I guess the landlord was desperate; instead of another restaurant or similar business, he sunk low to let planned parenthood take over the building. I wonder what the nearby businesses such as John Bentley's and Chantily think and how this might affect their business.

Given the controversy that surrounds this type of business, one can't help but wonder how this might impact traffic on ECR when there are protests.

"...offer reproductive and general health services, including birth control, pregnancy testing and options counseling, medication abortions, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing, and breast and cervical cancer screening. ... will also offer prenatal care, pediatric care, and adult primary health care..."

SOOOOO controversial!

Absolutely can't empower women with health care and family planning services! Next thing you know, they'll expect the right to vote, or something.

Just ask @Joe.

Great news. My only hope is that Frances had something to do with this before her passing.

In the past there were 2 different planned parenthood clinics in MP that usually had protestors in front of them. At one of these sites the protestors spilled over and affected the businesses nearby because they performed abortions.

If this clinic plans to offer such services, I would guess there will be protestors.

@Joe--Women have the right to choose. Those who disagree with that statement have the right to protest. The citizens of Menlo Park do not have the right to prohibit either women making choices or people protesting it just because it might cause a little traffic in its precious little village. ALso, whomever the landlord is, no they didn't "sink low" to rent to a well established, public service organization of the caliber of PP.

@Joe: are you against the constitutionally protected right to privacy? Or to free speech?

Or are you having a sad because the fringe whacko-birds will be out protesting?

I don't care for them either, but defend their rights. Besides, the louder, the more obnoxious, the grosser their tactics, the more they remind other folks to register to vote, usually to protect the county against such extremists.

So it's a two-fer: improved women's health services and increased democrat registrations spurred by the thought of protecting women's rights from the extremists.

Everyone wins.

That is so silly to hear that people would be against a Planned Parenthood in a totally commercial area right on El Camino when a few hundred yards away there is a totally skanky "Hanky Panky" mens club which is truly the storefront that would be decreasing property values. This Chevy's location will enable lots of girls in Redwood City, Menlo Park, and Atherton to literally walk or bike to get much needed confidential contraception services. And if you think your daughters and sons who live in these areas don't need these services, think again! :) They truly do, whether you like it or not.

While an improvement to the vacant property, perhaps this could call attention to other blights in the area, especially to the encampment behind the abandoned Copenhagen restaraunt where a dilapidated motorhome, cars and urban campers dwell.
But those exercising their free speech shouldn't be insulted nor demonized. Those acting obnoxious are against the protestors--go and observe. In January, 30,000 American people march quitely in San Francisco praying for babies to not be aborted with only about 30 or so individuals yelling insults at them.
Many of the 'protestors' simply desire women to not silence the voice not yet spoken, and CHOOSE to defend the life of the unborn if they can. If posters accurately show the reality of late term abortions, and are disturbing, keep in mind that horrific event could soon be happening in that location.

This is no winning for the unwanted live fetus. Who speaks for them?

Physician has it right. Hypocrisy is the thing to call out here. I have lived in Menlo Park for more than 20 years and never heard a peep of protest about Hanky Panky. I expect that the people signing the petition against PP in concern for their property values are the same people that have the resources to get family planning ie birth control advice and/or terminate a pregnancy at a private facility without worrying about time, distance or travel costs.

Restricting access to confidential contraception services, including abortion, affects poor women and girls disproportionately.

If Ms. Potter and her signatories are concerned about impact on the neighborhood, they should work to persuade the pro-life groups who picket PP locations to do so in a respectful and lawful manner, rather than interfering with traffic and/or displaying graphic signs.

Sounds to me that the problem is with the protesters and not with the clinic. Don't blame the clinic for the wackos out on the street.

I cannot BELIEVE what I'm hearing. Is it 2013 or 1913? This is a medical building we're talking about which is a lot safer than having another gas station or dry cleaner on El Camino. Joe and all those other folks who want to control women's reproductive systems in the name of religion or whatever need to worry about their own souls and let others do the same. If you're concerned with protesters carrying signs showing 200x enlargements of aborted fetuses, try controlling them instead of the women who need vital medical services. But you can't because protesters have the right to free speech while women are being denied the right to free and low-cost exams and family planning. How would you like it if I got a rowdy group together to carry big signs in front of your doctor's office of a flaccid penis to protest all those prescriptions for Viagra? Go back into your cave, please.

