St Petersburg Times
Scientology back at City Hall 8/4/89
Excerpt:

The former Scientologists made these allegations:

One man, Terry Prueher of Tampa, said he quit a job at General Motors to join the Scientologists and said he was promised $10,000 for work he planned to do for the organization. But he said he never received the money. He also said he was robbed and injured after leaving the organization. But he didn't offer evidence that Scientologists were to blame.

"The hard core of Scientology is criminal," he said. "I think it's a damaging cult," said Lisa Hyatt of St. Petersburg.

She said she was a member for a year and during that time, she said she got about two hours of sleep per night. She said that the organization altered her ability to perceive things normally and that she was having trouble even focusing on the commissioners" faces.

She urged city officials to learn as much about the organization as possible.

"It will get somebody you know sooner or later," she said.

"I don't have anything good to say about Scientology, because I lost a sister to Scientology," said Joann Davis of Tampa. Because her sister was heavily involved in Scientology activities, the two lost touch. But now the sister is out of the organization, she said. Margery Wakefield of Tampa, who helped organize the group, said she is willing to talk to anyone with questions about Scientology. She has spoken out against Scientology despite a court order in which she agreed not to discuss some aspects of the organization.

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