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The Memorial
Brick Controversy
Jeff attempts
to purchase an engraved brick in memory of Lisa McPherson.
Post to alt.religion.scientology
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Sometime in August 2000
Mark Bunker and I attended a meeting of Citizens for a Better Clearwater
at a deli in downtown Clearwater. We learned there of their project to turn
a small alleyway off Cleveland Street into a park. They were going to sell
bricks where people could place a message on them to raise money, and these
bricks would be interspersed through the brickwork walkway in the park.
On September 14, 2000 I wrote a check to Citizens for a Better Clearwater
for $45.00 to purchase a brick for the new park. CBC had basically one rule
about what could be on the brick, that there could be only one memorial
brick per deceased. They later added that a committee would review each
message. My brick was to say "Remember Lisa McPherson, 1959-1995."
On September 21 I sent an email to Citizens for a Better Clearwater asking
if the Scientology security cameras would be staying in the park (there
were 2 on the Scientology building that makes the west wall of the park).
I got a nice letter back thanking me for my brick purchase, and they didn't
know if the cameras would be staying or not.
On October 7 I sent another check for $45.00 to Citizens for a Better Clearwater
to again purchase a brick to help pay for the park amenities. This one was
for a friend and it was to say "in memory of Congressman Leo Ryan."
About a week ago I was over by the park and noticed they were putting bricks
in finally. I asked the worker how they were dispersing the message bricks
and he said just as they came off the pallet and in no other particular
order. I was glad and looking forward to seeing where my bricks might be
placed.
The above is the entire extent of my contact with Citizens for a Better
Clearwater, until today. Today I got a letter from CBC dated February 27
and signed Doug Williams, Treasurer. Here is the letter:
Dear Mr. Jacobsen,
Citizens for a Better Clearwater is a private, non-profit organization
which is committed to improving the city and forwarding a message
of unity amongst its citizens and development for the downtown.
We have reviewed your application along with your correspondence on
the matter and do not feel that we can accept donations for a brick
from you and still maintain the message of community harmony that
we seek. We are therefore returning your brick donations.
Regretfully,
* * * * * * |
First off, what
on earth was disharmonizing about my bricks?
Second, why did it take them months to let me know about this rejection,
especially since they had sent a letter thanking me for the orders previously?
Third, what "correspondence" are they talking about? I only ordered the
bricks and asked about the security cameras, that's it.
I suspect now what I had heard as rumor, that CBC is controlled by Scientology.
What other "community" would be in disharmony over my bricks?
So now I have a check for $90 and a bitter taste in my mouth.
--Jeff Jacobsen, March 2001
After the rejection
of Jeff's memorial brick order, the local media started to cover the story.
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The
pressure from the media attention forced the Citizen's for a Better
Clearwater to relent and allow the bricks to be placed.
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