Senator Anna Kaplan Testimony on North Hempstead Abortion Resolution

Kaplan applauds Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey and other supportive members of the Town Board who are standing up for abortion rights while expressing disappointment in Supervisor Jen DeSena for not participating in last month's hearing on the topic

During tonight's hearing, Supervisor DeSena made news by admitting publicly that she missed the crucial hearing last month because she was on vacation

CARLE PLACE, NY (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) - Following her testimony at tonight's Town of North Hempstead Board Meeting, where a resolution is being considered to repeal language in the Town Code that places restrictions on abortion, New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills) released a copy of her remarks which were read into the official record. Early in the meeting, which was ongoing as of the time of publication of this release, Supervisor Jen DeSena admitted publicly that she missed last month's hearing on the same topic because she was on vacation. It's worth noting that the Town of North Hempstead sets board meeting dates at the beginning of the year to avoid such personal scheduling conflicts, and Supervisor DeSena did not mention she had a conflict when the critically important item was added to the agenda for the August meeting.

In her remarks, Senator Anna M. Kaplan said “I’m here tonight to once again add my voice to those who have gathered here in support of this resolution repealing a section of the Town Code that places unlawful barriers between women and their right to have an abortion.

I want to thank the Town board, and particularly the resolution sponsor, Councilwoman Lurvey, not only for proposing this important resolution, but for ensuring that everyone in our community has an opportunity to make their voices heard on it, including Supervisor DeSena.

Supervisor, I was disappointed that you weren’t able to be here last time, because I know that so many of our residents are eager to hear whether or not you support a woman’s right to access an abortion in the Town of North Hempstead.

After all, it was just a few months ago that the extremist Supreme Court stole our Constitutional right to choose by overturning 50 years of established precedent, and those of us in Government – ALL of us – have to step up and do our part to protect women’s reproductive freedom in our own communities, and to fight back against those who are trying to control our bodies.

Tonight, it’s imperative that every member of this Town Board vote to dismantle North Hempstead’s abortion restrictions to send the message that we will ALWAYS stand up for women in the Town of North Hempstead, and to send a message to the extremists out there that we’re not going back.

I’ve been watching in horror over the last few weeks as conservative restrictions like we have here take effect across the country, and it shows just how urgent the situation is that we get this law off our books without delay.

To those members of the board who have the courage to be here and do the right thing in repealing this unjust barrier to women’s healthcare: thank you.

And to all the members of the public who came out to make their voices heard once again – thank you for being here and speaking out."

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