Emotional issues such as these are complex. Abortion is the law of the land, no one is trying to change that and no one is denying a woman's right to choose...simply encouraging women, since men are left out of the decision...to CHOOSE LIFE.
The only rowdy people or wackos are those slinging insults like a lynch mob, not respecting their fellow American's right of free speech or those yelling at the protestors...go out there and observe!

Hey Joe - it's the protestors fault that you're concerned about the graphic photos, not the fault of PP. I saw many of those photos when I was a kid, and so did my peers.

I've used PP services in the past, when I didn't have adequate medical insurance coverage. It was affordable, accessible, and the care I received was excellent. They also offered care for my boyfriend at the time, when his medical insurance hadn't kicked in yet. He had a physical, and also had nothing but good things to say.

The PPs we used were in the area & were staffed by mostly Latina women, putting paid to Potter's running of her mouth that PP is against the values of the mostly Catholic community. These are women who believe in access to medical care, and they know that abortion comprises a small percentage of what they do.

Planned Parenthood is a wonderful organization! I think the article was inaccurate in suggesting that there is widespread opposition to them. I am very happy that Planned Parenthood will have an office on El Camino and I bet I'm not the only one!

I too was disappointed to see Planned Parenthood going in along El Camino Real, but not because of the services offered by the clinic, but because of the protesters who will spend their days picketing the site. For my money, if those picketers actually cared about people as individuals, they would not stand on the side of a highway, but get their butts volunteering in the local schools, such as Selby Lane School, where they can make a tangible difference in the lives of their neighbors. Or they could wonder why are these children walking to school along El Camino Real and crossing it, rather than being provided reliable transportation by the school district. No one seems outraged by that. Nor are they outraged by the squalor which is behind the Copenhagen restaurant. the presence of the Hanky Panky or the prostitution that goes on inside each of the "spas" along ECR. When was the last time anyone saw a gift certificate for Dermal Spa at a local school auction? Exactly.

Lower property values is a red herring argument. Shame on Linda Potter for wasting her time collecting 1600 signatures for this. Tell me again, Linda, how many cans of food did you collect for Second Harvest? And how many hours toward Project Read? And how many dollars toward Peninsula Bridge? What about CORA? Or Shelter Network? Or Caminar? Or PAL?

Fifteen years ago I left my philandering husband and moved home to be with family. I was unemployed and without health insurance. Planned Parenthood gave me the checkups I needed, and caught a symptom-free infection that would have cost me my fertility and, left untreated, my life. I got the treatment that I needed from Planned Parenthood when I could not afford to go anywhere else. I'm now happily remarried with two healthy children, and I will always be grateful to Planned Parenthood for being there when I needed them.

I'm really appalled that people would object to PP coming because of the signs the protestors might carry. That is victim-blaming, and it disgusts me.

@will - did you actually read the article? Then you realize you're completely full of it when you bring up "If posters accurately show the reality of late term abortions"

Any other red herrings regarding THIS PP, or are you just generally against a woman's constitutionally protected right to having choice over her own body?

Are you also against most healthcare for women? or just some?

Lastly, are you for the "personhood" amendments, and thus against all abortion as well as hormonal birth control (the pill), and in-vitro fertilization for those that need assistance in getting pregnant?

Just curious where you stand...

Please add my enthusiastic support to the opening of a new Planned Parenthood on El Camino. I completely agree with the physician who acknowledged that our community NEEDS and WANTS the services of Planned Parenthood: "And if you think your daughters and sons who live in these areas don't need these services, think again!"

I am so gratified to read the majority of the comments from members of our community. They demonstrate support (mostly) for our laws and the dignity and worth of other people -- be they women or protesters. Even if we don't agree, all the participants in this situation have "needs" that have to be addressed.

Planned Parenthood is a great organization. Close-minded folks are everywhere, but fortunately, there seems to be a lot of support for this PP as well. This will provide a great health care option for men, women, and children. It's not just for birth control, but for general health care as well. As the article says, they will provide prenatal care, pediatric care, cancer screening, and general care. That's a win-win for everyone, including society, which bears the burden of the complications of those who don't get this much needed care. The article shouldn't have spent so much space on the arguments of the close-minded opposition. If they hold up posters of fetuses, whose fault is that?

Planned Parenthood is a wonderful organization which does far more than help teenagers with information about reproduction. Not only your "daughters" benefit, but your friends, sisters & wives can get Pap tests, BC self-exam instruction, contraceptive info wome, STD testiing, and other services they can't otherwise afford.

