater and if Miami could change its election dates without voter approval.
Most recently, he answered a question from a Clearwater City Council member: Who owns a portion of a downtown roadway? The city or the Church of Scientology?
Uthmeier says the church, which wants to use the space for a long-planned event hall, most likely does. And he said it has the right to request that the city vacate the road without paying fair market value.
It was the second time Uthmeier offered an opinion related to the roadway. The first time came without the city asking for his thoughts.
The more recent opinion was in response to a formal request from one City Council member, who didn’t consult the rest of the dais. In his response, Uthmeier wades deep into legal precedent on government purchase and transfer of property ownership.
Clearwater City Council member David Allbritton sent a letter to Uthmeier dated Nov. 14 seeking his legal guidance on who owns a portion of South Garden Avenue.
City Council in March tentatively approved the sale of the roadway to the church. But after an opposing group formed, Allbritton changed his opinion on the matter against Scientology, and the church withdrew its request.
Robert Potter, who represents the church, has said his client intends to resubmit its request. He has also contested the city’s ownership of the land and said the church shouldn’t have to pay for it.
“I am now unsure how to proceed if the applicant reapplies for the vacation, as I want to avoid any discrimination or violation of Florida law,” Allbritton’s letter said.
In his unsolicited May opinion letter, Uthmeier warned Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector against a potentially “unconstitutional” stance against the church acquiring the property. Without naming Scientology, he said attaching a condition that it develop other downtown properties in exchange for the section of city road would violate a previous attorney general opinion.
Read more https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2025/12/03/church-of-scientology-attorney-general-james-uthmeier-clearwater/
Content retrieved from: https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2025/12/03/church-of-scientology-attorney-general-james-uthmeier-clearwater/.
