All About Aurora
If you’ve been reading the Planned Parenthood Aurora blog, you are already familiar with the local politics that have stopped the new Aurora health center from opening its doors. Here’s a brief overview of the legal and political situation — we’ll keep this updated as new developments emerge. What is the current situation?
Planned Parenthood has built a new, state-of-the-art health facility in Aurora, and is ready to open for business as soon as it gets an operating permit from the city. The City of Aurora has denied a permit to Planned Parenthood while it conducts a legal review of the process that allowed Planned Parenthood to build the health center. The city has estimated that its legal review will be completed by next Friday, September 28. On September 20, a federal judge declined to intervene to force the city to issue the permit sooner, but stated that “This case is far from over.”
What’s the background?
The real issue is that protesters who are opposed to reproductive health care — including abortion, birth control, and sex education — are using the permit process as an excuse to block the health center from operating. Opponents have focused on the fact that Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area acquired its building and temporary occupancy permits using the names of both Gemini Corporation and Planned Parenthood, and delayed publicity about the health center until mid-summer. City officials granted Planned Parenthood’s temporary occupancy permit in August, fully aware of the services planned at the health center. By the end of August, city officials caved to pressure from anti-choice protesters and revoked the permit, thus delaying the September opening.
Planned Parenthood followed all permit laws and regulations. The decision to conduct publicity a few months prior to opening minimized the anticipated harassment and intimidation of health center staff, contractors, and supporters. In fact, the local spokesperson for the protesters, Eric Scheidler, has said, “Planned Parenthood should be terrified. We’re going to destroy their building peacefully but aggressively.” Scheidler has also condoned residential picketing at the homes of Aurora staff members and has encouraged protesters to confront Aurora residents who place signs supporting Planned Parenthood in their yards. What’s next?
City officials have insisted on a legal review of the permit process before allowing Planned Parenthood to open its doors. When this review was announced in late August, the city assured Planned Parenthood that the process would be completed prior to the scheduled September 18 opening; however, that did not materialize. Since then, two lawyers have been hired, collected relevant documents, and were fired for political reasons. Now the city has asked a state attorney to review the information compiled by the two lawyers who have been fired. The state attorney estimates he will finish his review by next Friday, September 28. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood has asked the city to release all information that has been compiled for the legal review.
What’s happened in court?
Planned Parenthood went to federal court and asked for an emergency injunction, writing to the court: “Although Aurora issued a temporary permit for this medical facility, it has since been made clear to Planned Parenthood that it will not be allowed to open for business and instead will be subject to review indefinitely. Aurora’s actions, however, are not related to any legitimate municipal concern, but instead are motivated solely by political opposition to the fact that Planned Parenthood provides abortion services for its patients. Accordingly, Planned Parenthood seeks injunctive relief to prevent Aurora from continuing to deprive Planned Parenthood of its constitutionally protected right to equal protection under the law.”
When will the health center open?
Planned Parenthood continues to receive calls from patients seeking to make appointments. The Aurora health center stands ready to open as soon as the city grants a permit.
Published: 09.21.07
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