The right-to-life protesters ignore the valuable health benefits available here, to all women, very few of whom seek information about pregnancy termination. The raucous protesters should spend their energies encouraging adoption and rallying for better affordable day-care & better foster-care. Their posters, rants, and visual displays are intended to shock & disrupt, not to inform.

@ Will -you are misguided & ill-informed. Late-term abortions can only rarely be performed in this state, only under very specific guidelines and certainly never at a PP facility. Despite your ignorance & hostility, if you were ever unlucky enough to contract an STD (of course through no fault of your own), you could seek & receive treatment here at a cost you can afford.

A lot of people hate Facebook. If some of them stand out in front of Facebook headquarters with "graphic" signs, do you suppose they can get the city to shut the place down and put up a church instead?

While some want to distract the issue with insults and juvenile name calling, I once heard a speech from woman who survived a botched abortion where the abortion doctor eventually signed her birth certificate. Although she was crippled with cerebral palsy, she chose to speak to the fact that aborted are humans. Simply, if someone chooses LIFE, that life is allowed to live. My position above is clear, abortion is the law of the land, but for someone who can CHOOSE to avoid it, that is a powerful choice.

How odd it is that Will is so focused on abortion. Planned Parenthood offers so many wonderful services, that to focus on one botched abortion from - when was that, Will? - just strikes me as a strange attempt to distract readers from all of the good that Planned Parenthood does.

I've never been pro-abortion, but I sure am pro-Planned Parenthood.

@ Hmmm-I guess so much good that PP may do -does not outweigh abortion--for me. Women are free to Choose.

I will stand up for Planned Parenthood, as I have for all womens rights since 1965....shocking that we still have to argue for such basic dignity for women! BTW several MP policemen have told me they encountered the most violent and brutal attacks of their careers by anti-PP protesters during the Bay Rd protesters. My own daughter went to PP, as a teen, simply to ask questions because she was too shy and embarrassed to ask me or a teacher or even our doctor. I am very grateful she even knew she could that.... So, relax, abortion counseling is one small fraction of what they offer. You can handle your ownself & your family anyway you choose and so can everyone else, without your oversite.

PROTESTERS SHOULD SUPPORT YOUNG MOMS!
The protesters are protesting about abortion, and not about reproductive health services! Unwanted babies and children need care and attention! If these protesters really care about these unwanted babies, why don't they volunteer to take care of them AFTER they are born? It takes personal and emotional effort, lots of money, and time spent on someone other than yourself. An unwanted pregnancy often takes a severe emotional and physical toll on a very young woman. A lot of young women choose to keep their babies, even though they lack the resources needed to survive in this world. It is not wrong to want to keep your own child! These young moms go on welfare, for which they are stigmatized. Why can't the protesters help these young moms stay off of welfare and offer them some free childcare, diapers, and emotional support?

@ CWFWR...you may not believe, but there is a success story of a young woman who did seek and receive help for her unborn child from the group outside a clinic in San Mateo last year. A church and another group, all on private donations assisted her and helped her relocate after a successful delivery back with healthy baby to her home country. Doesn't seem fair to call them protesters, hu?

Will.... you were asked about personhood amendments. What up?

To address all of you who think that we just because we in the neighborhood haven't been out protesting in front of the Hanky Panky, that we just love having a Hanky Panky, Adult Superstore (closed now thankfully!!!), extra-special "massage" parlors aka brothels, and now a Planned Parenthood to service the prostitutes and oh of course, the rest of us, you are sooo wrong..... We care, but what can we do about it? Would protesting the Hanky Panky close it down or just get a protestor raped? The county should never have let these "tenants" move in in the first place. And now we're just getting one more nasty place to round out the bunch.

What is up with Redwood City??? They want to revitalize the downtown and turn the southern border into a red light district?

And please tell me the Fantasy Marshmallow place isn't going to be selling porn confection.....

Furthermore the city/county believes PP's services are "needed" in the area? What exactly is being said here? That there are too many Hispanics in our neighborhood? Don't think we don't know who this is aimed at--it's not the elite in Atherton. Very racist.


