By Tony Hicks – Technical problems halted the Walnut Creek City Council meeting Tuesday while the council discussed a proposed buffer zone around Planned Parenthood.
Mayor Kevin Wilk apologized to the people who came to speak on the contentious issue and said the matter would have to be continued at a future meeting. He said the council couldn’t proceed with people expecting to speak on the matter via Zoom, which was apparently malfunctioning.
“We’ve come to rely on technology, especially during the pandemic,” Wilk said. “And sometimes – usually it works, and sometimes there are glitches. This is unfortunate. I really apologize.”
Wilk said the proposal would be continued “most likely” at a special meeting, with plenty of notice for everyone to get their say.
Walnut Creek police received 42 calls for service at the Planned Parenthood facility of Oakland Blvd., between Jan. 1, 2020 and Nov. 5, 2021. Complaints included verbal and physical harassment and intimidation of patients and blocking sidewalks. There have also been reports of traffic accidents in the area related to distracted driving from pedestrians in the street.
At least four people have been arrested, one for going inside the clinic and threatening people. A security guard for pro-life group 40 Days for Life was arrested for allegedly pepper spraying people during a protest.
California law guarantees a person’s right to enter a health care facility without obstruction, including for abortions. The staff report for Tuesday’s meeting said it’s “a crime to use force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to, or attempt to, injure, intimidate or interfere” with those working at a clinic.
Some California cities, such as San Francisco, Oakland and Napa, have buffer zones further restricting protesters’ proximity to reproductive health care facilities. Some give patients and employees at least eight feet of personal space from protesters.
Tuesday’s report said the city could instead opt to beef up police patrols in the area, allow construction of a fence and gate to keep protesters away, or add extra private security at the site.
Why is Walnut Creek paying for their security? They have gotten an average of $543 million in government grants and reimbursements each year since 2010. Let them pay for it.
This shouldn’t be a contentious issue. Patients should be able to safely go see their medical provider without fear.
You don’t lose your First Amendment rights just because the sidewalk you are on is in front of PP. If the ‘fear’ you mean is the fear of having one’s fellow citizens peacefully advocate in a public space, then it has no standing whatsoever.
Also, PP is not a medical provider, just for the record. Call them up and ask them.
Why do they need a meeting for this? Just go ahead and impose the restriction. Why elect people who can’t make a decision to solve a problem. No one has the right to harass a person going into this situation.
Quite so!
Yeah, why think twice about restricting free speech and assembly in public spaces! Come on, get on with it!
How awful, I only have seen the older gentleman with his sign whenever I passed by. I didn’t realize there was a group.
Yeah, how awful that people who believe abortion is homicide are actually getting out to make their case in public. Ew. Gross.
Technical issues my aunt Fanny.
The silver has yet to cross all the right palms in the appropriate abundance.
It’s all a game and the winner get the most $$$.
Sounds like a testical issue.
Today, New York’s Attorney General dropped her lawsuit to block pro-life protestors in NY. In return, they agreed to not counter-sue.