Friday, Jun. 19, 2009

Pasco board hears comments on Planned Parenthood clinic

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

The temperature was nearly as high as the emotions inside Pasco City Hall on Thursday night as more than 200 people crammed into a meeting room -- and spilled over outside -- to voice their opinions about a proposed Planned Parenthood facility.

The city's planning commission took testimony from dozens of people during a public hearing on the clinic, which would be located on West Court Street near Mark Twain Elementary School in a building previously used as a real estate office. It's about 60 to 80 feet south of the school's playfield.

The commission likely will deliberate the proposal and forward a recommendation to the city council at its July meeting.

The clinic would provide reproductive health care services such as annual exams, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, access to birth control and vasectomies.

The morality of abortion was the centerpiece of arguments against the clinic, despite Planned Parenthood's protestations that no abortions will be performed there.

Several of the clinic's opponents said if Planned Parenthood were allowed to set up shop, nothing would prevent the nonprofit agency from performing abortions in the future.

John Paisley, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, said his congregation of more than 2,000 opposes abortion and doesn't want to see the clinic in Pasco, especially near a school.

"We are concerned scripturally about abortion," Paisley said. "We believe human life is precious and that we ought to protect it any way we can."

Some women spoke about having abortions as teenagers, and the emotional turmoil they experienced.

Other opponents said they worry about the safety of students at Mark Twain if protesters picket the clinic, or become violent.

Other concerns for school children included exposure to the existence of Planned Parenthood and what it does.

"By God, you better stand up for the children," said Dennis Young, who lives on Walker Way.

Opponents also objected to the possibility that the facility will disseminate the so-called "morning after" pill, a form of emergency contraception that can prevent pregnancy for a limited time period after sexual intercourse.

Planned Parenthood supporters -- many wearing pink T-shirts with the organization's logo -- said the clinic will bring needed health care to women in Pasco.

Sendi Aceves, director of client services for Planned Parenthood of Central Washington, said there is a need for affordable reproductive health care in Pasco.

The Court Street location was chosen after a lengthy search because it's on a bus line and would be accessible to low-income women.

"We are in a health care crisis," Aceves said, noting Franklin County's high rates of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

In 2006, the birth rate for 15- to 17-year-old girls in Franklin County was nearly 53 per 1,000, above the statewide average of about 15 per 1,000, the Benton-Franklin Health District reported.

In 2007, Franklin County had the state's second-highest HIV rate and third-highest chlamydia rate -- about 40 percent higher than the state average, according to a state health report. Benton County's chlamydia rate was nearly 10 percent below the state average.

Health officials at the time attributed Franklin County's high rates to a general lack of youth access to information and services and the county's larger proportion of high-risk groups such as Hispanics, 15- to 24-year-olds and people with low incomes.

Sandy Owen, director of preventive health services for the Benton-Franklin Health District, said Planned Parenthood's services are needed because the district does not have the funding to provide a sexually transmitted disease clinic of family planning services.

As far as the proximity to the school, Owen said it's up to parents what they tell their children about the clinic.

"Children do not know what Planned Parenthood is about unless their parents teach them what Planned Parenthood is about," she said.