Planned Parenthood puts common sense and women's safety in danger for profits. They have routinely been caught advising women to lie about their age and their "partner's age" to avoid reporting statutory rape, covering up incest cases, and providing services to pimps bringing in their charges. Former employees have admitted to lowering the dosages on birth control pills to increase the chances of teenagers getting pregnant, and to falsifying the age of the fetuses to increase profits. Not a place I'd want my daughter going, and with Obamacare going into effect, I'd hope no one needs the services of a marginal medical clinic anyways when they could go to a reputable hospital and OBGYN.

"Planned Parenthood puts common sense and women's safety in danger for profits."

Funny, thought they were a non-profit.

As for the crazy charges ('lowering dosages to get teenagers pregnant') - substantiate them, or accept that all will read your entire post as a bunch of lies.

First of all, non-profit means the *organization* isn't supposed to turn a profit. How do you do that? One way is to overpay the CEOs and other people at the top.


As for low-dose pills, Carol Everett admitted it was a common technique for increasing income:

Web Link


And here's a personal testimony from a lady who got pregnant for just that--being prescribed low-dose pills by Planned Parenthood despite having been on a higher dosage previously (search for low dose)

Web Link


And here's an article mentioning that a number of PP's condoms broke easily and were rated the worst by Consumer reports (search for Planned Parenthood):

Web Link

It's a medical office. Are all medical offices unsafe and a blight on the landscape? No. What causes the blight?

The protestors, angry and rude in their self-righteousness, interfering with the lives of people seeking access to health services.

A Planned Parenthood Is not a threat. Wacko protestors are. So, Linda Potter, if you want to keep the neighborhood "safe", work to redirect protestors to more useful activities, like going down the street to buy diapers and formula to give to poor families.

Kaz, the protestors have been very polite so far, and most of the ones out there do support the various organizations in North Fair Oaks especially the St. Francis center and SVDP with money, food, time, and clothing. A lot of them are retired folks who have time to volunteer to help out the people in the neighborhood. I appreciate that they care about us and our children.

So Will - Sounds like you sent that young mom and her AMERICAN baby back to her home country? Easy way to keep her off the welfare rolls - essentially deportation! What about non-immigrant moms? Have you been providing them with childcare, diapers, formula, and financial and emotional support?
Kaz - You are so right! The blight is CAUSED by the protesters! Planned Parenthood is a first class tenant!

"PROTESTERS SHOULD SUPPORT YOUNG MOMS!"

You know what? They do. You can make fun of the protestors all you like, but many of them know the names and faces, of the mothers and children living in the neighborhood because they volunteer at the organizations that help them.

Why don't you ask Planned Parenthood to do the same? Why is it "choice" for the only option for PP to offer to be abortion, but they won't offer any of the things you validly think should be provided--diapers, food, child care, tutoring services, ESL classes, housing assistance, etc.? Why not ask them to provide the same services that the protestors and nearby churches and organizations DO provide to pregnant women and low-income families in Redwood City?

As a former patient of PP, I can confirm the need for their services and welcome their presence.

@in the neighborhood - your links as "proof" border on the insane!

PP lowers doses so they can do more abortions? A blog post about a computer search for a visit in 1988?

omg.

PP sells defective condoms so they can do more abortions? Based on a Men's Health article? So the reason name brand condoms have burst on me is what? PP secretly went into Walgreens and broke them so they could do more abortions?

Wow. After reading your rants, it makes things so clear. And easier. I don't need to take anything you say seriously.

Because even you obviously do not take yourself seriously.

Rich Johns, Carol Everett has given her personal testimony as to the fraudulent things she did as a Planned Parenthood Clinic operator in order to increase profit. You can choose not to believe her, but do not lambast me for telling you she said it when you asked for a source.

I am delighted that Planned Parenthood is moving to the area. When I was a teenager, my friends and I felt more comfortable going to Planned Parenthood than our family doctors. We received excellent care that helped all of us grow into healthy young women. Planned Parenthood provided us with information about womens' health and affordable birth control. In once case, P squared (as we affectionately called it) counseled a close friend after she was date raped - it was a critical step in her healing process.

It's sad to read that there are still knuckle draggers out there. Heaven forbid that women's health care is in the neighborhood! Why is it that women's health services scares the living **** out of 'religious' folks? Abortions are pretty rare, and would be even rarer if decent access to family planning was available, but we can't have that! What goes on below the neck is forbidden or something, unless you are a guy, and well, anything goes I guess. Such hypocrisy.

@ in the neighborhood - your followed your link to Carol Everett, associated with a Baptist Church in Texas & some other reborn christian organizations. I don't see any reference from her to any work with PP.

