Nothing says democracy like ignoring the will of the voters.
Posted on 07/24/2024 12:08:13 PM PDT by Twotone
Virginia’s capital city this week voted to give Planned Parenthood a $1.2 million property for use as an abortion clinic. Critics say the city’s gift of the property—which is situated just steps away from a middle school—could violate its own rules.
The Richmond City Council on Monday agreed to sell the acre of land, which holds an abandoned public school building, to the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood for just $10.
But as the Founding Freedoms Law Center’s Josh Hetzler observed in a July 19 letter to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D.), the city council did not follow the process for land sales outlined in Richmond City Code Section 8-58. That section states that the council must first vote to declare the property in question “surplus,” and then entertain competing bids. As the council did neither of those things, the Planned Parenthood deal was “unlawful,” Hetzler says.
The law only allows the city to give away property in this manner if it was blighted, Hetzler added.
“The property, however, has not been designated as ‘blighted’ in any sense. Therefore, the City has no authority whatsoever to sell the property to anyone for a nominal sum,” he said.
Marty Jewell, a former city council member, says the Planned Parenthood sale also violates a rule stipulating that surplus property should be sold to support local schools.
“You’re giving away a building for $10? This makes no sense,” he told the council Monday night.
The council claimed it received an “unsolicited offer” from the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood for the property. But according to Hetzler, Planned Parenthood suggested that “Mayor Stoney’s administration worked with us to identify property.” Stoney is widely seen as a potential gubernatorial hopeful.
Just 10 citizens spoke out in favor of the Planned Parenthood sale at Monday’s council meeting, while 40 opposed the deal. The council voted to approve the sale, anyway.
Hetzler was among those who spoke at the meeting.
“You will likely be sued over this,” he warned the council. “Save the city the expense and time and embarrassment, and go through the process as you should by law.”
One opponent noted that Richmond already has five abortion clinics, while another objected to the planned facility’s proximity to local schools.
“In front of that park is going to be an 11,000 square foot abortion clinic,” she said.
“I find it jarring that a clinic such of this is being opened not only in close proximity to my home, but where so many children go to school,” said a third resident, who is 39 weeks pregnant.
Another speaker proposed that the council “put forth a resolution in honor of the mayor and city council’s commitment to child sacrifice.”
Supporters of the sale included a woman wearing a COVID mask who boasted that she had received an abortion from Planned Parenthood.
But even she conceded that the sale price was shockingly low.
“Planned Parenthood could probably afford to pay a good deal more,” she said. “By all means, charge for the land.”
Disgusting
On first read, I thought the Cartwrights were implicated.
How tragic. The evil organization that kills an estimated 40 percent of black babies in the womb is provided a domicile to continue its racial genocide mission...by a black mayor. As the devil rubs his hands in glee...
Am decidedly anti-abortion, but in the case at hand, the property might be so encumbered with problems and special conditions that no sane person would want to purchase it for even only $10.
Regards,
I would think if this were the case, given the testimony at the hearing, that council would have given that as a reason for the sale and for the $10.00 price. They did not, therefore, it is reasonable to conclude there are no problems with the land.
The NRA should offer $20.
But they would have to out bribe Planned Parenthood inside information required.
Nothing says democracy like ignoring the will of the voters.
"Paw, I don't think we're in Virginia City anymore."
well. Planned Parenthood does not exactly go into black peoples homes and drive them to the clinic......
Sick Godless human debris...
It’s the men, women, profiteers, politicians, professors who support the killing of nascent humans who are disgusting.
This should be illegal. Cities only do this if they are increasing their tax base and tax revenue by making these ‘deals’
Stoney didn’t follow city OR state law when he had crony contractors rip down all the statues on Monument Avenue except Arthur Ashe’s in 2020 instead of dispersing the rioting Burn Loot Murder protesters. Why would he follow laws now? Laws are for the little White people.
}:-)4
The article clearly states that this property has NOT been designated as “blighted”
The sale was illegal and the city had to know it was illegal. They are just hoping by the time a case winds through the court Planned Parenthood will be well established in the building. They most likely figure some judge will let them stay there in exchange for a realistic purchase price. Which P.P. can certainly afford.
My father was an expert witness for insurance cases & he would always say when the processes didn’t match stated policy & procedures, he knew the insurance company was screwed.
Even if that were true they still have follow the process outlined in city ordinance. They would also have to provide reports showing the property had been inspected by independent parties showing what problems exist. Long, boring, reports with lots of graphs.
Hoss and Little Joe were not available for comment...
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