Foundation requested day in honor of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard in Deltona
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After Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr., rescinded his proclamation of March 13 as L. Ron Hubbard Day, one key question lingered: How did this come about in the first place?
David Sosa, a former city commissioner, made a public records request Monday that produced an answer. Massimo Parrino, director of public relations at the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard Foundation in New York, wrote to the mayor on Jan. 10:
"As tradition, and thank you again for the previous proclamations, I am writing you from the Friends of L. Ron Hubbard Foundation to request your office take part in the international acknowledgment of Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. March 13, 2024, marks the 113th anniversary of his birth. Mr. Hubbard is celebrated worldwide by not only our many congregations, but by all those whose lives have been positively touched through his work."
The email goes on to list all of the claims, some dubious, that were included in Avila's proclamation.
The next day, the mayor wrote to city staff asking simply: "Can we give them a digital proclamation please."
After learning of the digital proclamation, residents and fellow city commissioners took issue, noting Hubbard's founding of the Church of Scientology, which many former members have labeled a cult.
Deltona resident Charleen Smith wrote city commissioners, challenging numerous claims in the proclamation, including that Hubbard's book "Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health," is the world's most popular book on the human mind.
"His writing is not held with high regard and 'Dianetics' is certainly not 'the world’s most popular book on the human mind.' Psychologists and scientists consider it as pseudoscience," Smith wrote.
Avila has not responded to messages Monday or Tuesday, but posted on social media that he was rescinding the proclamation, writing: "It was never my intention to recognize Mr. Hubbard." He explained he intends to establish new guidelines for proclamations, limiting them to those that "reflect the values and priorities" of Deltona.
Parrino also did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
His requested proclamation states "millions of towns and cities on six continents and across all time zones recognize L. Ron Hubbard's birthday on March 13 every year." There appears to be no evidence of "millions" of communities celebrating, but according to published reports, some cities across the United States have done so, including:
Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 2023.
Inglewood, California, in 2012
West Valley City, Utah, in 2011.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1995.
Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar declared an L. Ron Hubbard Day in 1991, only to later rescind it. And under then-Mayor Glenda Hood, Orlando made a similar proclamation over five years: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2001.
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Who sought Deltona's now-rescinded L. Ron Hubbard Day proclamation?