It is entirely possible that any organization can have an unethical person affiliated for a period of time -churches, even one in TX that Ms Everett is hooked up with, Jerry Falwell, quite a few elected senators, representatives, etc. Why, even our own Sheriff Monk & his law enforcement pal just "happened" to mistake a Las Vegas brothel for a massage parlour & got caught in a raid! Same thing happened to poor Jerry Rice.

Your focus on "Carol Everett" and her alleged misdeeds don't affect my very positive opinion of PP and she's moved on to the religious right & isn't with PP anymore anyway. (We can't say the same about our sheriff.)

Protestors will try to block out and intimidate women of all ages seeking health care services at the this new health center. I will volunteer to escort them safely inside. I have offered my personal engagement to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte for helping these women overcome their antagonists. I will be a volunteer escort if needed.

"Carol Everett has given her personal testimony"

Wow. A single person giving "personal testimony"... from the same type groups that threaten patients, bomb clinics and murder doctors (Dr Tiller, anyone?)

I stand by what I said: you have yet to substantiate your crazy conspiracies. Defective condoms just to increase abortions?!?!?!? "Wow. After reading your rants, it makes things so clear. And easier. I don't need to take anything you say seriously. Because even you obviously do not take yourself seriously."

Its not bad that its a Planned Parenthood building, its just a bad location choice....
Old Chevys restaurant location.....((bizarre location choice))
Location chosen for PP should always be carefully addressed.

PP is a great resource

Bad location chouce is the issue here. And to you ignorant commenters, get real....women have a right to care for their bodies as they so choose.

......off you ignorant commenters

This much needed clinic is well located and will provide services to countless numbers of women and men who need help. I say "let's count the many people helped by this clinic before casting doubts". The statistics for unwanted children are there to be seen. Thousands in Foster Care!!! Many on the streets. Who is willing to step up and care for the many babies born to unwed mothers or teenagers? We need places for these babies to be raised properly. Can you volunteer to help in one? Plan an orphanage instead of denying anyone the right to choose. I have supported Planned Parenthood since the organization was formed and will continue.

> Thousands in Foster Care!!!

There is a long waiting list of parents looking for adoptable infants in the US. You can argue that said parents should take a child in foster care instead, but the needs and skills are different. Women who do not wish to keep their infant are welcome to put him or her up for adoption. The need is great-many women have infertility problems especially from waiting until later in life to have kids and would gladly take over the parenting responsibility of a baby that is not theirs.

@ Tim - There's often heartbreak involved with foster-care. Fostering is very different than adopting. Adopt & the child is yours, legally, forever. Foster & when/if the legal parent or other relative is able again to care for the child, the child leaves. Who wants a revolving-door? Committed parenting is rarely compatible with accepting a child for a stay of indeterminate duration who could be yanked away at any time. Creates attachment problems for child & fosterers.

BTW, some people foster mainly as a way to earn extra money, which takes a lot of altruism from the equation.

The location of the new PP is great! Many of the patients don't have cars & need public transportation. ECR? Perfect!

I feel always sorry for the millions of babies murdered by abortions, when birth control is so easy to get and FREE.
We pay millions of dollars to save one premie baby in a hospital, while murdering millions elsewhere. I as a taxpayer do NOT want my tax dollars to fund abortions. Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. First word is LIFE. Helloooo?
What life, liberty and happiness does the unborn child have as it is sucked out of the womb?

I always frequented John Bentley's but now will consider elsewhere.

@ Tricia -

The best place to get free or affordable birth control is Planned Parenthood. (Until very recently, health insurance didn't cover the cost of birth control for females while it provide Viagra for men? How's that for logic? Maybe without Viagra, women wouldn't need birth control? )

Anyway, PP is extremely important, especially for teenagers who often do not want to utilize the family's health care system for contraceptive supplies or diagnoses & treatment of very common std's. College kids go to campus health facilities, but where can the younger girls go? Without PP, a lot more high school girls would have unplanned pregnancies. Personally, I donate to PP annually as the services they provide benefit society & my community. Yours too.

Why deprive yourself of visits to a restaurant you like? Makes no sense.

Birth control is not easy to get or free for many. Abortion is not murder, and it's not an easy decision.

You don't have to use health services at Planned Parenthood -- and, of course, you don't have to go to John Bentley's -- after all, you have a choice.

