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Originally Posted by GregE
Damn! I was always under the impression that those zombies were pretty much barred from and ignored on the beach side of the bridge. Ditto for all of the surrounding communities. Sorry to hear that.
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Its been a slow choke. Started with the downtown area, but for the last decade they have been slowly buying up property on and near the beach and seating people in city council and local government.
It's like they are creating their own little ghost town. The majority of the property they buy they leave vacant and just hold it, creating little islands of active business w/ nothing in between, hurthing the local economy. Last year, in the middle of tourist season, they did major road construction at the beach, closing Gulfview for months. Not sure how well you know the area but just imagine everything south of Pier 60 being near inaccessable. Having to park blocks away and walk through construction tape to get to restaurants that are normally jumping that time of year. I don't know the numbers but if feels like they've got to have close to 30 to 40% of the prime beach property at this point, might be more, might be less.
I'm not sure what their critical mass point will be, but I think the plan is when they hit the property percentage they are looking for or buy whatever peice of real estate they might be waiting on, they are going to build it all up as a giant private resort. I would honestly not be surprised if they wall off entire sections of the beach. I'm sure they will keep it classy, probably build it out with stone and form jettis... but it will be a loss for the community.
It's tough for me. I grew up with and still have alot of scientologist friends, and the way the religion is if you speak out against the church you get labeled an "SP" -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressive_Person
Even though its against the rules my friends used to be understanding and conversational and engage in discussion and debate about the church, but ever since Anonymous if I ever say anything negative its like pressing a button and they launch into this rehearsed speech. They all repeat the exact same rebuttal, it's like Stepford Wives.
Anyway, to get back on topic everything about the church spending money and bettering the local economy is hogwash. The church supports the church. Some of it trickles down, but for the most part church owned businesses employ church members and buy from church owned and operated suppliers. The church invests money to build up church owned buildings and rents property to church run industry.
I actually live nearer Downtown Dunedin, a small speck directly north of Clearwater. Downtown Dunedin is still largely independent and thriving. It doesn't have the beach though
Honeymoon island isn't half bad but it's not the same as the beautiful powder on clearwater beach. Sand Key is my favorite part.