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163-622: The property had previously been a popular Inland Empire spa resort called Gilman Hot Springs , which was established in the 1890s. However, the resort went bankrupt in the late 1970s due to changes in American vacation habits. Bought for cash in 1978 by Scientology under the alias of the "Scottish Highland Quietude Club", it has since been developed and expanded considerably. Gold Base houses numerous Scientology organizations and subsidiaries , including its in-house media production division, Golden Era Productions, which has its own movie studio on

326-506: A "tell-all book", providing "non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such a strange organization". The book's title is a reference to the Scientology terms " blow " or "blown," which describe one who leaves Scientology without prior authorization from the organization. The book opens with a hair-raising account of the author's harrowing escape. Headley recounts episodes from his years as

489-529: A 951 area code telephone number). The Coachella Valley region of Palm Springs , Palm Desert , and Indio is located much farther east in Riverside County (the distance between the city of San Bernardino and Palm Springs is approximately 50 miles) and is part of the much larger 760 area code . This area is sometimes considered a sub-region of the Inland Empire or its own separate region,

652-426: A Scientologist. "Dave Miscavige later said that his Tom Cruise video was one of the most important videos that had ever been produced," writes Headley. Headley states he gained approval to sell old Scientology materials on eBay to recoup money for the organization – he was later accused of embezzlement for doing this. In 2005, when he knew he would be faced with being sent to the organization's prison-like program,

815-467: A cost of over $ 47 million – $ 1,200 per square foot – but on each occasion the entire interior had to be ripped out as it did not meet with Miscavige's approval. De Vocht discovered the building had been so shoddily built that it would have collapsed during even a minor earthquake. The walls were not connected to the floors; the building had a 1.25-inch (3.2 cm) tilt; and there were no architectural drawings, only renderings of how it should appear. De Vocht

978-468: A demonstration at the base and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Members of the hacktivist group Anonymous picketed Gold Base in November 2008. The demonstration was held outside the property but prompted clashes between Scientology guards and demonstrators which were recorded on video. As giant loudspeakers in the base broadcast noise to drown out the demonstrators, guards tackled one demonstrator to

1141-514: A dramatic, action-scene-type cover", and called the work "a new tell-all book". Star described Blown for Good as an "explosive new book". The Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium , De Standaard , noted the book discusses "remarkable experiences" the author underwent as a Scientology staff member. In a 2010 article in New Humanist , Paul Sims noted, "Since its release at

1304-487: A fascination with all things Scottish [and] chose the Gilman Hot Springs property after discovering it while scouting filming locations that looked like Scotland". The property was acquired in conditions of extraordinary secrecy. $ 2.7 million in cash was paid by the new owners, who called themselves the "Scottish Highland Quietude Club". A Los Angeles attorney named Richard Hoag, acting for the owners, said that

1467-416: A few hundred yards away, housing around 1,000 members of Scientology's Sea Org . In keeping with the base's Scottish theme, each building is named after a different Scottish clan and bears its crest. The "G Units" – VIP accommodations – are situated on the far eastern edge of the base. Tom Cruise is reported to have stayed there in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he was studying Scientology at

1630-512: A formal education. In a 2009 interview on The John and Ken Show , Headley was asked if he had experienced any retaliation from Scientology for speaking critically about the organization. He responded that he had been declared a suppressive person , and explained, "That's basically the thing that goes out to anyone and everyone who is in Scientology, saying, 'This person is a Suppressive Person, and you can no longer speak to him ever again.' If you are in Scientology, and you speak to somebody who

1793-427: A further 375,000 or another 9 percent to reach 4.6 million. According to census bureau's 2005–2007 estimates 61.8 percent of the population was White (40.4 percent White Non-Hispanic), 7.5 percent Black , 5.7 percent Asian and 25.0 percent of other or mixed race. 43.9 percent were Hispanic of any race. 21.9 percent of the population was foreign born. There is a large Mexican community in Inland Empire. Filipinos are

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1956-479: A lack of substantial public transportation in the Greater Los Angeles Area, this has led to traffic congestion and degradation in air quality for the Inland Empire. The solution to these problems is not simple. The presence of so many city governments within the Inland Empire, which often have different 'visions' for their own municipalities, means that two cities in the region rarely agree on

2119-612: A lawsuit, Headley v. Church of Scientology International , which alleged that the organization had engaged in unfair labor practices, forced abortion, human trafficking , and violated the Headley's human rights during their time of employment in the Sea Org. Their case was dismissed in district court in 2010. An appeal was lost in 2012 and they were ordered to pay the Church $ 42,852.06 for their litigation costs. The Church offered to waive

2282-422: A local economic downturn. The region as a whole had partially recovered from this downturn by the start of the 21st century through the development of warehousing, shipping, logistics and retail industries, primarily centered around Ontario. During the 2008 Recession , industry suffered heavily but had begun to recover by 2010. Physical boundaries between Los Angeles and the Inland Empire from west to east are

2445-450: A major thoroughfare, today runs from Highland to San Dimas , intermittently along the absolute baseline coordinates plotted by Col. Washington. San Bernardino County was first formed out of parts of Los Angeles County on April 26, 1853. While the partition once included what is today most of Riverside County , the region is not as monolithic as it may sound. Rivalries between Colton , Redlands , Riverside and San Bernardino over

2608-677: A member of the Church of Scientology, most of that time as part of the inner group called the Sea Org . He details his experiences while working hundred-hour weeks at Scientology's secluded international headquarters known as Gold Base (or "Int Base") in California. The book includes a foreword written by former high-ranking Scientology official Mark Rathbun . Headley worked out of the film-production studio facilities of Scientology from 1989 through 2005. He held multiple positions while employed by Scientology at Gold Base, mainly focused on

2771-594: A mock ship called the Star of California was built at the property as a present to the nautically minded Hubbard, constructed at a reported cost of $ 500,000. Scientology was able to reduce costs by using its own staff as labor, paying them less than $ 20 for a 100-hour work week. In February 1988, Scientology won permission from the Riverside County Planning Commission to rebuild the golf course at Gilman Hot Springs. Scientology's application

2934-562: A number of other Scientologists had been arrested by the FBI the previous year and charged with running an enormous espionage network, Operation Snow White , against the U.S. government. Hubbard himself was named as an " unindicted co-conspirator ". He went into hiding in a desert ranch in La Quinta , which was codenamed "W" (for "winter headquarters"). Gilman Hot Springs was similarly codenamed "S", for "summer headquarters". The La Quinta property

3097-420: A population of about 4.6 million in 2020. At the end of the 19th century, the Inland Empire was a major center of agriculture, including citrus, dairy, and winemaking. Agriculture declined through the 20th century, and since the 1970s a rapidly growing population, fed by families migrating in search of affordable housing, has led to more residential, industrial, and commercial development. The term Inland Empire

3260-630: A power struggle within Scientology that was won by the Commodore's Messenger Organization, a group of mostly young Scientologists – many of them teenagers, some as young as ten years old – which took over Scientology by the end of 1981. That year a body called the All Clear Unit was set up at Gilman Hot Springs under the management of the then 21-year-old David Miscavige. Its purpose was to make it "All Clear" for Hubbard to come out of hiding. They were sufficiently confident of success that, in 1982,

3423-452: A problem for vehicles left unattended in the region. The Inland Empire does not have a particularly extensive or robust public transportation system. Due to the large physical size and sprawl of the region, the primary means of transportation in the region is the automobile. Less than five percent of the IE's 1,249,224 working-age residents use public transportation to get to work. Omnitrans

