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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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Meet
Jeff Jacobsen
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