Aurora Illinois Abortion Business Subject of Second City Council Hearing

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 12, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Aurora Illinois Abortion Business Subject of Second City Council Hearing Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 12,
2007

Aurora, IL (LifeNews.com) — The Aurora city council met again on Tuesday night and the new abortion business Planned Parenthood hopes to open next week was the main topic of discussion for a second time. The hearing also marked the first occasion on which abortion backers turned out for a rally to support the new facility.

More than 200 pro-life advocates showed up at the city council meeting, but about 100 pro-abortion activists appeared as well sporting pink T-shirts saying, "I support Planned Parenthood."

The pro-life side thoroughly dominated the discussion at the last meeting and the numbers on Tuesday night favored pro-life advocates, but pro-abortion speakers gave their viewpoint before the council as well.

Meanwhile, city officials announced on Tuesday that independent attorney Phillip Luetkehans of Itasca would begin a review of the paperwork Planned Parenthood filed to receive permission to build the abortion center.

Pro-life advocates urged the city to review the process because the abortion business used the name Gemini Health Corporation on its documents.

Luetkehans will make sure the process was legal and the paperwork legitimate and city authorities have said Planned Parenthood will not be allow to receive its permanent occupancy permit until the review is finished.

Luetkehans may not complete that process until after September 18, the date Planned Parenthood intends to open.

Yet, Steve Trombley, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area, told the Daily Herald newspaper he doesn’t see any reason the new center will open late. He says abortions are already scheduled.

"We have patients scheduled for services that day," he said. "The only thing that stands between us and opening is politics."

At the city council hearing, Planned Parenthood backers said abortions only comprise 10 percent of the services the new center will offer.

"I would like access to services that would help me not need one," Meredith Bell of Aurora said.

But college student Sara Wagner said Aurora’s youth and adult residents know better.

"Planned Parenthood has misrepresented themselves to the city of Aurora," she said. "Planned Parenthood also misrepresents other things, such as motherhood."