San Diego rejects televangelist's plan for huge religious retreat in Mission Valley

[Zorro]

Source: LA Times

Longstanding plans by San Diego televangelist Morris Cerullo to transform an aging Mission Valley hotel into a $160-million religious-themed retreat and conference center failed to win support from the San Diego City Council on Monday after some members raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic congestion.

Although city planners pointed out that the 18-acre project would add little more traffic to the area than what exists today, some council members questioned the validity of the traffic estimates and said for that reason they could not support the project.

Voting against the proposed Legacy International Center, as it is being called, were Council President Myrtle Cole and council members Chris Ward, David Alvarez, Georgette Gomez and Barbara Bry, all Democrats.

The council agreed to continue discussion of the project to Oct. 17, when another major development, the $70-million overhaul of the nearby Town and Country hotel, will also be considered.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-san-diego-religious-retreat-20170919-story.html

[YOHABLO]

1. It's as if the country has been saturated by televangelists .. go away all of you.

[Journeyman]

12. "Prey TV looks like pay TV, to me, it's just a curse on the human race." Pete Townshend . . .

[FreeState]

2. I agree - Mission Valley is a mess as it is n/t

[mainer]

3. OMG. Town and Country was where I had my HS senior prom

many, many moons ago.

[Owl]

4. Nice to see some sanity once in a while.

[SHRED]

5. I'm not religious but...

...I am praying for the Rapture so these assholes will disappear.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Alas! If there actually is a rapture, these moneygrubbers will still be here.

[SHRED]

7. They will still be separated from us

That's the good news.

[NastyRiffraff]

9. They all think they'll be one of the 144,000

That's 144,000 out of all the people living, or have ever lived.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I live 5 min from there and the traffic sucks all the time!

I will have to write down the councilmembers' names and call to thank them.

[stuffmatters]

15. As noted all the 5 Democrats on SD's Council of 9. That's a little too close for comfort.

And for all those in favor four Republicans, this was a real crackpot vote. Hope their opponents use it against all of them in 2018 campaigns.

[dembotoz]

10. If it becomes church sponsored would assume it comes of the tax roles

18acres off property tax might be factor as well.

[haele]

11. A lot of San Diego infrastructure is funded via hotel tax...

The loss of both the hotel and the amenities that are also taxed would make more of a dent in our revenue than a former resort hotel that's a bit run down.
Plus the traffic there cannot support a megachurch along with all the new condos going up in the same area. Freeway access lanes will need to be widened, and there's a problem with parking in the area.

And you know that's what he'd turn it in to - another cheesy mega-church with cheap glitter and expensive rental costs for events people will be suckered into holding there because he can't get enough of his followers to stay at his "retreat".
Unless he decides to turn it into a fly-by-night prosperity gospel seminary, which would be even worse for the local traffic.

Another thing to consider - the largest local Planned Parenthood facility is just a half-mile or so across the freeway, along with the also close by Town and Country resort hotel and conference center, which is also undergoing a renovation that will increase traffic. The potential for disruptions in that area increases when Evilangelicals like ol' Morris set up shop nearby...

Haele

[dembotoz]

18. if looking for motives always follow the money

[grantcart]

13. Perhaps they heard about Miracle Valley, AZ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_Valley,_Arizona

Starts out like this



Ends up like this



With a little of this in between

[crim son]

14. Also an increased number of idiots. n/t

[Hortensis]

16. Don't know what to think. Religious freedom may be an issue, yet...

How many religious adherents might flood in -- or not? I'm remembering old, established communities profoundly changed when religious establishments drew large numbers of adherents to the areas, who not only did not fit into local cultures but had no wish to and whose religious organization's plans strongly clashed with what the original communities wanted. Is that something that could happen here?

[Nitram]

17. Yes!