One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
City Approves $3,000 in Funding for Church of Scientology's Ron L. Hubbard's Birthday Event
Scientology Building in Hollywood | Photo by acaben via Flickr
"Will you be celebrating Jim Jones and David Koresh's birthday?" gadfly Arnold Sacks dramatically said during public comment before the City Council voted to approve around $40,000 in fee waivers--meaning the city absorbs the costs of paying overtime for workers to shut streets down--for special events around the city, including $3,000 for a L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event taking place Saturday at the Shrine Auditorium. Activist and pain-in-the-council's-neck Zuma Dogg hypothetically questioned what the public would want to do with a $5,000 gift to the city. Would you rather have "homeless services on skid row, give it to the underprivileged kids of LAUSD programs, how about keeping the parks an libraries open that we're thinking of cutting," he asked. "With all due respect, you got people like John Travolta and Tom Cruise that are part of this organization, how about if they can chip in and pick up the tab?"
The motion was passed unanimously, although Councilmembers Eric Garcetti, Tom LaBonge, Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendahl were absent from the meeting.
"This annual celebration recognizes the achievements of Mr. Hubbard, Founder of the Scientology religion, and honors Churches of Scientology internationally," wrote Councilmember Bernard Parks in the motion (.pdf). "The event is attended by over 7,000 local Scientologists, their families and friends, as well as by representatives of other religions and professions."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
