CLEARWATER, Fla. – A grassroots marketing campaign is underway in Clearwater to dam future efforts by the Church of Scientology to shut public streets downtown.
The “Save The Backyard” initiative, led by resident Brooks Gibbs, launched a petition for a proposed referendum that will require voter approval for any “trip of public right-of-way” within the metropolis’s downtown core.
Earlier this yr, the Church utilized to buy and shut off a portion of South Backyard Avenue as a part of plans for an auditorium and park. The Church mentioned the transfer was for security causes however withdrew its utility in Could to assessment the proposal.
PREVIOUS: Church of Scientology withdraws request to purchase Clearwater road
Regardless of that withdrawal, organizers fear related plans may return sooner or later. “They already personal 75% of the properties,” Gibbs mentioned. “They’ll construct no matter they need on their properties, however now they’re trying to purchase our streets.”
Organizers have collected about 4,500 signatures to this point — they want 7,100 legitimate signatures by October 14 to submit the petition to the Metropolis Clerk.
What you are able to do:
Petition signatures can solely be finished in individual on the East Neighborhood Library in Clearwater.
Volunteers are staged exterior on daily basis, excluding Sundays. For extra data, click on right here.
If profitable, the measure will seem on the March 2026 municipal poll, giving voters the ultimate say on whether or not future downtown road closures must be accepted.
FOX 13 reached out to the Church of Scientology for touch upon the petition however has not heard again.
The Supply: Data for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Jennifer Kveglis.
