Save the Life Centers by Opposing NYC's Local Law 17-2011

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With 4.3 million abortions performed in New York City in the past 40 years, New York is the "Abortion Capital of America," with approximately 250 abortion providers in the market, according to NARAL, NY.

These numbers indicate there has been consistent, wide availability of abortion services for New York’s women, while access to abortion alternative centers has been far more limited, with only 23 locations (and some of these part-time) operating in all of New York City: a ten to one ratio.

Hear Dr. Alveda King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's niece, encouraging the signing of this petition

The NYC City Council's Bill #371A was passed overwhelmingly by a 39-9-1 vote on March 2nd, 2011, and signed into Local law 17-2011 by the Mayor on March 16th, 2011. It creates onerous, one-sided, unconstitutional speech regulations, with whopping, cruel and unusually harsh penalties for those centers it describes as "Pregnancy Services Centers."

The newly revised Local Law 17-2011, different than the original Bill #371 offered in October, 2010, narrows the scope of the life centers that are covered by the law.

To be covered, a center location must fit two or more criteria such as offering pregnancy tests, plus maintaining or operating medical equipment (ultrasounds), operating inside of a medical office or a clinic, having technicians present at any time, etc.

All NYC pregnancy centers have provided free options counseling, referrals and some form of material support, but only EMC FrontLine has offered free ultrasound and prenatal care, which no abortion facility in New York City provides.

The law passed on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 by a 39-9 vote law APPEARS, at this time, to apply only to the oldest and largest group of centers, EMC FrontLine. It might cover one other group which shares space with a Foot clinic.

On July 14th, 2011, EMC will be ordered to post onerous disclaimers on their doors, waiting room walls, and advertisements, and to make oral disclosures to all potential clients on the phone, internet, and in person that they do not perform abortions or provide referrals, distribute FDA-approved contraceptives or provide referrals, provide or refer for Emergency contraception, or "morning after pills" and recommend seeing a physician, elsewhere, if none are available on-site immediately, at each of their locations, where there is even an appearance of medical services provided (as described above.)

The draconian penalties for repeated violations of the above, include being shut down for five days after three violations, stiff fines of up to $2,500, and JAIL FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS for those who do not comply with the shut-down order, in addition to being subject to private lawsuits, which could include potential punitive damage claims.

The bill’s primary authors and co-sponsors, Councilwomen Jessica Lappin, and Speaker Christine Quinn have repeatedly made slanderous allegations that EMC Pregnancy Centers engaged in false and misleading advertising despite their advertising headline : “Free Abortion Alternatives," and copy points: free ultrasounds, free pregnancy tests, and free confidential options counseling, placed periodically on NY City subways and buses.

At the only public hearing on this bill, November 16, 2010, hypocritically, Planned Parenthood of NYC's president accused EMC of locating across the street and in the same building as two of their sites, and specifically in minority areas. Their abortion mills were opened long before EMC's alternative-to-abortion centers arrived near them.

According to New York Vital Statistics data, in the ten-year period (1999-2008), of the 922,272 abortions performed, 726,845 (79%) were Black and Hispanic babies.

In 2009, NYC saw an overall 41% abortion rate, and New York City Blacks in 2009 had 1,500 abortions for every 1,000 live births, representing a race in decline; rounded up percentage wise, this represents a 60% abortion rate.

These numbers point to a profound need for greater outreach to women of color, and expansion of alternatives- to-abortion services.

Without these centers and availability of free ultrasound services, easy to obtain pre-natal care and honest and compassionate assistance, there is only one option that women see and have: abortion. Without these centers, women have no true “choice.”

In a compassionate city such as New York, life-affirming pregnancy options and assistance, and professionally administered ultrasounds, ought to be celebrated and not legislated into oblivion!