By Citizens Journal Staff Writer
There is a recommendation that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring:
1. The City of Oxnard’s commitment to women’s rights and reproductive freedom;
2. The City of Oxnard as a Right-To-Choose sanctuary city; and
3. Support for the codification of the right to an abortion into Federal and California Constitutional law.
On May 17, 2022, Councilmember Lopez proposed the City Council consider a resolution declaring the City’s support for women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
Councilmember Lopez’s proposal was motivated by a leaked draft opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Clinic.
The opinion revealed the Court’s intent to overturn the longstanding decision of Roe v. Wade, which granted women a Constitutional right to an abortion.
Decided in 1973, Roe v. Wade established a women’s right to an abortion as a Constitutional right of privacy under the 14th Amendment.
The ruling was subsequently upheld in the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey. If Roe is overturned, roughly 22 states are set to restrict access to abortion, preventing approximately 100,000 women from accessing abortions within the first year.
Restricting access to abortion does not reduce the demand for abortions as one
in four women will have an abortion in their reproductive lifetimes. If Roe is struck down, California will become a destination for many women seeking care that may be illegal in their home cities and states.
It is estimated that 49% of abortion patients live at or below the poverty level, while 59% of abortion patients already have children and 55% are experiencing at least one disruptive life event.
Moreover, according to a 2020 study, women denied abortions are more likely to fall into debt, file for bankruptcy, and use social services. Marginalized groups,
particularly low-income women and women of color, will be the most impacted if Roe is overturned, causing greater societal inequity.
Access to reproductive healthcare, including access to abortion, is therefore essential to the personal autonomy, health, and equality of women.
In early May of this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have codified a women’s right to terminate her pregnancy. However, the Act did not pass the U.S. Senate. More recently, on June 8th, SCA 10—granting a constitutional right to an abortion and contraceptives—was introduced in the California State Senate. If SCA 10 passes both the Senate and Assembly before June 30th, it will be placed on the November ballot
for a vote of the people.
This agenda item is a routine operational item or does not relate to the five strategic priorities adopted by City Council on March 16, 2021.
Several local groups and individuals are planning to meet outside the Council Chambers at 5:30pm to voice their opinion on this resolution. The public is encouraged to attend.
Attached is the resolution document Resolution Supporting Reproductive Rights
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Councilwoman Lopez is another liberal given over to a reprobate made! They always say it’s about women’s health and reproductive rights etc etc… No! This is the murder of the most innocent in our society. Unfortunately things will never change when you have sicko’s with reprobate minds trying to justify every depravity, by passing legislation to try and compel sane people to join their cult or be a good boy or girl and keep your mouth shut! No thanks, I’ll never drink that Kool Aid!
This is a meaningless resolution, that serves no purpose in enacting legislation or other purpose that would be under the purview of Oxnard City Council. It only served to create more division amongst the local residents, with perhaps the most divisive topic of our century. It was completely inappropriate to bring this forward, by a Council member, to this governing body. It might have served up some red meat to the Democratic base. The Roe v Wade debate, and legislative, and judicial action should stay at the state, and federal level. A San Clemente councilman put forward a resolution, banning abortion in San Clemente, which also seeks to serve a political base, but would be entirely unenforceable. At a time when local municipalities are struggling to address serious societal, and infrastructure issues, with balancing budgets increasingly difficult, and consensus difficult to obtain to actually solving problems, these types of resolutions only widen the gap in the political divide, and take us further and further from actual solutions.
These are the same knuckleheads who want to spend 80 MILLION DOLLARS to build a swimming pool. I am sorry, but these people are dumb as hell, and their willing to float a bond to pay for it. Which means it goes right on everyone’s property tax bill. Aaaahhhhhhhhh
And the party that opposes BUG GOVERNMENT supports what?
BUG GOVERNMENT? What is that, Biden and the FBI colluding?
In my opinion, the right to choose is a human right. Personally I would rather my tax dollars go to contraceptives for anybody who wants them, here legally or not. I’d rather not pay for abortions, but people are going to do what they’re going to do, so it needs to be done safely, therefore charge for the abortion.
Welfare for an unwanted child? Really don’t want to pay for that. Drop those babies off at the doorsteps of those who vote to end abortion.
So what’s the solution? Free contraceptives for everyone!
I never thought I’d see a pro-abortion house editorial in Citizens Journal Ventura County. It is obviously one-sided opinion, which you are entitled to, but is not labeled as such.
George, this is not an editorial. This is local Oxnard news. This is a City Council Agenda Report from Stephen Fischer to Oxnard City Council, and now Citizens Journal has made you aware. More information is here City Council Meeting (civicclerk.com) Download the entire packet here.
It’s an informative news article.
Councilman Lopez is probably opposed to the death penalty. Typical pandering modern Democrat politician who will jump up and down, shout from the roof tops—to save the perfectly guilty, Yes. But is more than willing to forego his/her religious upbringing, pander to the left and kill the perfectly innocent.
That city council member that is proposing to continue Murdering the unborn babies through an illegal abortion, should be happy his mother wasn’t as pationate about abortion as he/she is, otherwise he/she wouldn’t have been born. He/She don’t hold the majority of the constituent’s moral values and must be removed from serving as a city council member now!