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3586-419: A proposal, fast-tracked by Stone, to impose restrictions barring picketers from approaching within 300 feet (91 m) of a targeted residence. Stone did not disclose at the time that his political fund had received a $ 5,400 donation from the law firm that represented Scientology at the hearing, and another $ 600 from the head of the public relations department at Gold Base. After the donations were disclosed, he

3749-461: A result of affordable housing, at least relative to the rest of Southern California, but most of the higher paying jobs are located in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties. Thus, many workers must commute daily from the Inland Empire to their jobs in these counties—sometimes up to two hours each direction—and even longer if by public transportation. As the population increases, the problem

3912-475: A shower or bath." A full-time staff regularly launders Hubbard's clothes and cleans the property. His cars are kept in a garage with full tanks of gas and the keys in the ignition, ready to be used at a moment's notice. The rear of the house incorporates guest apartments and amenities which have reportedly been used by Tom Cruise on some of his visits to the base. Adjacent to Bonnie View is the RTC Building,

4075-561: A small, shut-down film and audio unit at the compound into a working facility called Golden Era Studios which could be presented to the press as the "real" function of the base. The conversion happened overnight: Through that night and into the morning, the facility was converted. I had the paper covering all the windows taken off. Everything was cleaned. Equipment and desks were rearranged to hide certain tasks and to create others. Tapes, films, scripts, and costumes were dragged out and made obvious. Many international management staff were sent off

4238-524: A solution; just as common, they may have unequal means for implementing one even if they were to agree. Having no region-wide governmental planning organization may undermine any solution that could be proposed. Lastly, the fast pace at which development occurs versus the limited ability of government to respond to changes means that it could easily take years, if not decades, for a viable solution (such as new roads, transit systems, or pollution controls) to go into effect. The Inland Empire routinely has some of

4401-692: A strange organization, from the lowliest laborer mucking out excrement in a Gold Base pond (Headley says shit was coming out of his ears and pores for days) to what kind of luxuries the celebrities and high-ranking members enjoy." On the KFI talk radio program The John and Ken Show , commentators John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou talked about Blown for Good and discussed Scientology. Paul Beaumont, Toni O'Loughlin, and Paul Harris of The Observer commented that Headley's book, "details – as others have – allegations of systematic abuse and bizarre episodes" of experiences in Scientology. They noted, "Headley's book follows

4564-475: A time each day. These techniques were intended to give the practitioner better control over one's mind. Headley said that he worked with Cruise for a total of three weeks. Headley outlines behavior patterns of Miscavige in the book. He recounts a 2004 incident where Miscavige instructed his management to participate in a game of musical chairs to the Queen song " Bohemian Rhapsody ". According to Headley,

4727-399: A year in which Scientology has been plagued by unwelcome revelations from high-profile defectors and fresh media investigation into its practices." Ian Punnett of Coast to Coast AM commented that the song " We Gotta Get out of This Place ", "certainly would be a theme of several of the chapters of Blown for Good ". Hamilton Nolan of Gawker described the book's design as "featuring

4890-597: Is a Suppressive Person, you yourself can be declared a Suppressive Person." Headley said when he left Scientology the organization gave him a "freeloader bill" for $ 62,000, for courses he had received in Scientology. "It's actually illegal, because they are basically charging me for on-the-job training – in California you can't charge somebody for on-the-job training. It's of no real value, but you don't know that, when you're in Scientology. You think, 'Are they going to garnish my wages, are they going to sue me?' You don't know," said Headley. In 2009, Marc and Claire Headley filed

5053-472: Is a very good or fairly good place to live, while about 72 percent of residents in San Bernardino County felt the same way. Survey respondents cited "nice living area", "good climate", and "affordable housing" as the top positive factors in assessing their respective communities. Smog was by far the most important negative factor affecting respondents' ratings in both counties, while traffic was

Gold Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

5216-478: Is based on the north side of Gold Base. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard 's mansion, "Bonnie View", occupies a prominent spot on high ground with panoramic views of the San Jacinto Valley . According to property records, the residence cost $ 9.4 million and is equipped with a lap pool and a movie theater. It has been described as "high-end beautiful but not ostentatious", but Hubbard died long before it

5379-556: Is documented to have been used by the Riverside Enterprise newspaper (now The Press-Enterprise ) as early as April 1914. Developers in the area likely introduced the term to promote the region and to highlight the area's unique features. The "Inland" part of the name is derived from the region's location, generally about 60 miles (97 km) inland from Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Originally, this area

5542-521: Is larger than 31 football fields but, more recently, 5,000,000 sqft warehouses are common. These centers operate as part of the system that transports finished goods and materials from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to destinations to the north and east such as Las Vegas , Phoenix , and Denver . More than 80 percent of the state's imported cargo is shipped through the Los Angeles/Inland Empire Corridor. During

5705-405: Is located here. It is reportedly used as a detention facility where staff are kept under guard while being "handled" or prepared for "offloading" (expulsion). Some are reported to live there permanently, having been forbidden to leave the base. On the hillside above the base is a heavily camouflaged "sniper-style nest bunker" called Eagle that overlooks the entire property and the surrounding area. It

5868-798: Is most certainly going to get worse. Forbes magazine ranked the area first in its 2007 list of most unhealthy commutes in the United States, beating out every other metropolitan area in the country, as Inland area drivers breathe the unhealthiest air and have the highest rate of fatal auto accidents per capita. According to a 1999 report by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, the Inland Empire leads in fatal crashes caused by road rage . The theft of copper, brass and other metals from highway and road fixtures has also led to decreased public safety on IE roads and freeways. Gas siphoning has also been noted as

6031-471: Is occasionally included within the Inland Empire. Some residents of certain areas, such as Twentynine Palms or the Coachella and Temecula valleys, may consider themselves separate from the IE. The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), a not-for-profit, nongovernmental entity that promotes tourism in California, divides the state into several regions for its own purposes. The CTTC defines

6194-400: Is one of the least educated areas of the state with the lowest average in annual wages in the country. A 2006 study of salaries in 51 metropolitan areas of the country ranked the Inland Empire second to last, with an average annual wage of $ 36,924. Nonetheless, inexpensive land prices and innovative institutional support networks have attracted some small businesses and technology startups into

6357-751: Is the chosen route for connecting California High-Speed Rail service to San Diego. While a final alignment has yet to be finalized, concepts include stops at the Ontario International Airport, in Riverside, San Bernardino, Corona, and Temecula or Murrieta. These would occur as part of Phase II, however, which currently remains unfunded. Several airports are located in the Inland Empire. San Bernardino International Airport , Ontario International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport are commercial airports in their respective cities. A local joint powers agency has redeveloped

6520-664: Is the largest bus agency in San Bernardino County, while the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) is the largest in Riverside County. Currently, some of Omnitrans' bus routes run on headways of an hour or more, and some routes stop service in the early evening or may not run on weekends. SunLine Transit Agency provides bus service in the Coachella Valley while the Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) provides transit service in

6683-637: Is the second largest metropolitan region in the country. The Metropolitan Statistical Area population of the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area) itself is more than 4.2 million people and is the 12th largest metropolitan area in the United States . According to the 2000 U.S. Census, it is the fastest growing area in the state. Between 1990 and 2000, Riverside and San Bernardino counties added 700,000 to their population totals, an increase of 26 percent. Between 2000 and 2010 Inland Empire's population expanded by 970,000 or 30 percent, and between 2010 and 2020 it expanded by

