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Ex-Tampa mayor Dick Greco: Clearwater should work with Scientology

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
Tampa Bay Times: Ex-Tampa mayor Dick Greco: Clearwater should work with Scientologists
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scient...water-should-work-with-scientologists/2201974

Excerpt:
Check out the Church of Scientology's latest glossy Freedom magazine, and you'll see some advice for the city of Clearwater from former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco.

The message, conveyed in a two-page spread with Greco's likeness and byline: Team up with Scientology.

"There are two major partners — the City and the Church — that can make a plan that will carry the city to prosperity for decades to come," according to a guest column labeled "by former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco."

When Freedom hit Clearwater City Hall a couple weeks back, that column raised a few eyebrows.

"I was a little surprised that he would have written that without at least alerting me," said Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, who counts Greco as "a friend and an outstanding leader in the Tampa Bay area."

But on Monday, Greco said he didn't write the column, a first-person essay that talks about "my years as mayor" and "what I'd tell any city."

"No, no, no, John Sugg wrote it," said Greco, 81, Tampa's mayor from 1967 to 1974, and 1995 to 2003. "I can't write."

Greco said Sugg, a Freedom editor he has long known from Sugg's days at the Tampa Tribune, interviewed him and wrote what he said. He saw an advance copy and didn't have any problems with it. He scarcely has looked at the magazine since. He said he was not paid for his contribution to the magazine.

"No question," Greco acknowledged, Scientology is controversial — but so are a lot of other groups, he said, and it's important to respect others across religious differences.

"As long as they're not hurtful to our country or that kind of stuff, I don't think it's right to be condemning of something we don't know a whole lot about," he said.

Asked why Greco was named as the author if he didn't write the column, Sugg simply said, "Whatever's in the magazine speaks for itself." Scientology spokeswoman Pat Harney did not return a call for comment.

In an interview Monday with the Tampa Bay Times, Greco repeated and elaborated on much of what the column says:
 

Miss Ellie

Miss Ellie
They have to go where they can go for good press.... I wonder if he would do an interview with "real" media and say the same things? They will brag & quote this for a very long time..... but I don't think it will win friends & influence people.


I can see it now....

Honey! The former mayor says the Scientologist are good for the city & and doing good things...

WOW! I did not realize that - maybe we should rush down & see how we can help them or how they can help us!

That is a great idea! Maybe we can save the planet or at least Clearwater - past the sugar please.... when should we start??

I don't know... maybe after we take our anti-depressants, knock down a fifth of whiskey & smoke a small joint....

Sounds good.... I can't wait to tell the neighbors how wrong we have been out "those people" - our eyes & minds are now open....

Fade to black......

Yep.... that article will work wonders.

:unsure:
 

Type4_PTS

Diamond Invictus SP
Dick Greco:
"As long as they're not hurtful to our country or that kind of stuff, I don't think it's right to be condemning of something we don't know a whole lot about," he said.

Greco was a pretty popular mayor here in Tampa but is demonstrating some incredible ignorance here.

We DO know a whole lot about this organization and they ARE hurtful to our country and "that kind of stuff".

It sounds as though he needs to hear from many people on this subject to fill in his areas of missing knowledge. :coolwink:

Anyone have contact info for Dick Greco?
 

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
I thought the article was in Freedom magazine.... my mistake...

Oh well....

:confused2:
The original article was. The Tampa Bay Times saw the article in Freedom magazine and then interviewed Greco about it. In the end, there were two articles. I linked to the one in the Tampa Bay Times.
 
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Smurf

Gold Meritorious SP
Greco was a pretty popular mayor here in Tampa but is demonstrating some incredible ignorance here. We DO know a whole lot about this organization and they ARE hurtful to our country and "that kind of stuff". It sounds as though he needs to hear from many people on this subject to fill in his areas of missing knowledge. :coolwink: Anyone have contact info for Dick Greco?

I doubt he would listen to you.. he's now 81 & probably set in his ways (and opinions). He & his wife, Linda McClintock-Greco live in Tampa. No email info found. He does legal mediation work through Florida Mediations.. https://plus.google.com/105619282814648343997/about

His mediation practice is based out of his home. http://tampa.blockshopper.com/property/1829343UZ0000000018N0A/3435_bayshore_boulevard_unit_18n

His wife: http://www.age-lessmedicine.com/staff_bios.html
 

Type4_PTS

Diamond Invictus SP
I doubt he would listen to you.. he's now 81 & probably set in his ways (and opinions). He & his wife, Linda McClintock-Greco live in Tampa. No email info found. He does legal mediation work through Florida Mediations.. https://plus.google.com/105619282814648343997/about

His mediation practice is based out of his home. http://tampa.blockshopper.com/property/1829343UZ0000000018N0A/3435_bayshore_boulevard_unit_18n

His wife: http://www.age-lessmedicine.com/staff_bios.html


If I was the only one he heard from I would tend to agree with you. (I doubt he would listen)

Which is why I said:
It sounds as though he needs to hear from many people on this subject to fill in his areas of missing knowledge. :coolwink:

Even better, someone write a letter to the editor of the SP Times, responding to his comments.
 
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