By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Members of the Church of Scientology in Buffalo pleaded with City lawmakers to vote against a proposal to demolish their church on West Huron for a new downtown parking ramp.
Members of the church attended a public hearing on the matter held Tuesday in Common Council chambers.
Reverend John Carmichael is president of the Church of Scientology of New York.
"This proposal would be bad for the city, and send a wrong message to the citizen," said Carmichael. "It would also be bad for my church and most certainly violate federal law."
The church at 43 West Huron is located in a four-story building that the city wants to condemn so it can construct a $13.6 million dollar parking ramp.
Carmichael said tearing down the church is "unthinkable" and suggests the city spend the money instead on fighting drugs.
Randy Oppenheimer, counsel to the Church of Scientology, said it is a decision to "condemn a church" not a building.
The church is threatening to take legal action against the city.
Council member at large Charley Fisher agrees with those who spoke out against the proposed parking ramp.
"What precedent would you be setting? Where do you draw the line? If you condemn this church, what's next, who's next?"
Fisher said it would be a "mistake" and plans to vote against it.
"And it is these kind of stupid decisions that have left Buffalo with such a curse on it now."
Lawmakers did not vote on the proposed parking ramp, instead sending it back to the finance committee for future discussion.