Gold Base - Misplaced Pages Continue

6846-479: The Church of Scientology , starting at age 16. The book vividly describes his scary escape from a California compound in 2005, followed by his wife's escape, the prison-like security of the compound which housed the organization's international management, and the physical and mental abuse of the staff members within. The author goes into detail about the privileged life style of Scientology leader David Miscavige ,

7009-515: The Democrats (34 percent) slightly edged over the number identifying with the Republican party (33 percent). In the 2008 presidential election , Democratic candidate Barack Obama carried both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, becoming only the second Democrat to carry both counties since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. In 2012 , Obama repeated this feat and again carried both counties, and

7172-783: The First Amendment 's guarantee of religious freedom and the church's ability to rely on " ministerial exemptions " in employment law. Scientology denies any mistreatment and calls the base "the ideal setting for professional and spiritual growth". Gold Base is located at the base of California's San Jacinto Mountains . The base covers an area of 520-acre (2.1 km) near 19712 Gilman Springs Road, south-east of its intersection with California State Route 79 , in unincorporated Riverside County , about 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northwest of San Jacinto and Hemet . It consists of compounds on either side of Gilman Springs Road with underground pedestrian tunnels connecting them. Both parts of

7335-714: The High Desert , including to Barstow after the transit systems in the latter was merged into VVTA in 2015. Other operators in the region include Pass Transit serving the Banning Pass area, Needles Area Transit serving the city of Needles, Mountain Transit serving the communities in the San Bernardino Mountains including Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, Running Springs, and Crestline, and the MBTA serving

7498-619: The Inland Center mall in San Bernardino . In fiscal year 2006, retail sales in San Bernardino County grew by 11.9 percent to $ 31.2 billion, while sales in Riverside County were up 11.3 percent to $ 29.6 billion. The result of this ongoing development has resulted in greater homeownership for the region. Although the region saw an uptick in jobs over the past decade, it is not a heavy employment center, and many residents commute to Los Angeles and Orange counties for their work. With

7661-651: The March Air Reserve Base and Stringfellow Acid Pits have contaminated groundwater in parts of Riverside County. In 1997, perchlorate , a chemical used to produce explosives, was discovered to be seeping into the groundwater under Rialto in a plume that continues to grow. In 2007, the Rialto city council petitioned the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Superfund status to clean up

7824-525: The Rehabilitation Project Force , Headley decided to leave. Headley worried that leaving Scientology would mean becoming separated from his wife Claire, to whom he had been married for 13 years, and other family members in accordance with the Scientology practice of disconnection . Headley recounts how on a rainy day in early January 2005 he left Gold Base on his motorcycle, was chased by Scientology security guards who ran him off

7987-538: The San Jacinto Fault , an offshoot of the San Andreas Fault . Changing vacation habits and a decline of public interest in mineral waters meant that Gilman Hot Springs was no longer a viable business by the late 1970s; it went bankrupt and the property was sold in 1978. In 1978, L. Ron Hubbard authorized the purchase of the property to serve as a headquarters. Scientology claims that Hubbard "had

8150-945: The San Jose Hills splitting the San Gabriel Valley from the Pomona Valley , leading to the urban populations centered in the San Bernardino Valley . From the south to north, the Santa Ana Mountains physically divide Orange County from Riverside County. The Santa Rosa Mountains , as well as the Southern California portion of the Sonoran Desert , physically divide Riverside County from San Diego County. Elevations range from 11,499 ft (3,505 m) at

8313-690: The Tijuana area in Mexico. Orange County and San Diego County are completely encompassed within the megaregion. There is no universally accepted definition for the boundaries of the Inland Empire region. Some sources such as the Los Angeles Times have referred to Riverside County and San Bernardino County as the Inland Empire, mirroring the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area. Kern County

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8476-462: The freeway system in the area facilitated the expansion of suburbs and human migration throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California. The region experienced significant economic and population growth through most of the latter half of the 20th century. In the early 1990s, the loss of the region's military bases and reduction of nearby defense industries due to the end of the Cold War led to

8639-457: The "LRH [L. Ron Hubbard] Music Studio Complex" with state-of-the-art music recording facilities. Headley describes it as containing "very upscale conference and dining facilities for visiting musicians that are brought up to the Studio for recordings." Another studio on the north side, known as "Studio Two", houses additional audio production facilities. A pair of double-wide trailers adjacent to

8802-493: The 1950s, the area has changed from a rural to a suburban environment. The region now comprises numerous cities known as bedroom communities that are suburban cities to Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. Affordable home ownership is the primary motivation behind the growth in these Inland Empire cities as homes in the region are generally less expensive than comparable homes in Los Angeles and Orange counties, but

8965-552: The 2000s. According to author Janet Reitman , Scientology leader David Miscavige ordered dozens of senior executives to go outdoors in the middle of the night and assemble at either the lake or the base's open-air swimming pool. They would then jump or be pushed into the water, often in freezing conditions, while fully clothed and with Miscavige watching. Scientology acknowledges this practice took place but characterizes it as part of its "ecclesiastical justice" system for dealing with poor performance. A "Purification Center" stands near

9128-458: The Aftermath in 2016, and running a YouTube channel called "Blown for Good - Scientology Exposed". Headley is a Board Member of The Aftermath Foundation. The Aftermath Foundation helps former Sea Org members get back on their feet after having no contact with the outside world as they usually do not have an employment history, credit history, bank account, driver's license or sometimes even

9291-527: The Australian Senator's concerns." Sly noted, "A number of comments left on the Amazon.com website were from those who indicated they were ex-Scientologists and confirmed the author's accounts." The book was self-published November 5, 2009, and was made available through the author's website at blownforgood.com and on Amazon.com . Blown for Good was selected as a finalist in the 2009 "Book of

9454-553: The Desert Empire. This is to help differentiate it from the urbanized area containing the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside. The RPA definition includes the Inland Empire ( San Bernardino – Riverside ) in the Southern California Megaregion, alongside Anaheim , Bakersfield , Huntington Beach , Long Beach , Los Angeles , San Diego , the geographically separate Las Vegas Valley , as well as

9617-610: The Inland Empire a major shipping hub . Some of the nation's largest manufacturing companies have chosen the Inland Empire for their distribution facilities including Toyota Motor Corporation's North American Parts and Logistics Distribution (NAPLD) center in Ontario and APL Logistics in Rancho Cucamonga . In 2007, Whirlpool Corporation leased a 1,700,000-square-foot (160,000 m ) distribution center in Perris that

9780-472: The Inland Empire and these two counties generally direct, especially to and from Los Angeles County. The Inland Empire has also been referred to as the 909 , after one of the region's most used area codes . In 2004, because of growing demand for telephone numbers, most of western Riverside County was granted a second area code, 951 , which is overlayed with the 909 area code (they have the same physical boundaries and new telephone subscribers likely receive

9943-692: The Inland Empire as being bounded by Los Angeles County and Orange County on the west and San Diego County on the south, stretching as far north as the Victor Valley area and as far east as Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains . The state of California's official website links to the CTTC's map with the description "Map of the Inland Empire region". Other sources, including Kevin Starr , former state librarian of California, include

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10106-829: The Inland Empire has been consistently over the national average since 2007. 10.4 percent of Inland residents were unemployed as of August 2013, compared with the national rate of 7.3 percent. Due to the high unemployment and housing foreclosure rates, a higher percentage of Inland residents rely on public assistance. According to the Press-Enterprise, "twelve percent of Riverside County and 17 percent of San Bernardino County residents used food stamps in January 2012", as compared with "11 percent of those living in Los Angeles County, 8 percent of San Diego County residents and 7 percent of Orange County residents". Since

10269-482: The Inland Empire include off-road equipment (e.g., construction equipment, cargo-handling equipment), heavy-duty diesel trucks, ocean-going vessels, passenger vehicles, locomotives, aircraft, and industrial fuel combustion. Southern California is in extreme nonattainment for ozone and severe nonattainment for particle pollution. Multiple state and local efforts are underway to clean up the air, primarily focused on zero emissions vehicles. California has implemented some of

10432-445: The Inland Empire. Additionally, land that was used for agriculture is now being sold by owners for conversion to shopping centers, industrial warehouses , and more. Due to the lack of one central city in the Inland Empire, and the smaller geographical footprint that suburban cities tend to have, this continuous development has become seemingly unplanned suburban sprawl as local interest and zoning laws may quickly change from one city to

10595-619: The Mormons left a scant six years later, recalled to Salt Lake City by Brigham Young during the church's Utah War with the U.S. government, other settlers soon followed. The entire landmass of Southern California was subdivided according to the San Bernardino Meridian , which was first plotted as part of the Public Land Survey System in November 1852, by Col. Henry Washington. Base Line Road,

10758-734: The Morongo Basin and Yucca Valley portions of San Bernardino County. Although transit usage and infrastructure remains weak, several projects have moved forward and opened in the 2010s to improve transit accessibility in the region. Major projects include the Perris Valley portion of the Metrolink 91/Perris Valley Line, the San Bernardino Transit Center, and the Omnitrans sbX Green Line, which connects

10921-471: The Pacific Ocean at Newport Beach and Huntington Beach . While temperatures are generally cool to cold in the mountains, it can get hot in the valleys. In the desert resort of Palm Springs , near Joshua Tree National Park , summer temperatures can reach well over 110 °F (43 °C). Unlike most metropolitan areas that have grown up around a central city, the Inland Empire has two main focus cities, Riverside and San Bernardino . Other major cities in

11084-493: The Scientology leader ordered 70 executives to fight for chairs while the music was playing, and said that only the last person remaining would be allowed to stay at Gold Base. The other people would be moved to remote Scientology facilities. The Scientology staff competed with each other for chairs during the game and some became emotional because they thought they would be ordered to locations where they would not see their families. Miscavige later stated no one would have to leave

11247-568: The Villas is the Star of California , a replica clipper ship now used as a site for community events. Other buildings located nearby include the "Ranchos", a cluster of buildings used to house the book compilation, editing, design and typesetting units; the "Del Sol" building (formerly the Hotel Del Sol) used for staff training; and various additional facilities for Golden Era Productions. One of these buildings, known as "Studio One", houses

11410-515: The Year Awards", by ForeWord Magazine . The editor in chief of The Village Voice , Tony Ortega , described the book as a "remarkable account". Ortega noted, "Headley's story provides a damning account of life working for Scientology". He concluded the review by commenting, "Perhaps the best service that Headley provides with Blown for Good is giving non-Scientologists the sense of what it's really like to work, day in and day out, in such

11573-912: The area has increased to try to keep abreast with the growing suburban population. The region is home to several large shopping malls, including the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos and the Crossings in Corona ; Ontario Mills in Ontario ; Promenade Mall in Temecula ; Galleria at Tyler , Riverside Plaza, and Canyon Crossings in Riverside; The Shoppes at Chino Hills in Chino Hills; Moreno Valley Mall in Moreno Valley ; Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga ; Montclair Place in Montclair; and

11736-493: The area. While urbanization continues to cut into agricultural lands, the Inland Empire still produces substantial crops. Although 10,000 acres (40 km ) of irrigated land was lost between 2002 and 2004, agriculture still brought in more than $ 1.6 billion in revenues to the two-county region in 2006. Being a MSA, aggregate GDP figures are reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis annually. The Inland Empire ranks 25th in

11899-495: The author because, according to Headley, he was relatively low on the scale of Scientology courses and young at the time (17), so he would not be viewed as a risk to speak to the press about his experiences with the celebrity. "[Cruise] was going to do his auditor training and he needed someone to audit and this person had to be low on the bridge. That was me," writes Headley. According to the Headley, he worked with Cruise on Scientology exercises called Training Routines for hours at

12062-468: The base and have remained there ever since. The tight security remained, nonetheless; the Boston Globe noted that "curious, unannounced visitors are quickly surrounded by guards, photographed, asked for identification, then urged to leave. Before they do, the license plate numbers on their cars are jotted down for good measure." The jailing of Mary Sue Hubbard on conspiracy charges in 1981 set off

12225-539: The base to reduce the number of personnel. The next day, the "Scottish Highland Quietude Club" had become Golden Era Studios. A media tour went without a hitch. The tape-production area wasn't cranking yet, but I did get people busy making costumes and booklets or doing artwork. We found a makeshift studio that "just happened" to be working when the tour came through. Asked about "international management," I said yes, they did manage distribution of films and tapes, which did go to churches worldwide. No one noticed I had avoided

12388-421: The base were not allowed to make telephone calls or to send mail directly. If they did get permission to use the telephone, they were instructed to say that they were calling from Clearwater, Florida , where Scientology's Flag Land Base is located. Hubbard did not live at Gilman Hot Springs but ordered that Bonnie View, a Tudor-style house on the property, should be renovated for his use. He instructed that it

12551-610: The base, notably Tom Cruise . According to some former members of Scientology, conditions within Gold Base are harsh, with staff members receiving sporadic paychecks of $ 50 at most, working seven days a week, and being subjected to punishments for failing to meet work quotas. Media reports have stated that around 100 people a year try to escape from the base but most are soon retrieved by "pursuit teams". Despite many accounts of mistreatment from ex-members, law enforcement investigations and lawsuits against Scientology have been thwarted by

12714-510: The base. Tunnels allow crossing from the Staff Berthing and Massacre Canyon Inn buildings to the north side of the base without having to exit the compound. The rest of the southern part of the complex is a landscaped open area with a lake and sports facilities, including basketball and volleyball courts and a baseball diamond. As of 2008, they were reported to be disused. The lake was reportedly used for punishment on various occasions in

12877-404: The center of the old spa resort that existed on the property before Scientology acquired it, is now used by the base's Qualifications Division. At the extreme west end of the north part of Gold Base is a compound within the compound, physically separated from the rest by chain fencing. A building called "OGH" (Old Gilman House, named after the family who built the old resort and lived in the house)

13040-517: The children of high-ranking Scientologists, including some of Hubbard's own children and grandchildren. According to author Janet Reitman, those seeking to be assigned to Gold Base had to be members of the Sea Org. They were required to undergo IQ tests and pass a battery of leadership, personality and security tests. Members with family connections to the government or media, or with any friends or family who had left Scientology on bad terms, were not allowed to work there. They were not allowed to disclose

13203-400: The cities of San Bernardino and Riverside , and bordering Los Angeles County and Orange County to the west and San Diego County to the south. The bulk of the population is centered in the cities of northwestern Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County , and is sometimes considered to include the desert communities of the Coachella and Victor Valleys , respectively on

13366-650: The cities of Loma Linda and San Bernardino, two universities, and the Loma Linda VA Hospital to the San Bernardino Transit Center. In addition to sbX, there are other express services available to public transportation users in the region. RTA operates a BRT-lite system in the RapidLink Gold Line, which runs from UCR to the Corona Transit Center . Due to the physical size of the Inland Empire, transit connections between

13529-439: The city of Perris initiated a program to paint the brown lawns of abandoned homes green as a way to reduce the appearance of blight . In 2019, the "bedroom community" nature of the Inland Empire led to a plan to increase the construction of new housing in coastal cities (known as "job centers") preferentially versus building more housing in the Inland Empire areas. Meghan Sahli-Wells, mayor of Culver City, said that she supported

13692-406: The coastal plan because of the urgent nature of climate change. However, the plan was described as "toothless". The attractiveness of Inland Empire cities for warehousing and logistics has resulted in warehouses being built incrementally closer and closer to residential areas. With air pollution from diesel-powered transport trucks being a serious and cumulative concern for human health, an effort

13855-402: The compound's lake and local dignitaries have been invited to liaise with base staff. The section of Gilman Springs Road that bisects the two parts of the base has undergone major changes at the behest of Scientology. Until the early 1990s, the two parts of the base were accessed via gates on either side of the highway. This presented safety and security problems; moving hundreds of people across

14018-531: The compound. He says that viewing Conan O'Brien make fun of Scientology celebrities changed his views on individuals that were spoken of with reverence within Scientology. Randy Sly of Catholic Online characterized Blown for Good as "a bold insider memoir". Sly reported on criticism of Scientology in the Australian Senate by Senator Nick Xenophon , and commented, "Headley provides vivid accountings of activities within Scientology that confirm

14181-666: The county. In 2009, Scientology officials began lobbying to close Gilman Springs Road, which is used by about 17,000 cars daily. The request was opposed "under any circumstances" by the San Jacinto City Council. Scientology subsequently backed a proposal to realign the road to go around the base, but a decision was put off indefinitely by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors after discussions in January 2011. Scientology maintains strict criteria for those living and working at Gold Base. Many are

14344-445: The cover story used by Scientology to conceal its activities at the base. According to Marc Headley , who worked on the base for fifteen years; "the permit to build the studio was applied for under the guise of a 'basketball gym.' Any and all references to the building were to be specified as the 'Gym'." The Gym still stands and is now reported to be used as a small (supplementary) studio and special effects facility. A short distance to

14507-477: The decommissioned Norton Air Force Base into San Bernardino International Airport . There are also several general aviation airports in the region. The region is making some progress in developing dedicated bicycle commuter and recreation trails. The largest of these, the Santa Ana River bicycle path , currently connects Corona to Huntington Beach, and is eventually projected to stretch for 84 miles all

14670-467: The east, a garage formerly used as a public gas station is now the location of Motor Pool Gold and serves as the maintenance facility for the entire property. The base's Estates Division, responsible for maintenance and construction work, is located here. The western part of the building was formerly used by Golden Era's set and props departments before the construction of the Cine Castle. In the 2000s,

14833-404: The eastern Los Angeles County cities of the Pomona Valley , such as Claremont , Pomona , La Verne , San Dimas , and Diamond Bar . Other sources also include cities in Los Angeles County within the boundaries. Inexpensive land prices (compared with Los Angeles and Orange counties), a large supply of vacant land, and a transport network where many highways and railroads intersect have made

14996-500: The end of last year, Blown for Good has made the kind of impact its author hoped. Having built up an online buzz courtesy of Anonymous, and sold thousands of copies in the US, Headley says he has been receiving letters and emails from Scientologists, many of whom have said the revelations in his book have confirmed their suspicions about the inner workings of the Church." Marc Headley was raised in Los Angeles, California . Headley's mother

15159-547: The entrance to the property did not mention Scientology. One, erected in the fall of 1979, attributed ownership to the "Western States Scientific Communications Association" while another, replacing the first in April 1980, proclaimed: "Massacre Canyon Development Co. – Future sites condominiums and homes." A man calling himself "Dan Pook" met with local civic groups to explain the condominium project, telling residents in March 1980 that

15322-407: The facility. "Turns out it was going to cost a fortune to fly all these people all over the place and the logistics were not finalized as to how to ship everybody off to the different continents. Dave had called down late during the night and said that he was not willing to waste one single cent of Scientology's money," explains Headley. The author describes a 2004 event where Tom Cruise was awarded

15485-458: The fee if they agreed to a gag order and to give up the rights to their book Blown for Good . Claire's response was "over my dead body", and the couple sold items, borrowed money, and sent a cashier's check four days later. "I did everything to scrape together — down to the last six cents," remarked Claire. As of 2023 , Headley was living in Colorado with his wife Claire and three sons, and

15648-538: The former resort. Other spokesmen for the trust that bought the property claimed that it had been purchased by "wealthy Eastern investors" or wealthy investors from the Palm Springs area. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office took an interest after it was rumoured that pornographic films were being made there or that an organized crime group had taken over the resort, but the property was hurriedly vacated before an official investigation could begin. Signs posted at

15811-548: The garage was reportedly used to house a makeshift shower for the inmates of " The Hole ", a punishment facility on the base. Various buildings are located nearby for use in connection with the studio's administrative and production activities. Scientology's E-meters are manufactured on the base in a building known as Building 36, which houses production facilities for HEM (Hubbard E-Meter Manufacturing). It also houses tape production facilities and Golden Era's administrative functions. A number of "Staff Berthing" blocks are located

15974-658: The ground and tripped another one with a leg sweep. Scientologists told Riverside County Sheriff's deputies that the first demonstrator had bitten one of them and that he was guilty of trespassing on private land. Scientology subsequently lobbied county authorities to ban the demonstrations. At a public hearing in December 2008 the Riverside County Supervisor, Jeff Stone, accused the protesters of "oppressing Jews, Christians and black people and encouraging youth suicide and terrorism." County supervisors approved

16137-522: The headquarters of the Religious Technology Center chaired by Miscavige, who succeeded Hubbard as the church's leader. The 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m) building, which was completed in 2004, is said to have cost over $ 70 million to construct. According to Tom de Vocht, who was put in charge of completing construction after it fell years behind schedule and vastly overbudget, the RTC Building had been already completed twice over at

16300-618: The highway were installed to house Scientology's Central Marketing Unit (CMU) and various Golden Era technical facilities, and were later used as the offices of the Commodore's Messenger Org International (CMO Int) and the International Executive Strata (Exec Strata). They have since become known as "The Hole", where up to 100 senior Scientology executives have reportedly been confined in "degrading conditions" since 2004. A building known as "The Spa", which used to be

16463-529: The importation of navel and Valencia orange trees in the 1870s touched off explosive growth, with the area quickly becoming a major center for citrus production . This agricultural boom continued with the arrival of water from the Colorado River and the rapid growth of Los Angeles in the early 20th century, with dairy farming becoming another staple industry . In 1926, Route 66 (now known as Foothill Boulevard and Interstate 215 ) came through

16626-595: The lake and is used to administer Scientology's Purification Rundown program to base staff. Nearby is a circular feature which has been used for the " running program ", used as a punishment. Vicki Aznaran , formerly the president of Scientology's Religious Technology Center , alleged that after she disagreed with a plan to restructure the Church's finances in 1982, she was ordered to run around an orange pole every day from 7 am to 9:30 pm for about 120 days, with ten-minute breaks every half-hour and thirty-minute rests for lunch and dinner. Scientology's international management

16789-667: The largest Asian immigrant group in Inland Empire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2006, 33.1 percent of people in the Greater San Bernardino Area were overweight , and 30.8 percent were obese . In 2019, San Bernardino County found that 34.1% of the county's population were obese, with an additional 34.5% being overweight. A substantial majority of residents (76.6 percent), last comparatively surveyed in 2001, rated their respective counties as good places to live. Over 81 percent of Riverside County residents indicated that their county

16952-432: The late 1800s into a resort called Relief Hot Springs. The Gilman brothers acquired the property in 1913 and operated it for 65 years under the name Gilman Relief Hot Springs and later Gilman Hot Springs. Along with Soboba Hot Springs and Eden Hot Springs , it was one of three early 20th-century resorts near San Jacinto that offered vacationers the opportunity to relax, bathe in, and drink hot mineral waters bubbling up from

17115-583: The late 2010s and early 2020s, Amazon , the largest private employer in the region, has rapidly expanded its facilities and warehouses there, responding to explosive growth in online retailing and shipping and increasing traffic and air pollution. Like most industrial areas, the Inland Empire is vulnerable to the effects of economic recessions. For example, during the global economic downturn of 2008–2009, industrial vacancies doubled from 6.2 percent in 2007 to 12.4 percent to 2008. In San Bernardino and Redlands, vacancies reached 22 percent. The Inland Empire area

17278-498: The location of the county seat in the 1890s caused each of them to form their own civic communities , each with their own newspapers. On August 14, 1893, the state Senate allowed Riverside County to form out of land previously in San Bernardino and San Diego counties, after rejecting a bill for Pomona to split from L.A. County and become the seat of what would have been called San Antonio County. The arrival of rail and

17441-461: The location of the base or to discuss their jobs or activities there with anyone outside the base, even fellow Sea Org members. They were also banned from taking any form of public transport or taxis, and instead had to travel on special Scientology buses or in private vehicles driven by approved staff members. According to Marc and Claire Headley , two Scientologists who left the Church in 2005, residents at Gold Base are not permitted to leave without

17604-660: The main backbones such as the PE Trail and provide a network of connectivity to nonmotorized users throughout the region. The majority of Inland Empire’s immigrants come from Mexico , the Philippines , El Salvador , Vietnam and Guatemala . The population of the Greater Los Angeles area (which includes the Inland Empire) is about 18 million people according to the 2010 United States Census , and

17767-420: The metal fence that surrounds the compound. Although the road which goes through the middle of the compound is public property, the church has video cameras and lights installed adjacent to traffic signs to record traffic heading in both directions. The south side of Gold Base is primarily used by Golden Era Productions, Scientology's in-house movie studio. It includes a 74,000-square-foot (6,900 m) studio in

17930-580: The most aggressive vehicle electrification rules in the country, including the Advanced Clean Cars II rule that will mandate 100% zero-emission passenger vehicle sales in 2035, and the Advanced Clean Fleets rule for trucks that will require all drayage trucks to be zero-emissions starting in 2024 and all trucks to ZEV by 2036. Water pollution has also been found in the Santa Ana River and Cajon wash, and pollutants from

18093-461: The nation with a 2011 GDP of $ 109.8 billion, roughly a third of San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area despite their close population numbers. Per capita GDP was $ 25,993.34 in 2011, nearly half among the nation's top 50 Gross Metropolitan Product . Due to the housing crisis, the GDP fell from $ 114.8 billion in 2007, despite a heavy influx of residents. The unemployment rate in

18256-521: The new construction was not finished until 2000, long after Hubbard's death in January 1986. In February 1980, Press-Enterprise reporter Dick Lyneis broke the story that Hubbard was living in Hemet and working at Gilman Hot Springs. The disclosure caused Hubbard to flee Hemet and sparked a panic at the base, which Scientology spokesman Robert Vaughn Young was sent in to resolve. He decided to present what Scientology would call an "acceptable truth", turning

18419-408: The next city. The Inland Empire was declared the nation's worst example of sprawl according to a study by Smart Growth America in 2002. During the housing bubble collapse of the late 2000s, foreclosures rose by 3,500 percent. In 2010, the area ranked fourth in the nation in the number of foreclosures, with one filing for every 133 households. The problem of abandoned homes became so great that

18582-616: The nodes of the region are primarily served by freeway express services. Transit operators of the IE provide service between major destinations and transit centers around Southern California including the San Bernardino Transit Center , the Montclair Transcenter , Disneyland , Pomona–Downtown station , and Oceanside . The region is also part of the five-county Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) " Metrolink " commuter rail system. Of

18745-571: The northern parts of the area, bringing a stream of tourists and migrants to the region. Still, the region endured as the key part of the Southern California "citrus belt" until the end of World War II , when a new generation of real-estate developers bulldozed acres of agricultural land to build suburbs. The precursor to the San Bernardino Freeway , the Ramona Expressway, was built in 1944, and further development of

18908-473: The organization's Freedom Medal of Valor from David Miscavige , the video of which was leaked to the Internet in January 2008. Initially, the video intended for the event featured Cruise and other celebrities including Will Smith appearing on camera and praising the actor. Miscavige disapproved and instructed Scientology staff to create a video where Cruise would speak about himself and his views on being

19071-571: The organization. After leaving Scientology, Headley wrote about his experiences in Scientology. His writings were published in the media, news magazines, publications on the internet and other websites. In 2008, Headley spoke in Hamburg , Germany, at a conference discussing abuses within Scientology, alongside actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe . Headley has continued to speak out about his experiences in Scientology, including being featured on an episode of Leah Remini: Scientology and

19234-589: The origin site. The sites comprising March Air Reserve Base , Norton Air Force Base and the Stringfellow Acid Pits have already been classified as EPA Superfund toxic waste sites. Traffic congestion is a major issue in the Inland Empire. Many of the existing freeways were completed in the late 1970s with the exception of the segment of the Foothill Freeway , State Route 210 (SR 210) between San Dimas and San Bernardino , which

19397-771: The other sides of the San Gorgonio Pass and San Bernardino Mountains from the Santa Ana River watershed that forms the bulk of the Inland Empire; a much broader definition includes all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The combined land area of the counties of the Inland Empire is larger than ten U.S. states — West Virginia , Maryland , Hawaii , Massachusetts , Vermont , New Hampshire , New Jersey , Connecticut , Delaware and Rhode Island . The U.S. Census Bureau –defined Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan area, which comprises Riverside County and San Bernardino County, California , covers more than 27,000 sq mi (70,000 km ) and had

19560-409: The over-the-top special treatment of Tom Cruise , and his own interactions with Cruise. Headley worked in the film-production studios and he recounts the aging equipment and outdated processes of making Scientology training films and public relations videos. Blown for Good received positive reception in reviews and media coverage and was described as a "remarkable account", a "bold insider memoir", and

19723-428: The permission of a supervisor and have to work at least sixteen hours a day, from 8 am to past midnight, with shorter hours on Sundays and little time for socializing. Communications with the outside world are effectively cut off; cellphones and Internet access are generally banned, while mail is censored and can only be sent via the internal mail system. Passports are kept in a locked filing cabinet. Although this system

19886-560: The place and that he conducted a program designed to help young people learn trades and skills. Hubbard's purpose was to conceal from public scrutiny the management level of Scientology." Hoag himself was unaware of the identity of the buyer and said later: "I think they really didn't want people to know because it was controversial." Scientology spokesman Heber Jentzsch told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that he had "no information" of any Scientology involvement with

20049-433: The pricing gap continues to shrink each year due to migration and increasing population. The steady rise in population and the demand for housing has led to a dramatic increase in the building of single-family homes on parcels of 0.25 acres (1,000 m ) or more, as opposed to the construction of high-density development such as multi-story apartment or condominium buildings. This low-density development has caused sprawl in

20212-406: The production of video and audio materials to disseminate the message of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard . He helped originate scripts of videos to introduce new members to Scientology methodology. He also supervised large scale Scientology public events presided over by Scientology's leader David Miscavige . Headley reproduced thousands of copies of audio recordings of speeches by Hubbard, and he

20375-522: The property are surrounded by a chain link fence topped with "Ultra Barrier" spikes and razor wire, with motion sensors and lights. There are five heavily guarded gates into the base, three on the south side of Gilman Spring Road and two on the north. Scientology spokesperson Catherine Fraser told the Valley Chronicle newspaper in 2009 that the spikes on the fences were intended to "prevent people and animals from intruding." When asked why half

20538-508: The public between 1991 and 2007 but is now a private golf course. Although it is used for charitable golfing tournaments and other community events, base staff are reportedly not allowed to use it. The Gilman Hot Springs property on which Gold Base sits was originally known as San Jacinto Hot Springs and contained about half a dozen hot springs named for the Mexican land grant Rancho San Jacinto Viejo . The springs were first developed in

20701-409: The question and diverted attention to the film and tape production. The news that night was perfect. The Riverside Press-Enterprise story had been countered. Gilman was no longer considered the headquarters of Scientology. It was just a bustling film and tape facility that supplied the Church of Scientology. After the "flap" had died down, Scientology's international management staff moved back onto

20864-443: The region include Rancho Cucamonga , Ontario , and Corona . Suburban sprawl spreads out to form a connection with the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Further development is steadily, if not heavily, encroaching past the mountains into the outlying desert areas. The Inland Empire borders both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Freeways in Southern California are heavily used, but this comprehensive freeway system has made travel between

21027-400: The resort had been purchased for a condominium project. The money for the purchase was fronted by the "November 1, 1978 Private Trust", a secret trust of which Hoag served as the trustee. According to Scientology defector Silvia Garritano, "Hubbard disguised his operation at Gilman Hot Springs as the 'Hoag Scholarship Foundation'. The idea was to convince local businessmen that ... Hoag owned

21190-553: The road and then started an argument with him. A passing motorist had phoned 911 after seeing the incident and an officer from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department arrived, discovered Headley was from the nearby Scientology compound and escorted him into town and safety. From there, he traveled to his father's home in Kansas City, Missouri . After Marc's escape, the base was locked down and no one

21353-400: The road at mealtimes posed a hazard to traffic. These issues were tackled by building pedestrian tunnels under the road for staff to use and rebuilding the configuration of the road to narrow it and slow down traffic. However, a number of accidents have subsequently occurred on that section of road. In 2001, a 16-year-old girl was decapitated by a tractor operated by a Golden Era contractor who

21516-487: The road's terminus at State Street, a total distance of 2.32 miles (3.73 km). Scientology says that it intends to expand the golf course but has not yet developed any specific plans. Scientology has also undertaken a considerable amount of community outreach to improve its relationship with its neighbors. Gold Base has hosted Chamber of Commerce events and has allowed the local high school band to use its recording studio. Fishing tournaments for children have been held at

21679-554: The sbX West Valley Connector, Arrow , the extension of the L Line to Montclair (to become part of the A Line ), and daily train service to the Coachella Valley. Additional routes have also been studied including extending the Metrolink's Perris Valley Line to San Jacinto and Temecula, a passenger rail spur along I-15 to Lake Elsinore, BRT routes throughout the respective service areas of Omnitrans and RTA, and an aerial tram from Highland to Big Bear. The Inland Empire

21842-402: The second highest concern in Riverside County and crime the second highest concern among San Bernardino County residents. While the region as a whole had traditionally leaned more Republican than the rest of California, newer residents are less likely to identify with the Republican party than longer-term residents (36 percent to 42 percent), and the total number of residents identifying with

22005-486: The seven lines that Metrolink operates, four of them directly serve the Inland Empire: Although a robust transit network has been lacking in the region for decades, steps are being made toward developing one in the future. The councils of governments and transportation commissions in both IE counties have identified and are working on future expansions of transit to better serve the region. These include

22168-454: The site was to be used for the construction of "condominiums, mobile homes and single-family residences". He was later identified as Ronald Pook, a Scientology public relations official responsible for disseminating "shore stories" (or cover stories) about the church's plans for the property. The intense secrecy was due to Scientology's acute legal difficulties at the time. Scientology was embroiled in scandal after Hubbard's wife Mary Sue and

22331-549: The site. Senior church officials, and up to 1,000 of the church's elite Sea Org live and work on the base; the church's leader, David Miscavige , also lived there until reportedly relocating to Clearwater, Florida , in the late 2010s. It is also the location of a $ 10 million mansion built for Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard . Although he never lived there before his death in 1986, the mansion and his living quarters are still maintained in anticipation of his predicted reincarnation . A number of prominent Scientologists have visited

22494-595: The spikes face inwards towards the interior of the compound (as pictured below), Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis told KESQ-TV that "that's just how they were installed". There are around fifty buildings on the property, many built in a mock-Scottish highlands style. Most are obscured from public view by tall hedges and high walls, monitored by video cameras. According to the Riverside Press-Enterprise , Scientology employees in uniform and guards on motorcycles can be glimpsed by motorists through

22657-471: The style of a Scottish castle, which was built in 1997–1998 at a cost of $ 10.8 million to serve as a production facility for Scientology's training and promotional videos. The building, known as the "Cine Castle", replaced an earlier building known as "The Gym" which used to house Golden Era's shooting stage, make-up, costumes, camera, lighting and set sound departments. The name of the Gym is said to have come from

22820-597: The subject of a report meant that the accused person was interrogated and made to recant or publicly confess their "crimes" against Scientology. Reitman comments that "everyone at the Int Base lived in fear of everyone else and what they might be saying, or reporting, about one another." Inland Empire (California) The Inland Empire (commonly abbreviated as the IE ) is a metropolitan area and region inland of and adjacent to coastal Southern California , centering around

22983-538: The surrounding desert communities, and a much more widespread definition includes all of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. What is now known as the Inland Empire was inhabited for thousands of years, prior to the late 18th century, by the Tongva , Taaqtam , Ivilyuqaletem and Payómkawichum Native Americans.The first American settlers, a group of Mormon pioneers, arrived over the Cajon Pass in 1851. Although

23146-567: The top of San Gorgonio Mountain to −220 ft (−67 m) at the Salton Sea . The San Bernardino mountains are home to the San Bernardino National Forest and the resort communities of Big Bear Lake , Lake Arrowhead , and Running Springs . The Santa Ana River extends from Mt. San Gorgonio for nearly 100 miles (160 km) through San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties before it eventually spills into

