Clearwater Council Stands By Scientology Avenue Vote
A 3-2 vote kept a street vacated for an event space, despite a petition that met the city's signature threshold.
By Aiko Soto ·
Residents of Clearwater, Florida, will continue to see South Garden Avenue altered for the Church of Scientology. The city council voted 3-2 on Thursday night to reject a grassroots effort to reverse the decision.
The council declined to act on the petition, ending a process that had been triggered by the collection of enough verified signatures to meet the city charter's requirements. The street was previously vacated to allow the construction of an event space for the religious organization.
Three council members argued that state law blocks the city from applying its standard referendum process to this specific case. Their position was supported by a letter from the Florida Attorney General's Office, which arrived on Thursday afternoon. The letter stated that state statute prohibits Clearwater from using the referendum mechanism for this petition.
Council member Mike Mannino stated that the city is legally bound to follow state statutes, regardless of public opinion. "That is law we have to follow," Mannino said. "The protections of people, the protections of our community, the protections of you lying within those laws and protections. It's the very reason those are put there whether we agree or disagree with them."
The vote highlighted ongoing tensions regarding the church's presence in downtown Clearwater. Council member David Allbritton suggested that some public comments focused on the organization rather than the infrastructure. "It was really nothing about the street. It was all about your hate for Scientology," Allbritton said. "Why put Save the Garden? Why not just put I hate Scientology?"
The Church of Scientology released a statement following the vote, noting that the Attorney General confirmed the group's long-standing position. "The Attorney General has confirmed what the Church has maintained all along: This petition is unlawful," the statement read.
Brooks Gibbs, campaign director for the Save the Garden group, said the organization intends to challenge the city's handling of the petition in court. Gibbs noted the group must now raise funds to defend the 7,500 signatures it collected.
