SPRINGDALE -- The City Council proclaimed Springdale is a pro-life city.
The council passed a resolution Tuesday night with that message, 6-1. Kathy Jaycox cast the dissenting vote, and Jeff Watson missed the meeting for family reasons.
Council member Colby Fulfer brought the resolution before the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 5, which voted unanimously to send it on for council approval. Fulfer said the city's measure sends a message to Planned Parenthood, "respectfully asking the abortion provider to find another city," he said.
The organization stopped providing services July 25 at its North Crossover Road location in Fayetteville, according to the local office's website. The group said it will announce a new location.
The council chambers and the lobby at the entrance filled as residents and interested parties came to lend their support.
Speakers supported both sides of the issue, with nine supporting the resolution and nine opposing it. Opponents on both sides applauded when they agreed with a speaker's point and called out, "Lies! Lies!' when they didn't.
However, six more speakers addressed the council, not supporting one side or the other, but rather saying the resolution wasn't one the council should make.
The first speaker's name was lost by the noise and poor acoustics of the room. But she spoke of 22 years as a patient of Planned Parenthood. "They're probably the reason I have not had an abortion," she said.
"I'm sad the city doesn't feel like it was good care, that they're not welcome here."
Kenny, a man who didn't give a last name, told the council he was HIV-positive and no longer has access to medical care with the closing of the Planned Parenthood office in Fayetteville.
"You say you're pro-life; back it with action," he said.
Fulfer told residents Tuesday an overwhelming majority of constituents support life from the beginning to the end. "What's really pointed out in this resolution is that through hundreds of thousands of dollars we spend to support every stage in life."
He noted the School District's education of children, the opportunities the city's growing economy offers residents in the middle years of their lives and the support of the Springdale Senior Center, which offers economic and social opportunities for residents in later life.
In fact, the resolution is nothing more than a statement, said City Attorney Ernest Cate.
Cities have the authority to make statements by resolution, Cate continued. For example, the council passed a resolution encouraging the Arkansas Legislature to pass the Internet sales tax.
In fact, Planned Parenthood could still open an office in Springdale, Cate said.
The resolution doesn't ban anyone from making a choice about their own personal health care, Fulfer said, and Springdale provides a wide range of those. He said those who support the organization will be able to access their care if Planned Parenthood chooses to remain in Fayetteville.
Keith Underhill urged the council to vote for the resolution. "It's who we are," he said.
Underhill described the Springdale community with a small-town friendly flavor, welcoming to all groups. "It's where we greet each other when we meet on the street and stop for a conversation at the end of the driveway.
"We've recently been named one of the top 10 places to live," he concluded.
John Mathias is a nurse. He said when Fulfer spoke about bringing forward the pro-life resolution, the council member spoke about it being personal to him.
"But it shouldn't be personal," Mathias said. "It's supposed to be about the separation of church and state. You are sending the wrong message to Northwest Arkansas."
Eddie Cantu shared the story of his family near the end of the meeting. His parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the 1950s. He has four older siblings.
Cantu said his mother's life was in danger in 1962, during her pregnancy with him.
"She drank all kinds of things to cause an abortion and none of them worked," he said. "It's not that she didn't want me. But if there had been a clinic, I might not be here today."
Cantu said despite his Hispanic background, he has found Springdale to be a very welcoming place and a great place to raise a family.
NW News on 08/14/2019