This will provide a vital service to women in the neighborhood who really need it. I agree: the "blight" is the protestors who block the sidewalk, and intimidate women who need help. If they are so concerned about the sanctity to life, then protest the "massage parlors" or the death penalty, and do something to protect the unwanted children of this world.

To all protesters. Third trimester abortions are illegal in California.
Men: if you have ever ejaculated all left over sperm are killed children.
Woman: unless you are perpetually pregnant you kill a child monthly.
Stop protesting due to religious reasons you were not tolerated in the past now that you are tolerated by most of society do the same for your fellow citizens. We live in the land free, that entitles everyone not just to ignorant protestors. To all you radical Christians you are going to hell, one you are on this site sinning by gossiping and you most likely have a bank account. So welcome to the real world.

Tricia says:
"I as a taxpayer do NOT want my tax dollars to fund abortions." I agree. As an elected Director of the Sequoia Healthcare District, I have sought to dissolve this District which lost it's purpose when it sold Sequoia Hospital. It has "morphed" from a Hospital District into a pseudo-philanthropic Healthcare District, which makes grants of taxpayer dollars to such organizations as Planned Parenthood, Jewish Charities, Catholic Charities, etc. These dollars are "fungible" within these organizations, and may facilitate activities which many taxpayers find repugnant.
I believe that each individual should have the right to choose their own charities.
My choice of charity to deal with unintended pregnancies is First Resort. Web Link

Too bad Tricia - it's the law. We all pay for things that we don't want, via our taxes. It's all part of being a grownup. Way to go to blame a restaurant for there being a PP in the area now - great illogic at work.

"I as a taxpayer do NOT want my tax dollars to fund abortions."

It's been prohibited since 1976, except in the cases of incest and rape. It's called the Hyde amendment. (here comes the 'fungible' red herring)

Should a woman be forced to carry her rapist's product to term? Should a daughter be forced to carry the product of incest?

fyi, First Resort is a scam by the anti choice movement. They lie and delay, and do not outline all options available, hoping to delay and trick a woman into waiting too long, potentially causing great pain and more even anguish to a woman already going through hell.

Tricia says that birth control is free. Where does one get free birth control?

I will love to see the day when people can exchange ideas without the hate attached as CY above. Protestors do not intimidate. I have been out there with them when cars pull up, shout insults, obscenities, flip the bird, spit, etc. The people on the sidewalk are simply offering an alternative, if so desired, to save a life and have a right to do so. Most American adults respect that people will stand up for what they believe with positive intent.

@ will - Being pregnant is not a neutral event for a woman, whether wanted or unwanted. Being pregnant and giving birth is more dangerous than using birth control or having an abortion. I don't know of anyone who is pro-abortion but I know lots of people who believe it is the woman who is pregnant who has to make the decision. After all, HER life and health are involved. Those who only talk about a fetus seem to have total disregard for the woman. I'll bet you'd love to make abortions illegal, but guess what, they will still happen. But then, both the woman and the fetus could die. I'm old enough to know women who lost their fertility to a back alley procedure, and nearly died. We don't want to turn back the clock.

PP helps prevent pregnancies and helps treat disease. This great work helps prevent abortions and infertility. We should welcome PP to the area.

I suppose PP will duplicate the procedures at the North Fair Oaks clinic and put those people out of work. Great for our local area. @ freewill, if you read my posts above, you would know where I stand.

Will's just a hater - now he has to mention joblessness.

Cast more stones Hmmm'r.

@Jack: Yes you have tried every means that you can think of to close the Sequoia Heath District. But the voters want to have he district.

Only 3% of Planned Parenthood's services are abortion-related. The other 97% are health care services that protect women and men. These American Taliban are willing to shut down affordable healthcare because they somehow think they speak for God. They pretend to care about unborn children but their words and actions are hateful and hurtful and not God-like in any way. They are not anti-abortion -- they are anti-women.

I depended on Planned Parenthood when I was young and broke and couldn't afford a doctor for regular check-ups, and I will be forever in their debt. Planned Parenthood doesn't have an agenda other than to provide health services on demand, regardless of ability to pay. If you come for a mammogram, you get one. If you come for treatment, you get care. If you come for birth control, you get counseling and help.

A woman's body -- including her uterus -- is her own and not the property of anyone else. No one can force her to use birth control or forego birth control, procreate against her will or hold her body captive as an incubator. The decisions we make are between us and God, and we don't need any self-appointed extremists as stand-ins. So unless you have the paperwork to prove that God sent you personally, put your good intentions to work for those who ask for it.

People exercising their 1st Amendment rights on the sidewalk is a choice we are given in America.Thank goodness!
The people on the sidewalk are respectful and peaceful on both sides, and keep the sidewalk clear.Ask the Sheriff's who patrol. The only problems have been from those pro-choice, and those have been very few.
(Portion removed. Please keep discussion on the issue at hand. )

It's My Body said "Only 3% of Planned Parenthood's services are abortion-related."
The Daily Post reported earlier this year that: "Planned Parenthood, in its annual report, says it performed 333,964 abortions in 2011, a record year for the nonprofit."

Rich Johns said: "Should a woman be forced to carry her rapist's product to term? Should a daughter be forced to carry the product of incest?"
Absolutely not.
Should a woman be forced to abort her rapist's product? Should a daughter be forced to abort the product of incest?
Absolutely not.
Each woman must choose the future for the living being growing inside her.

Jesse James Joplin, a former supervising physician for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte for over 20 years, was stripped of his medical licence after he was found guilty of "gross negligence and incompetence"related to an incidnet in whick an abortion he performed mesulted in the deat of 29-year-old woman.This is the type of care provided by Planned Parenthood, which, by the way, as a non profit entity raked in more than $1 billion in the last fiscal year. They do not care about women and they do not provide any services that promote the health of the women. If you don't believe me, read the book written by a former director of the Planned Parenthood facility and Employee of the year Abby Johnson titled Unplanned.
Then, after you know the facts, let's talk.

Danielle, please improve your typing skills, then maybe I'll read your biased posts.

A recent Gallup poll Web Link shows that in the past 10 years, more than 70% of Americans say that abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances or illegal in all circumstances.
How many of the 333,964 abortions performed by Planned Parenthood in 2011 met the certain circumstances envisioned by those Americans polled?
The Sequoia Healthcare District grants $1.35 Million/year to the Children's Health Initiative, a health insurance program which supports abortion on demand.

Great way to twist the stats, Jack. Keep posting about your other obsession and keep your polls away from my life and my medical visits.

Danielle you are 'spot on'!!!

Very well stated.

Perhaps the truth will get through to some of the people reading your post and to the staff.

I would like to enthusiastically welcome Planned Parenthood to their new location. This is a great organization that provides urgently needed full spectrum reproductive health services to a traditionally under served population. I have been a long-time supporter of PP and have volunteered at PP many times and will again. Hurray for Planned Parenthood!

A Person, I have friends who are long time supporters of PP. However, they respect the rights of those of us who do not wish to have our tax dollars used to support an organization which performs abortions on demand. I ask you for that respect.

Jack Hickey:

I do want my tax dollars used to support Planned Parenthood and I ask you to to respect my wishes in this regard.

I don't want my tax dollars going to Halliburton or Blackwater, or subsidizing Big Oil. We don't get to pick and choose where our taxpayer dollars go. Planned Parenthood does provide needed health care and cancer screenings, and I am happy to support Planned Parenthood. Medical decisions should be between a patient and his or her doctor, period.

A useful read, espec for those hysterical about "abortions on demand". Web Link
Please note that teens & prostitutes also need, & of course deserve, good, accessible healthcare.

Jack & PP - tax $$ does not fund PP abortions.

The argument against the new PP location is ludicrous. The Menlo & RWC locations were in mixed use areas, w/lots of homes. This is even more accessible for pub transpo, & easier to find for those needing healthcare.

In the early years of my tenure on the Sequoia Healthcare District, I suggested that if the District was to engage in philanthropy, they should enable taxpayers to designate their choice of charity on their property tax bill. Some could choose PP. I could choose First Resort. Catholic and Jewish charities would have their supporters, etc.
Of course, dissolution of the District or countywide expansion with no increase in property tax would be better solutions.

Jack - try to stay on topic. Earlier in this thread you said you didn't want your taxpayers dollars going to PP. As Hmmm has clearly pointed out, taxpayers dollars don't fund abortions at PP. Now you're talking about the Sequoia Healthcare District, which has nothing to do with the topic in this thread. Try to stay focused, Jack.

Sequoia Healthcare District makes grants to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood performed 333,964 abortions in 2011. Contributions to Planned Parenthood are fungible. I know that many of the Planned Parenthood apologists pooh-pooh that idea. Eventually, court decisions aided by audits of Planned Parenthood will legally define the issue.