Kingston, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The new abortion center that will be located in this southeastern New York city will see construction begin next week. The Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery Center abortion facility was slated to be open by the end of the year but likely won't begin doing abortions until early 2009.

The Kingston and Benedictine hospitals are completing a merger and that will result in the building of a center doing abortions and legitimate medical services.

Michael Kaminski, the chief executive officer of Kingston Hospital, said a groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the construction site on Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.

He told the Daily Freeman newspaper the abortion building is expected to be completed by either February or March 2009. It "will allow us to move forward on the affiliation agreement" with Benedictine Hospital.

The parent company that will oversee the merged hospitals can't fulfill its state mandate until the new abortion center is complete. Abortion has been an issue that caused problems in two previous merger attempts because Benedictine, a Catholic facility, does not do abortions while Kingston does.

Kaminski told the newspaper that several speakers will be present at the groundbreaking, including state Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, a Democrat.

The total cost of the abortion center is supposed to be around $4.1 million after equipment is purchased, and the newspaper indicated state taxpayers are paying every penny of the cost.

During meetings in 2007 leading up to the approval of the new abortion center, local residents spoke out against it.

Connie Venditti of Ulster Park said he objected to the new abortion center because it will be connected with Kingston Hospital and should be run separately from a legitimate medical center.

"This was supposed to be separate," Venditti said. "This plan shows a connection."

According to the newspaper, the 7,000 square foot abortion center will be behind the hospital and it will be twice the size officials previously said. It will be located in the parking lot behind Kingston Hospital at 396 Broadway.

An enclosed walkway will separate it from the hospital.

ACTION: Contact the Ulster County Planning Board and urge strong opposition to abortion center. Contact officials on the board at: 244 Fair St, Kingston, NY 12401, or call (845) 340-3340 or fax a letter to (845) 340-3429. You can email planning@co.ulster.ny.us and a list of board officials can be found at http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/about.shtml.

 

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