The First Month of New Neighbors

After more than a year of major construction, the former Braley Building in Old Town has been reopened and christened as the local Church of Scientology. 

An opening party was held several weeks back on a Sunday evening.  The event seemed to be attended largely by the loyal, who were shuttled in on buses, likely from the Hollywood area, where Scientology has another large outpost.  Interestingly, our office was hand delivered an invitation to the event, by what we assumed to be a local Scientologist.  The deliverer of the invitation was quite intent on gathering information about who from our office might be attending this event.  We did not provide her with what she was looking for.

I can report, as a neighbor of the building, that the event was strangely closed to the general public, with Raymond Avenue blocked off for a full block from Colorado to Green Street with 10 foot high opaque fencing and a small forest of imported potted trees.  Police and private security guarded all entrances. 

I am just wondering here, why would a purported "church" need to hire police and security to keep uninvited people out of an event to celebrate something that is for everyone and designed to supposedly enhance life?  I find this odd.  Likely, this is connected with the long history of protests against the church.  And, at this event, the usual protesters remained outside of the cordoned area.

Now, after more than a month of having Scientologists in the neighborhood, I have some observations - all made from a distance without any detailed knowledge.  Frankly, I am frightened to set foot in the building itself. 

It seems there are about 25 to 50 folks working consistently in the building on a daily work-week basis.  They are resoundingly white, and seemingly very middle American, and range in age from what seems to be late teenagers (likely the children of other working members - which I find sad) to middle 50s.  There are a couple of black member/workers, but they have been much less present over the past two weeks or so.  All workers wear uniforms that oddly resemble students at some form of combination parochial/bar tending academy.  The uniforms seem right out of the 1970s, and require a fashion update.  Soon.

My guess is that post high school education is also not a high priority of Scientology insiders.  Just a hunch, though.

One prominent characteristic is quickly apparent; if you are a Scientologist worker in this building, the odds are quite high you will be a chain smoker.  I have never, in my seven years as an office tenant in Old Town, seen so many smoking people - not even in the back alley of Urban Outfitters!  I find this interesting as well.  If these folks, who work daily in the inner sanctum of the place that is supposed to provide one with great inner peace, are chain smokers, how does this bode for the peace of mind of the greater cause?  Not too sure about that one.

More news as it occurs or comes to mind......