Let's Clear Up Some Confusion

There has been some confusion going around.

The recent Attorney General letter, which some interpreted as siding with the Church of Scientology, has caused some confusion. We are glad to clarify, because the Attorney General’s opinion is irrelevant to our initiative.

There are two distinct steps required for an institution like Scientology to take a public street.

Step 1: Convince the City Council to vacate the street, essentially giving it up.
Step 2: Determine who owns the land under the street and whether it can be declared surplus and sold.

The Save The Garden initiative focuses entirely on Step 1. Our petition proposes a new law that requires voter approval before any downtown street can be vacated.

The Attorney General’s letter addresses only Step 2, which is the question of who owns the underlying land. That matter is between the City and Scientology, and they can resolve it in court.

Regardless of who owns the land beneath South Garden Avenue, nothing can happen unless the City Council first determines there is no public use for the street and then votes to vacate it. If that vote never takes place, the street stays public.

This is why our initiative is so important. We want the authority to give away public streets to rest with the citizens of Clearwater, not with political pressure or private interests.

Our work continues, unchanged and undeterred.

With gratitude,

Team #SaveTheGarden
www.SaveTheGarden.org

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PS: While we have been doing more door-to-door canvassing and fewer signature stations, you can still sign the petition this week at two location:

MONDAY (December 8)
East Community Library
2465 Drew Street, Clearwater, FL 33765
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

SATURDAY (December 13)
Downtown Clearwater
Corner of Coachman Park and Cleveland Street
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday