Readers, sorry, this is a long post, but it’s one of the weirder, more disturbing neighborhood disputes I’ve ever come across. The illustration at left says a lot.
On a rainy night two weeks ago, more than 200 residents of Saranap, an older unincorporated neighborhood between Walnut Creek and Lafayette, gathered together. It was the first general meeting of a new campaign called Save Our Saranap.
These were a fraction of the nearly 750 residents who have signed onto this campaign, many anguished and frustrated by a series of disturbing events that have taken place in their neighborhood over the past year.
These events all swirl around on a development, a massive, 66,000-square-foot white domed sanctuary, or “school of worship,” that a Saranap-based religious organization wants to build in their neighborhood.
The organization is called Sufism Reoriented, and the aerial view is above. Sufism Reoriented is based in Saranap and has some 350 members, about half of whom live in there. Save Our Saranap members say they have co-existed with Sufism members peacefully for decades.
Why wouldn’t there be a long history of harmony with Sufism members? After all, Sufism Reoriented says its teachings are “designed for individuals who strive to devote their lives to the love of God through service” and whose members “work in harmony with all religions.” Despite its name, the organization is not affiliated with Islam, but follows the teachings of the late Meher Baba, a spiritual leader from India who chartered the organization in 1952.
Sufism Reoriented also runs the well-regarded White Pony preschool and Meher K-5 Schools in the neighborhood. Some Save Our Saranap members send their children to the Meher school. I, myself, have friends and acquaintances who send or have sent their children to these schools; all report positive educational and social experiences for their kids.
By the way, I don’t live in Saranap, but have friends who do and who have signed onto the Save Our Saranap campaign.
So, what happened to make everything go so wrong?
Late last spring, these friends started telling me head-shaking stories about how their Sufism neighbors were bombarding them with press releases, expensive newsletters, and aggressive door-to-door visits to disseminate information about the project. My friends say the information and the manner in which it was delivered was misleading, evasive, downright deceptive, and condescending. They say Sufism members subtly or overtly played the religious-intolerance card—as in, if you don’t agree with how wonderful this project is, and how wonderful we are, then you are a religious bigot and anti-Sufism.
I myself was contacted by someone advocating the project. He didn’t identify himself as a Sufism member, even though I knew he was. To sell me on the project, he made false claims, such as that there was no opposition even though I knew there was. The communication reminded me of something voiced by a functionary from an Orwellian horror story, a “Freedom-is-Slavery,” denial-of-reality style of propaganda. I immediately understood why my Saranap friends shuddered at the memory of their encounters with Sufism members over this project.
On the face of it, the project sounds oh-so wonderful. The sanctuary would rise on a 3.25-acre site along Boulevard Way. The sanctuary would house classrooms, chorus rehearsal studios, and offices, and those 13 domed structures would be “inspired by Mt. Diablo and surrounding hills.” Sufism Reoriented also claims that the building would be environmentally friendly and would “have little visual impact” on the surrounding neighborhood because two-thirds of it—46,000 square feet—would be built underground.
Best yet, according to Sufism leaders, the project’s designer would be top drawer. The architect would be the world-renowned, Manhattan-based architectural firm Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie, which built the 101 California Street building in San Francisco, the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California, and Manhattan’s Trump International Hotel and Tower and the “Lipstick” building (from where Bernard Madoff operated his Ponzi scheme) in Manhattan. Meanwhile, the landscaping would be handled by SWA Landscape Design firm, whose clients include the California Academy of Sciences.
So proud is Sufism Reoriented of this proposed project that its leaders say they wouldn’t be surprised if it landed in the pages of Architectural Digest.
My friends and Save Our Saranap leaders contend they never had any objections to Sufism building a new sanctuary in the neighborhood. But, as details emerged, they became concerned about the size and design. They couldn’t see how this big white building—18,000 square feet larger than the new Walnut Creek library and 20 percent larger than the White House—would fit into their neighborhood. It also didn’t make sense that it was being built just to accommodate the activities of Sufism’s 350 members.
“We are not anti-Sufi,” SOS leaders say on their website. “We have neighbors who are Sufis. We have friends who are Sufis. Our concern is that the proposed Sufism Reoriented sanctuary is too large for the site, and needs to be redesigned to be appropriate for our residential neighborhood.”
The situation between Sufism members and non-Sufism members degenerated into outrage and recriminations last summer. There were the two flattering—and in IMHO, insufficiently reported—articles in the Contra Costa Times about Sufism Reoriented and the sanctuary project. One notable thing the Times reporters failed to do was contact the Saranap Community Association, the body that, back then, represented the neighborhood to county planners on development issues. The association was on record as opposing the project because of its size and design.
Also, in documents distributed to neighbors and the press at this time, Sufism was cagey about their project’s size. Even, in its original, supposedly handy-dandy Frequently Asked Question document, it failed to cite square footage in this basic question: “How big will this building be?”
Then came the Saranap Community Association’s annual general meeting on July 10, 2008. My friends and SOS leaders describe the meeting as disintegrating into a “hostile take-over” of the board by Sufism members.
“It was like when the Panzers rolled in as part of their Blitzkrieg,” one Saranap friend told me. He and others say Sufism Reoriented packed the meeting with people sympathetic to its project, and elected two new Sufism members to the seven-member board.
Sufism leaders deny that the takeover was hostile, but one leader, Pascal Kaplan, in a statement that Sufism posted on its website, acknowledges that the meeting got so tense that “three of the three of the incumbent board members and all four of the alternates resigned in a block, leaving a strong majority on the board who are members of Sufism Reoriented.”
Now, with five of the six Community Association board members being Sufism members (as of last count), an alternate neighborhood group has sprung up, called the Saranap Homeowners Organization. Because of this project, this neighborhood now has two associations claiming to represent its interests.
The sanctuary proposal remains in the hands of county planners, who will determine whether an environmental impact report will be required. Meanwhile, the SOS campaign is growing, with its numbers now dwarfing the Sufism membership more than 2 to 1. SOS leaders say Sufism members continue to play the religious-intolerance card and to make misleading claims. One example I found on Sufism’s website: that only “small core of individuals” oppose their project. Check out the online list of residents who have signed on to the SOS campaign and see if those represented constitutes a “small core.”
Here are other key SOS concerns about the project:
— With regard to the eco-friendly, the project will be “very brown” before it becomes green, SOS says. With 46,000-square-feet of the sanctuary underground, the excavation will need more than 3,400 dump truck loads over five months. Rather than “sit lightly on the earth,” as Sufism claims, the project would crash onto the earth, “like a meteor, complete with crater,” SOS says.
–Although Sufism Reoriented describes the sanctuary as “nestling in a glade of trees,” to build it, the plan calls for the destruction of all vegetation and buildings on the site and the removal of all 42 existing trees, including six heritage oaks.
–While the plan describes a park-like setting and two acres devoted to open space, “the development is so massive” that “portions of the garden are grass pavers within the parking lot.”
–This is not a public neighborhood park, as Sufism implies, but private property. Unlike other religious groups, Sufism doesn’t have a tradition of regularly welcoming outsiders into its events or its facilities.
–Those 13 “sloping, saucer domes that mirror the shapes of the surrounding California hills”: SOS says “that’s like saying an oil refinery mirrors the shape of a redwood forest. Stark white, saucer-shaped domes have nothing in common with the hills of California.”
Overall, the 66,000-square-foot size leads SOS members, and me, to question what true long-term goal Sufism Reoriented has in mind. In its online literature, Sufism likes to project an image of modesty and to claim that it doesn’t prosthelytize.
But its own statements also show that it wants to build an architecturally ambitious, internationally admired project. It is therefore reasonable to ask whether this sanctuary is actually designed to host a much larger number of people on a regular basis. Sufism adamantly denies it has grander designs, but the organization’s prior tactics have left my Saranap friends unable to trust what Sufism representatives say.
Also, consider that throughout history, religions—Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims—have built architecturally grand monuments to make grand statements about their world view, to attract new followers, and to spread the word about what they stand for. Sure, these organizations do good works. But history has also shown that religions want to expand the power and wealth of their organizations, and, sometimes, of their leaders.
“I’m beginning to believe that they have their whole identity and future staked on this building,” one Saranap friend told me. “It seems to be the essential centerpiece of all their dreams and illusions of grandeur, and I think they will stop at very little to achieve its establishment.”
SOS just wants Sufism Reoriented to do a better job listening to their concerns “and reduce the size and bulk of the project, provide adequate parking, retain trees, and reconsider the design so it blends in with the Saranap community.”
To sum up, SOS is asking Sufism Reoriented “to be the good neighbors that they have been for many years.”
Crazy in Suburbia 
7:21I was there, and one moment stands out.I remember a wonderful woman standing up and saying she was not from this country originally, that there was essentially only one choice of religion, almost mandated by the state, where she came from.She went on to say how happy she was to live here where people have the freedom to worship as they wish. That the Sufis had helped make her children what they were today (they went to the Meher School). She was grateful for them being in the neighborhood. She was moved…so was I.It was like “from the mouths of babes.” This woman from another place, valued her freedoms and gave a civics lesson to a room full of Americans who took these things for granted!When people began to get shrill, others stood up and told them they were being un-American, and that wasn’t the way we did things here. She had helped them find their civic courage.I was proud of them, and glad I lived someplace where these kind of people realized lines had been crossed, and stood up to the old boy bullies of our neighborhood. Well, they seem to be back with some new spots, and some shiny new websites, and a few sophomoric tricks. Make no mistake, they are the same ones you saw in July with a new coat of paint.Consider whether you will stand up, or whether you will not.
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8:06Oh, I didn’t know. I thought they all had open meetings–where anyone could come–like the Saranap Community Association.Maybe people should only come to the open meetings where people are welcome whatever their economic class and wherever they happen to live in the Saranap.
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so – is someone going to have the guts to tell the rest of us what has been planned at the SOS meeting? or will we have to wait 9 months to learn of it – just like we’ve apparently had to wait for rel info about what happened with Dennis and the old SCA board?I would appreciate a straightforward presentation of what was said in general and what unpleasantries were planned so that the rest of us can know that if we agree to go to an SOS sponsored demonstration, no weird crap will happen and we won’t become accomplices to anything untoward.
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Does anyone know the time frame for the ultimate decision? When will we find out whether or not the project will be allowed? Is there going to be a public hearing or will there just be a decision made by the county?
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You can see the description of all the many steps in the process at:http://www.saranaponline.org/CountyApprovalProcess.pdfThey are between Step 1 (July 3, 2007), and Step 2.These were presented at the second of three Community Meetings, to provide a forum for public input, held by the Saranap Community Association.A third meeting has been promised as soon as the CEQA Initial Study is published.
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How many people were at this meeting of the SOS, when was it, where was it, how were people invited (no notices went around)?Who leads the group? Do they have officers, were they elected? How are decisions made? What committees do they have?What are the things people were so crazed by that they are apparently afraid to even mention. Probably that’s what they want to make people afraid to do anything.Most of these posters are pretty savy. Let us in on the scoop. It’s one thing to have jumping children with a sign daddy gave them to hold, it is another to infringe on people’s rights.Help us out here.
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Interesting how no one identifying themself as a Sufi member has posted on this board. Oh, I guess they are in happy Sufi world. They are above it because they are so full of integrity and sweetness and good thoughts about the world, and nestling “in a glade of trees” and following their murshida into some idyllic fantasy of their own specialness. Interesting how many people commenting call themselves “friends” of the Sufis or identify themselves as disgrunted members of SOS. How convenient. They express themselves like people–Sufis–who really have a stake in this issue. Or like Sufi leaders, whose ego and glory depends on whether this monstrosity gets built. We don’t know, do we? We don’t know if those pro-Sufi, pro-big white Spaceship pods are the Sufis themselves. And we don’t really know about the motives of the Saranap Community Association, which to me reads like a front organization for Sufism Reoriented.
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In my experience, Sufis don’t, and probably never will, get into any kind of debate about something like this.I have a Sufi friend who is fairly open. She does not at all applaud my interest in supporting the Center, though one might think she would since it will benefit her personally. In fact, other than once, this topic has not been discussed at all. Why you might ask? and I did ask this of my friend. The answer was this:Sufis are taught to be accepting of opposition – that God is as real in the person who opposes as in the person who supports. They simply have faith that the situation will resolve as God intends.So, that is why, in my understanding of things, that no Sufi is ever going to post any comment.
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Dear Old Fart,The Sufis weren’t making rounds of the neighborhood until 2008 after they realized that the word got out about their plans for their new sanctuary. Just because the vandalism of the mailboxes occurred around the same time that you say the Sufis were making rounds doesn’t mean that the two are related. Yes… I guess I can see how one could put the two incidences together but I also think that was an irresponsible statement to make without substantial proof.
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Anon 11:21 p.m.: “I have a Sufi friend…”“So, that is why, in MY UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS, that no Sufi is ever going to post any comment.”Written just like a Sufi…I have heard just the same sort of phrasing come out of the mouth of a Sufi, who was trying to act like she wasn’t, when I knew she was. Your “understanding” of Sufism, and that expressed by other Sufi “friends” seems to be pretty knowledgeable about what Sufis believe or don’t, and their mode of practice. They are posting on this board. Their “friends” can deny it all they want, but it’s pretty apparent, especially since their “friends” seem to have taken a pretty rabid interest in getting the Sufi word out.
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6:04 – Well, I do have a Sufi friend, and so you mean that if a person who posts has a Sufi friend that they are also Sufis – or – have been “put up to it” to write post after post in support? First, I can tell you that Sufis do not consider me a Sufi. You are accusing me of just that and so my 1st amendment loving self just cries out for some understanding here. Yes, I know a good bit about the Sufis, and in part it's because I had considered becoming one at one time a long time ago. The Meher Baba guy was just not for me it turns out. Look, no Sufi even knows I have been this involved in blogging about this situation – my sense is that a fairly long and embarrassing pause would occur if they did know. So no one has put me up to anything. All I am doing is, as a neighbor, asking people to take a step back and REALLY THINK about what they are doing – – and I am NOT the only one asking folks to do that (21st C Mom, for one).As many, MANY people have posted here, the Sufis have lived QUIETLY in the neighborhood for decades. Even at the SCA meeting I attended in Nov, Sufis did not yell or berate their neighbors – they just pretty much stood there and “took it”. They have avoided publicity and debates just like this one for years to do what they arguably do better than most: service. Coming out of their proverbial shell I think has proven to have some growing pains for them. From what I know, and you are right in that I know more than the average bear Boo Boo, they probably see this as an opportunity for learning.But what is also true is this: there have been so many concerns posted here that SOS-aligned folks have simply not repsonded to, being raised by people who really do not at all “talk like Sufis” but who are supportive of FREEDOM of RELIGION. Many have not “sounded” like any Sufi I know and, quite candidly, I find it impossible to believe that any Sufi put their friends up to this. It’s simply just NOT done.What IS clear to me is NO responses have been posted regarding these questions:> what happened at the SOS meeting that has several feeling there may be cause for wide-spread concern?> what happened to the SCA's property and what let the old board think they could do what they did after resigning? > why vandalized Sufi mailboxes still are painted red when the one attached is still untouched? > why has no one stated that Guy Bailing is wrong about the Trenor house height as being the reason the height variance WILL be granted?Instead of answering any of those questions, the focus from SOS-aligned people is to now attack the people who are courageously posting in the face of what at times seems almost like an angry mob. Look, I know that if I belonged to a group being accused of ANY of the things listed above, I would totally come out and defend my group's honor, so to speak. But instead – there is total silence in these matters… and, as one poster put it: we who are your neighbors HAVE NOTICED ! ! ! Do you not realize that by not answering some of these questions you are now being seen as a potential threat to the entire community?Not to sound fearing mongering, but as someone else wrote: “If SOS gets its way and can tell the Sufis what to do, then WHO IS NEXT?”This I think is the core question facing all of us who live here, Sufi or not, whether you agree with the Sufi building or not.
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I think people say “I’m not a Sufi” so that people get it that there really is good and (after all this discussion) growing support by non-Sufis for the project.
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From First Guy:Well red-mailbox vandalism protector person, please let’s get it straight.I said: “some mailboxes of Sufis seem to have been vandalized when an SOS leader’s box connected to theirs was not”the wording was “SEEM TO”, not “was”. It would have been irresponsible to use the word “was” but I did not.However, it was not a leap and still is not a leap to think that the two are related – particularly since still no one has scrubbed the paint off!It should be no surprise, given this exchange, why I am leaving the SOS group.
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To Anon 9:32, from Another Old FartBeen sitting on the sidelines here, but I’d like to add one more thing to the list of unanswered issues:One poster detailed out a list of insults and name-calling from the SOS website. After reading that list, I went to the SOS site to see for myself and I agree that the flying monkey reference is clear enough to be inferring that the Murshida of Sufism is an evil witch. No one from SOS has refuted this astute and pointed observation. Why not? Well folks, coming from a geezer, let’s be honest now: SOS is becoming an embarrassment. My daughter is against this development, but the more I know, the more I feel she is uninformed and will regret the long term consequences of joining up with Dennis and his ilk.I vote with my feet… maybe some others are now itching to distance themselves – maybe there’s room for an “opposed but accessible mature adults” group or “OBAMA” for short.thinking I got too much retirement time on my hands!
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From the Sufism Website, on a page in their New Sanctuary section titled “Thoughts on Opposition” (http://sufismreoriented.org/new_sanctuary/opposition/):A certain degree of opposition to any change is natural. When new buildings or structures are being planned, no matter their location, it is expected that there will be those who oppose it, and for a wide variety of personal reasons. That can be documented historically whether the structure in question is the Golden Gate Bridge, the Vietnam Memorial, a Frank Lloyd Wright House in small town America, or a neighborhood place of worship. History also shows us that once completed, in nearly every case these new structures become universally loved and viewed with pride by their communities as representing what is most beautiful and unique about the area in which they were built.From the very beginning of our sanctuary project we were aware that there would be some opposition. We also understood that it was important to reach out to our neighbors with as much information and personal contact as we could to allow them to express their concerns and, in turn, allow us to understand and incorporate where possible changes that might meet those concerns. A number of design and landscaping changes to the new sanctuary have resulted from this helpful collaboration.Still, there are now, and will likely remain, a small core group of individuals who oppose our new sanctuary project. We are committed to continuing to work with neighbors in partnership, providing as much accurate information about the project and Sufism Reoriented as we can, in as many ways as we can. But we do not expect that everyone will welcome our new sanctuary at its proposed site in the Saranap.What we do hope is that regardless of their views, we can continue to work together in friendship and with respect, sharing our lives harmoniously in service to this special neighborhood we all love.
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I lived in the Saranap Community for over 20 years. One of my close friends from high school is a sufi as well as a dear member of my family. I am one who has no issues with cultural and religious diversity. However, what I do not understand is how the sufi’s can think that building such a monstro”city” in a quaint neighborhood is anything but offensive to others in that community. Is there an I in we. Didn’t think so.In my opinion, this issue has nothing to do with beliefs or religion, rather a group of individuals (some very wealthy individuals) combining incomes to build something that does not belong in or to the larger community, but to themselves. Talk about self serving in the name of religion. Their disregard for that community disgusts me and makes me question their core values, or lack there of. It just goes to show money can get you everywhere. I wouldn’t be suprised if Donald Trump will be at their grand opening. I hope someone warns him not to drink the coolade.
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Anon 10:00 – please see Anon 9:50 – I don’t think they are clueless about the points you make at all.
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Anon 10:00 said “I hope someone warns him not to drink the coolade”Really? You’re actually comparing them to Jonestown now??? Wow.
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When religious freedom triumphs in this matter, it will be such a b-u-r-n to the SOS folks.
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“monstro 'city'…”??The proposed single surface building–in two acres of garden and lawn–will be about the same size as the existing building in square footage. Except only 1-story tall, averaging 17 feet in height. That's right 17 feet. Last time I watched Godzilla, he was just a tad larger.No one in the opposition group calls the existing (3-story) church a “monstro city.” In fact, they say “why can't you just stay in that building.”Guess what, people no longer live in log cabins either, and we no longer have child labor (except for protesting). Lots has changed that “Americans” in their prior ignorance once found acceptable: slavery, racism, religious bigotry, red-lining, and american concentration camps (OK, got that one wrong).The proponents of this new church structure (not a new group) have waited long enough. They have done all that can be done with an old run-down ethnic social hall and restaurant. Their activities are now restricted due to a lack of space and elbow room. Their activities are scattered over the Saranap in private homes & offices (probably next door to you).Regular people have sacrificed for decades to raise the funds to build a church for themselves. They have added an invitation to a garden open to all for quiet contemplation. When their neighbors say things like…”go build it elsewhere, you people aren't like us” [and I've heard people say exactly this], they miss an important point about American religious values and freedoms that is unique to the United States–in the whole world.If a Presbyterian congregation builds a church, they recognize it isn't for the Catholic or the Jew, or even the Lutheran. It is just for them. They are pleased when someone visits, but they have no expectation that the Lutheran or Jew will “join-up.” Nor, are they trying for that. But you know what…they are allowed to build a non-ranch style Presbyterian Church anyway! It makes us stronger as a nation and a people.The “ghetto-ization” of religious groups is just what RILUOA tries to combat. And as I have followed these two blog dialogues, it is clear it is not only needed, but I'm thankful those protections exist! Check basic info out for yourself about it. Go to Wikipedia, and search RILUPA:http://en.wikipedia.org…by the way, I first googled RILUPA, and the first thing that came up was RILUPA.org. Guess what the illustration was: a tall white church, with about a 4-5 story steeple. Believe it or not, most religious structures in the US are white, by a fair margin.
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10:17 – I’m in favor of the Sufi development, but I really think the small hit and run kind of comments like that are NOT helpful to exposing the situation for what it is: NIMBY religious bigotry. I am not out to b-u-r-n the SOS group. I don’t feel most pro-Sufi bldg people are either. I just strongly disagree with their tactics and their small mindedness. I have also come to feel, via the blog, that they are disingenuous about really seeking another design, since they have not at all responded to the request put forth here that they offer up some alternative design ideas. It’s still: “just not that one! it’s too big! Trenor house is taller, but we’re not going to respond to that…”
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Hope I didn’t confuse anyone…the Fed initial thing confuses me too. it should be:RLUIPA – Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (2000)
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to Another Old Fart:OBAMA! – hahahahah, laughing my young fart butt off…
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O.S.T.R.I.C.H.: Opposing STRuctures of Institutional CHurchesR.A.N.C.H.: Radical Area New Church HatersD.O.M.E.S.: Decidedly Opposed Minor Edgy SocietyLet’s have more groups. Everyone could be president of one!
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From Old Fart – Over in Blog II, someone wrote about the SOS:“Why would the Sufis ever sit down around a table–anymore–with this kind of group and “negotiate” as if there was something to talk about. I was told they have had multiple meetings with the “leadership” of these groups. With both the old SCA officers who quit, and also with neighbors on more than one occasion. They have held two meetings for the neighbors at their own center, and attended and presented at two public Community Meetings hosted by the new SCA.As a result, they have modified the layout of the parking lot, the lighting, the fountain was changed to a reflecting pool, they changed and added to the landscaping, and they have modified the enclosure wall along Blvd Wy.I heard Curtis Trenor said “I’d be just fine with it, if you put the whole thing under ground.” So apparently, Mr. Trenor isn’t at all concerned about the size of it, he just doesn’t want to look at it, and wants to have a nice park with bambi and thumper frolicking o’er the required wall next to his “massive 35′” craftsman ski-chalet (what no protest over it not being ranch style??). He’s the definition of NIMBY. He’s got his, now everyone ELSE must toe the line and suck it up.I think the Sufis have turned that rock over enough times with these people. They are beyond unreasonable.”Old Fart says: well said.
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From GUY BAILING:“I hope someone warns him not to drink the coolade.”ok, so this exactly is why people are starting to sound a little concerned about the tempers of the SOS – besides being embarrassed by the fear-spewing crap.
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Guy BailingOld FartFirst GuyAnother Old FartWith former members leaving SOS, and some just leaving AND too scared to say so, because they are afraid of the leaders of the group (now…who made that crack about the KoolAid? ask yourself who’s acting like the dictator here), in the new SOS math, they must be down to a few kids and a handful of adults in the group by now.Dennis, Brian, Curtis, Marve…turn out the lights when you’ve “left the building.”
