Politics on the Hudson

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic CEO Reina Schiffrin urged members of the Westchester League of Women Voters Thursday to support legislation putting the right to contraception and abortion into New York State law.

Speaking at the League’s annual meeting at the Scarsdale Women’s Club, Schiffrin said New Yorkers who support contraception access and abortion rights often feel like they don’t have to worry about legal restrictions here. But, she said, “We’re not really as safe as you or I would like to believe.”

The legislation, called the Reproductive Health Act, would put an affirmative right to abortion and the use of contraception in state law rather than relying on the decriminalization done in the 1970. It would also clarify that women whose health is threatened can end a pregnancy after the 24th week and take references to abortion out of the criminal code.

Asked if it’s too late to work for the bill this year, with the end of the session looming, Schiffrin said it’s still important to weigh in.

Schiffrin, whose organization runs clinics in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Suffolk, was invited to speak on the topic of the politicization of women’s health care.

“It definately seemed timely, particularly with all the activity going on in various state legislatures and Congress,” said Sharon Lindsay, the president of the League of Women Voters of Westchester. The League has a position supporting abortion rights and in favor of protecting Planned Parenthood.

Schiffrin talked about efforts around the country to restrict abortion or prevent health coverage of birth control and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino’s recent veto of legislation on reproductive clinic access.

“The presence of protesters outside our health centers is an ongoing problem,” she said.

Opponents of the law argued it was a duplication of existing state and federal laws and unnecessary given the lack of violence outside centers here.

Asked if she’s ever been accosted by an anti-abortion protester, Schiffrin said she’s been harassed and followed to her car and received threatening mail. But she’s less worried about herself and more worried about her medical director, who wears a bulletproof vest on days she does abortions, she said.