The saga of one abortion provider shows how difficult it can be to open new clinics, even in states that have protected abortion rights.. California Governor Gavin Newsom has long spoken of his desire to make California a safe-haven for abortion seekers and hasto protect the legal rights of both patients and providers. In April, when the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 abortion ban, Newsom saidto allow Arizona abortion providers to treat their patients in the Golden State.
Barker of Stop DuPont emailed Nazarian the next morning to request a meeting, saying it was “quite offensive to the community of Beverly Hills” that DuPont chose it for their clinic. Nazarian responded that she was open to learning more. Emails show that a meeting with Barker, the city attorney Larry Wiener , and local law enforcement was scheduled for May 19, 2023, but it’s not clear what was discussed.
DuPont claims in its lawsuit that the city met with representatives from DuPont’s landlord, Douglas Emmett, and asked whether there was any way to prevent the clinic from opening. The city officials were “Then-Mayor Julian Gold also discussed the clinic in emails.
And if it’s this hard to open clinics in a blue state, just imagine the hurdles that face abortion providers in more conservative states. Providers inface a unique situation where they have active or imminent bans that could shutter clinics, but voters could restore abortion access via ballot measures this fall. If clinics close, it likely means a net loss of clinics for generations.
In the coming months, advocates will be fighting and fundraising to keep clinics open so people have a place to go if ballot measures pass—without having to fight hostile city councils.May 1, 2024 | 9:14amMay 3, 2024 | 12:00pm