NY Pols Call On LI Municipalities To Repeal Abortion Restrictions

LONG ISLAND, NY — New York state politicians are calling on municipalities across Long Island to repeal restrictive abortion laws that are still in their codes. The politicians say the laws are holdovers from the 1970s, and could be used in the future to restrict a woman's right to healthcare.

Sen. Anna Kaplan and Assemblyman Gina Sillitti, both Democrats, said they and their staff reviewed the laws of 110 Long Island municipalities and found that five still had abortion restrictions on the books. More than 1.25 million people live in the areas where those laws still exist.

The inspection was spurred on after it was discovered the Town of North Hempstead still had abortion restrictions in its town code. Those laws were repealed last week.

"If we've learned anything from the extremist Supreme Court's reckless decision to steal our Constitutional right to choose, it's that we can't take anything for granted, and we've got to fight for our rights at every level of government, because clearly there are people who will stop at nothing to assert their control over women, and they'll use every trick in the book to do it," Kaplan said. "It's shocking that over a million people on Long Island currently live in a community where there are still abortion restrictions on the books, and we know that these laws were enacted with the sole purpose of getting between women and their right to choose. It's time for officials in those communities to follow the lead of the Town of North Hempstead, and stand up for women by repealing these unjust barriers to abortion care, and finally sending these draconian restrictions to the dustbin of history where they belong."

The municipalities still have the restrictions in their municipal code are the Town of Hempstead, the Town of Oyster Bay, the Town of Huntington, the Village of Freeport and the Village of Williston Park. The laws generally restrict access to abortions of any kind — including medication based, non-surgical abortions, like the Plan B pill — by requiring that all abortion services take place in a hospital, effectively outlawing clinics like Planned Parenthood, and adding an extra time and cost to keep women from accessing abortion services.

The laws in each municipality were passed and added to local code in the early 1970's during a wave of such measures being enacted across Long Island as a means of restricting access to abortions in local communities, Kaplan said, and preventing the establishment of clinics that provide abortion care. However, the laws are not presently enforceable due to New York laws that protect abortion rights statewide. However, Kaplan and Sillitti are worried that future changes could put those rights at risk.

"The New York Legislature made sure a woman's right to choose was protected and now we are looking to our local municipalities to do the same," said Sillitti. "I am thankful the Town of North Hempstead is leading the way. Because make no mistake about it, administrations could change. Elected officials could change. There are those running for office right now trying to repeal these efforts, and as a proud pro-choice elected official, we have to make sure every loophole is closed; and closed tight."

Not all of the municipalities are open to the idea of repealing the restrictions, though.

"Sen. Kaplan is attacking an outdated and decades-old code that has zero impact on residents as state law dictates abortion matters," said Town of Oyster Bay Spokeswoman Marta Kane. "Let’s face it, Sen. Kaplan is trying to distract voters from her tax hiking, pro-criminal record that includes approval of dangerous bail laws that have freed killers, rapists and drug dealers. She should try explaining that to the women and hardworking families she has put at risk."