A group of residents is trying to reverse a recent Clearwater City Council vote to give a block of a downtown street to the Church of Scientology to expand its spiritual headquarters.

Why it matters: It's the latest flashpoint in a struggle over Clearwater's fraught downtown, where the church and companies tied to it own around 200 properties.

• It's also a major issue driving the city's upcoming elections, in which five candidates are competing for two Council seats.

The big picture: Many properties tied to the church have sat vacant with no public-facing plan — until recently, when a church-affiliated group kicked off renovations to historic buildings along downtown's main drag.

• The Cleveland Street Alliance announced in the last month that the Michelin-adjacent Tastes Pretty Good restaurant group would open two new restaurants on the strip.
• The alliance has also touted plans for an entertainment center it says will feature "the largest cinema screen in the world."

Yes, but: Resident backlash to another church-affiliated project — and a key City Council vote that advanced it— underscores a continuing skepticism of Scientology's presence downtown.

State of play: Resident group Save the Garden is seeking to undo a City Council decision to give the church a portion of a public roadway and require future similar proposals to go before voters for approval.

• The group is working to collect 7,000 signatures on two petitions, WUSF reported. The deadline is Sept. 16, organizer Brooks Gibbs said in a recent update.

Catch up quick: City Council members voted 3-2 in June to give a block of South Garden Avenue to the church to build a long-planned auditorium and plaza to be named after its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

• The vote came after a year of debate that drew the attention of Attorney General James Uthmeier, who last year sent city leaders an unsolicited legal opinion warning them against potential religious discrimination, per the Times.
• Then, in response to a request by City Council member David Allbritton, Uthmeier gave a second opinion that the church "most likely owns" the land beneath the street.

That cleared the way for the Council vote that not only granted church officials' request for the road but gave it to them for free, the Times reported.

• Council member Mike Mannino, who voted in support along with members Allbritton and Ryan Cotton, said during the meeting that it was "time that we find a way in our city to unite."
• Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector, who opposed the transfer with council member Lina Teixeira, said the street "is important for our future growth" and that a court should determine who owns the land.

What they're saying: The Council chose Scientology's "dangling carrot" of development over public interest, Save the Garden's Gibbs told WUSF.

• "It's always the promise of something great in exchange for more land. That's the game Scientology plays."

The other side: A church spokesperson told the radio station the street vacation is necessary for the long-planned project, which a church attorney previously said will be open to the public.

• "The real story," the spokesperson said, "is the unprecedented revitalization now underway on Cleveland Street."

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We have a winner: Dunedin defeated Lakeland in an absolute landslide to be crowned Tampa Bay's best downtown that isn't St. Pete, Tampa or Clearwater.

Why it tracks: Dunedin (pronounced duh-NEE-din for any newbies out there) is known for its vibrant arts scene, lively Main Street and unique Scottish heritage.

• There are tons of places to eat and drink — from Dunedin Brewery to The Black Pearl to Casa Tina — and shops to bop around like Back in the Day Books and Celtic Shop of Dunedin.
• On the west end is Edgewater Park, offering stunning sunset views over the Gulf. The Pinellas Trail cuts through the center, lined with even more restaurants, breweries and cafes.

Plus: Perhaps Dunedin's victory was helped along by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who rooted for his hometown on X.

Flashback: LGBTQ+-owned businesses helped build downtown Dunedin into what it is today.

• It's a legacy that started with gay bar Dallape's in the 1980s and was carried on by spots like Blur Nightclub, Kelly's (now Crown and Bull) and Salon GW.

Go deeper: Plan your visit with our Dunedin city guide.

🅿️ Madeira Beach officials are weighing whether to allow city property owners to run paid parking lots on vacant land that was once home to buildings destroyed by the 2024 hurricanes. (Bay News 9)

⚾️ The Tampa Bay Rays acquired veteran right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets. (Tampa Bay Times)

🧘‍♀️ Beach Town Yoga, a pay-what-you-can yoga studio with locations in St. Pete and Safety Harbor, is expanding to Tampa. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Each February, we carry out the great public service that is taste-testing the weirdest food at the Florida State Fair.

Why it matters: We can now say we've tried some of best state fair food in the whole country, according to Yelp's new top-10 ranking.

State of play: The Midwest may command the list with four state fairs in the top five, but Florida holds its own at No. 8, tucked between Massachusetts and Alaska.

• "The Florida State Fair showcases Southern comfort food and Sunshine State specialties," Yelp said.
• "Cuban sandwiches and gator bites reflect Florida's unique food culture, while classic fair foods get tropical twists, like key lime funnel cakes and Florida orange sweet tea."

And the best part, according to Yelp? The fair is "held in February, which means you can enjoy fair food in balmy weather while the rest of the country is bundled up."

• Take that, Midwest.

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Just call him Yacob Reyes, MFA.

• Our own writer-reporter extraordinaire graduated Saturday from the University of Georgia with his Master of Fine Arts in Narrative Nonfiction.

We are so proud! Please join us in congratulating him!