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8:44This is going way overboard with too much thinking with regard to the mail box issue. I can only respond to the painted mail boxes. I hope this can put it to rest.Two years ago when the vandalism occurred several mail boxes were painted with red paint. Two of the attached Sufi mail boxes were painted and one non-Sufi box was also painted the other non-Sufi box was left untouched. I would like to add that five other non-Sufi mail boxes and the trees and street were also painted. Since that time in the last year a tree has been t-ped, a Non-Sufineighbor’s mail box has been turned around and mail has been taken from the box. I don’t know why people with painted boxes chose not to remove the paint. all of the above mail boxes mentioned, to this day still have paint on them. As to the girls that were responsible for the vandalism they were seen but were not caught to be questioned. Several non-Sufi cars along the street have also been keyed or broken into. And lets not forget the burglaries. Maybe the SOS members can be blamed for that too.
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Sounds like the red-paint is a red herring, but not fishy.Vandalism, TP’ing, car-keying, near accidents, too much dirt removed, too big a hole (now they are nostalgic for the dirt!), it’s like nailing jellyfish to a wall! Just another day in paradise.Frankly, I think we NEED a church , ‘cuz neighbors aren’t being all that neighborly here in the ‘Nap.Semi-rural doesn’t seem to be cutting it anymore. We need more civilization not less! Reminds me of a quote I read once.When someone asked Mahatma Gandhi what do you think of Western Civilization, he promptly replied: “It would be a good idea!”
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My theory is, at some point in the not to distant future, the Trenors will offer their house to sale to the Sufis, the Sufis will figure out a way to buy it, and leave the rest of the SOS members wondering what happened… this may also be what the Rasmussens try too… it’s of the “if you can’t beat them, get paid to leave” school of manipulation.
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2:30 – well you sure know a lot about vandalism – keep a journal?seriously though, I think First Guy was just giving an example of what about the emotional level of certain SOS folks is of concern to him – I’m sure he could have just as easily pointed to the nasty name calling on the SOS website.yep 2:47 I agree – the neighborhood needs some “civilizing”.
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2:30 – boy, that sounds like a dangerous road to live on – all that thievery and violence to inanimate objects…maybe you should start a group called “Save our Street”!
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3:25You may be correct about the idea of a sale being proposed by these owners. However, I think they may be surprised to find there is a large silence when they sit by their telephone.I think that ship sailed. I believe they may have an over inflated idea about both the value of their land, and anyone’s interest in making them happy.…are those tumbleweeds blowing past on Warren Road?
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From 8:44 AM aka Have a Sufi Friend but Not a Sufi: So, while the Sufis have their Friday night event, I decided to post a bit in part to clearly demonstrate that I am not a Sufi – but mostly it is because I have more to say.11:07 said: “No one in the opposition group calls the existing (3-story) church a “monstro city.” In fact, they say “why can’t you just stay in that building.”ok, so that’s an utterly remarkable call out. Someone really said that? – isn’t the current one like 45′ or 50′ tall? if so, that goes to show that SOS is clearly being biased about color and shape.
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Me – of the Have a Sufi Friend, posting while Sufis are in Friday services – again:5:28 said:“You may be correct about the idea of a sale being proposed by these owners (Trenor and/or Rasmussen). However, I think they may be surprised to find there is a large silence when they sit by their telephone.I think that ship sailed. I believe they may have an over inflated idea about both the value of their land, and anyone's interest in making them happy.”– – – I think that the Sufis might find it's just easier to buy them out, but I agree that there will be little if any “premium for location”. That's not to say that the Ritchie building will reduce the price of homes because it's legit for the Sufis to say it will help the neighborhood longterm, but get prepared anyway neighborhood – the 5 year mortgage re-sets will drop the prices 30-50% around here anyway just like they have everywhere else – this is not a fictional fairy land around here either re: land value, no matter what pipe dream the area has been sucking on.That all said, I think the first SOS member to that trough will do the best in terms of getting something close to asking price. The rest (all 2 or 3 that may be the most interested) may get a much lower than wished for price, if the Sufis are even at all interested in buying.The thing is this:> the likelihood of it being approved pretty much “as is” say is rather high, let's assume 75%+> if so, and the SOS'ers finally feel that they just can't stand looking at it – then Rasmussen and/or Trenor would have to disclose the coming building when trying to sell their place > they would then likely be asked if that is why they are really selling – to get away from the Sufis – well, they could lie I suppose, but more likely they'd have to drop the price – maybe not by a lot, but something that egotistically hurts.