23309-602: The two Inland Empire counties have stayed in the Democratic column in presidential elections since. Nonetheless, the area continues to be far friendlier to Republicans than Los Angeles County or the San Francisco Bay Area . Marc Headley Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of Scientology is a 2009 memoir written by former Scientologist Marc Headley about his 15 years working for

23472-462: The two locations but had to make indirect trips of up to 120 miles. Hubbard himself was at the centre of an elaborate security system with buzzers and red lights to warn him if strangers turned up. Staff were drilled to deny any knowledge of Hubbard and maintained a getaway car for him that was accessible through a garage that opened onto a different street. The existence of Gilman Hot Springs was kept secret even from other Scientologists. Staff members on

23635-544: The way to Redlands when completed. A shorter trail exists along the former path of the Pacific Electric Railway from Claremont to Rialto. A number of communities have also built trails along the levees and maintenance roads of other waterways in the region, including the CV Link, which is under construction in the Coachella Valley area of the region. Other plans also exist to provide feeder trails to meet

23798-426: The worst air quality in the United States. San Bernardino County and Riverside County are the first and second worst counties in the United States for tropospheric ozone air pollution. Pollution in Southern California mostly is blown from the coast towards the mountains. Inland Empire counties are downwind of the highly populated counties of Los Angeles and Orange County. The largest sources of air pollution affecting

23961-428: Was a Scientologist, and she raised him within the church from an early age. He began work as an employee for the church at age 16. Headley soon after joined the Sea Org and worked at the international headquarters of Scientology in Hemet, California, for 15 years. Headley escaped from the international headquarters of the organization in 2005. He was escorted to town and safety by the police during his escape from

24124-552: Was allowed to leave for any reason. Marc's wife Claire, who worked at RTC at Gold Base, was able to escape a few weeks later by arranging an appointment to get contact lenses, taking a taxi to the bus station, and taking a bus across country where she was reunited with Marc. Headley credits multiple sources for introducing doubts about his conditions while living at Gold Base. He writes that he listened to The John and Ken Show on KFI, and that their discussion of Scientology allowed him to think more critically during his time at

24287-482: Was called the Orange Empire due to the acres of citrus groves which extended from Pasadena to Redlands during the first half of the 20th century. The boundaries of the Inland Empire are nebulous, but the region is generally defined as the cities of western Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County, adjacent to the Los Angeles metropolitan area . A broader definition includes Palm Springs and

24450-432: Was closed down in March 1978 and Hubbard moved to an apartment complex in Hemet, codenamed "X". Hubbard's personal staff, known as the Commodore's Messengers, shuttled between "X" and "S" using various counter-surveillance methods to shake off anyone tracking them: switching between locations, using secret meeting points, relaying information covertly, using aliases and so on. Nobody was allowed to travel directly between

24613-496: Was completed in July 2007. New freeways or highway "fix-ups" are either in progress or being planned, such as the construction of Mid County Parkway between Perris and San Jacinto or the addition of toll lanes on both I-15 and I-10 through heavily urbanized portions of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Other problems exist, however, including the imbalance between housing and job availability. The Inland Empire population grew as

24776-454: Was completed. According to ex-Scientologists, it is meant to be used by Hubbard when he returns after being reincarnated . It is used in part as a museum, housing most of Hubbard's belongings. Bonnie View is still maintained as if Hubbard is due to turn up tomorrow, with glasses of water covered with plastic wrap, toothbrushes set out in multiple personal bathrooms and "identical sets of Thom McAn black thongs ready for him to step into after

24939-642: Was fined $ 16,000 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to properly report $ 84,052 in contributions. The measure, known as Ordinance 884, was adopted in March 2009 but attracted controversy for what critics said were its unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. The distance was eventually reduced to 30 feet (9.1 m) and then to just 3 metres (9.8 ft) after county supervisors found that they had effectively banned their own existing practice of protesting against sex offenders living in

25102-472: Was given a year to complete the golf course, but it was only reopened in 1991. Since 1998, Scientology has spent at least $ 45 million expanding Gold Base and acquiring dozens of nearby homes and vacant lots. According to an April 2011 map published by the Press-Enterprise , the Church now owns almost all of the land on either side of Gilman Springs Road from the intersection with Sanderson Avenue to

25265-430: Was legitimately exercising his right to free speech. He told Scientology's attorney, Kendrick Moxon : "You don't have a situation here where the defendant is stopping people. This is not an abortion clinic situation." Moxon complained that Henson's one-man demonstration was threatening the safety of Golden Era employees and motorists along the state highway. Henson was later convicted of a misdemeanor charge arising out of

25428-448: Was made to impose a 1,000-foot buffer zone (separation distance between residential and commercial land uses) for new construction. However, this effort was not successful, due to local municipal officials giving priority to maximizing the construction of both housing and warehouse facilities, with the goal of maximizing employment as well as property-tax revenue from both the residential and the commercial/industrial sectors. Retailing in

25591-410: Was often faced with repercussions from Miscavige if production quotas were not satisfied. Headley describes an incident where he says he was physically attacked by Miscavige for making a sarcastic comment. Headley was selected in 1990 to undergo the Scientology practice of auditing , as partner to actor Tom Cruise , who had recently finished the film Days of Thunder . Cruise was paired with

25754-501: Was operating it without a valid driver's license. In 2011, a man was killed in a head-on collision outside the compound. Anti-Scientology demonstrators began picketing Gold Base in 1997, prompting litigation from Scientology against one protester, Keith Henson . A Scientology bid to impose a temporary restraining order on Henson was overturned in February 1998 when Judge Stephen D. Cunnison of Riverside Superior Court ruled that Henson

25917-503: Was opposed by many area residents, who were concerned about the disruption that the development would cause. The commission's public meeting was packed by nearly 200 people, mostly Scientologists wearing lapel buttons supporting the church's expansion and renovation program. Scientology also disclosed plans to construct additional studios, offices, storage buildings, housing and recreational facilities, as well as renovating 35 existing buildings to bring them up to required standards. Scientology

26080-562: Was ordered to rebuild it, which cost a further $ 23 million. Millions more had to be spent on landscaping after Miscavige decreed the building, which is situated in the middle of the Californian desert, should appear to be set in a forest. Three villas left over from the old resort, known as the Upper, Middle and Lower Villas, stand below Bonnie View. They have been used as executive apartments by Miscavige and other senior figures. Alongside

26243-556: Was reportedly dropped around 2000, workers are still subject to a regime of privileges and punishments. Weekly pay is said to be only around $ 50, given out in cash on Fridays. This amount is only nominal, however, as fines for infractions are commonplace; according to author Lawrence Wright , the amount actually paid is often as little as $ 13 or $ 14 a week. Claire Headley describes how staff lived in constant paranoia due to being required to submit "knowledge reports" on each other if they heard any critical statements or casual asides. Becoming

26406-400: Was reportedly used as a lookout post where security staff with telescopes noted the license plate numbers of vehicles that lingered too long near the compound. The Golden Era Golf Course is located to the east of the main part of the base, south of the highway and outside the main boundary fence. It was built between 1988 and 1991 on the site of the resort's original golf course. It was open to

26569-400: Was to be "dust-free, defensible" and that high walls with "openings for gun emplacements" were to be constructed around it. Scientologists who had been posted to the Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) – a kind of punishment unit – were made to carry out the work of redecorating the house and ensuring that it was free of dust and odors. The original house was eventually torn down and rebuilt but

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