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Sufis are sneaky…they could be posing as non-sufis blogging on this website. A lot of the content you read could possibly be Sufis trying to sway you to turn against SOS!
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Well, in response to that piece of hooo-eee:SOS’ers are sneaky – they could be posing as non-Sufis people saying hit and run things to see if they can get non-Sufis to start acting like SOS’ers have been for 9 months.
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Also – Sufis are in an event on Friday nights, so they most certainly are not doing it right now!SOS’ers I guess could be anyplace, excluding non-house owners and writing more stuff to infer that the Sufi leader is less than human.
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from Have a Sufi Friend:Look, the Sufis do not have to sneak on to this website to expose the SOS’ers for what they are. I myself believe that they are not doing that.The SOS folks are their own worst enemy and it has been their behavior that has been observable and documented, on and off line.
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I actually feel bad for the Sufis who are not in leadership….They are brainwashed into giving Sufism Reoriented all their money, their home, & their retirement. What a racket that is!! I wonder how they convinced all those people to hand over everything?
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From Have A Sufi Friendok, 8:51: now that language is basically saying “the Sufis are a cult” and that is just out and out wrong. No Sufi I know has given any retirement money to Sufism Reoriented. Sufis manage their own money and do NOT give it all to the church. In fact, Sufis are only allowed to give “surplus” money to anything. Again, it helps that I looked into becoming a Sufi, so I know this for a FACT.
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Remember…. they are sneaky! SSSHHH!
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Sneaky is as sneaky does!The Sufis have laid out everything clearly on their website – no sneakiness there.The Sufis were not the ones who withheld property from the new SCA board. Perhaps illegal sneakiness there.I could go on for hours… but everyone who’s been reading (and not forgetting) already know that it’s the SOS-aligned folks who have a lot of explaining to do in terms of how their leaders have behaved.
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I think you might be as brainwashed as they are!
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From Have a Sufi Friend:I am not brainwashed at all – remember, I decided not to become a Sufi, though for faith reasons, not organizational reasons. My main thing is FREEDOM of RELIGION and the protection thereof. If they were protected devil worshippers who had been the same kind of good neighbors the Sufis have always been, I would be going to bat for them too.I’m the same person who clearly stated that the Sufis did not do the PR/communication very well in my first post. If I were brainwashed, I would not have said that at all.
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From Have a Sufi Friend:Sufis are not brainwashed – perhaps, as someone said, they are more private than the average person – but private does not mean cult or brainwashed
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From Another Old FartIt’s nearly past my bedtime but I just can’t help but think that the SOS person here tonight has a screw loose. No offense strongly intended but SOS guy: Have you looked in the mirror lately? Everything so far that you have said about the Sufis seems to me is more appropriate to be said about you and your narrow-minded bigoted group.G’night says another old fart
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8:40…I know you are but what am I?8:43…infinity!Ahhh…that felt really good.Come on you two (or is it really just one 13 year old kid in Pacheco writing all this stuff?) grow the heck up.Actions speak louder than any of this. These Sufis walk the walk and don’t just talk about stuff.
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I think I actually know a 13 year old who lives in Pacheco and he would have been bored with this already.
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well, as the initial energy of this discussion seems to be wearing off, all I can say is that I am personally grateful for all the information that has been surfaced about the dispute.I really hope that people take a hard look at the precedent that will be set should SOS be able to get their way – you just might be next, depending on the whims of the SOS leaders.Also, I would hope that more light is shed on the SCA board transition, that perhaps some folks will actually post what they find out about that so we, as a community, can get a sense of whether or not laws may have been broken. To me, this is a rather serious thing.Having worked at the county, I think that the county people will not be able to officially include this blog in their decision making, so if you learned anything here you feel they should know of, I think it probably needs to be re-told to them by letter or phone call.
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