To the Editor:
A group of seven Albany County legislators have proposed a law that would actually help clear the way to “regulate” the speech of civic-minded centers whose views they oppose [“Albany County bill would ban misinfo from ‘crisis pregnancy centers’” The Altamont Enterprise, April 16, 2024].

Local Law D is a direct hit on the First Amendment that should prompt anyone committed to free speech to speak up.

The legislation attacks pregnancy centers that provide services for women at no cost to those served. The proposal states, “There is a clear need to regulate false and misleading statements and advertising by crisis pregnancy centers in Albany County.”

And who determines exactly what constitutes a misleading statement? Do we really want this to be the role of a self-anointed “truth squad” in the government? This would be a misuse of government power to silence groups they don’t agree with.

“This deeply misleading proposal threatens our attempts to empower women,” stated Will Babarczy, executive director of the Alpha Pregnancy Care Centers.

Rev. Jim Harden, CompassCare chief executive officer, stated, “This type of bald-faced restraint of free speech not only harms a woman’s access to true choice, but has already been defeated at the Supreme Court of the United States in 2017 with NIFLA v Becerra. 

As a former TV news anchor/reporter and longtime talk-show host, I believe the law’s enforcement provisions will have a “chilling effect” on the ability to speak comprehensively about a client’s options.

It was disappointing to learn the law’s co-sponsors made no attempt to contact the centers before they submitted their legislation so they could properly investigate the claims made or, at the very least, ask for any opposing point of view.

Let your county legislators know where you stand on this issue. Two legislature committees are set to consider this matter on Wednesday and Thursday nights this week (I submitted this letter on Tuesday).

The proper way to win any government debate is with sound logic and persuasive arguments, not by trying to silence those who disagree with you.

Mark Grimm, Guilderland

Editor’s note: Grimm represents parts of Guilderland and Colonie in the Albany County Legislature’s District 28.

Deputy Majority Leader Lynne Lekakis told The Enterprise in a statement, “Local Law D for 2024 is and always has been about women’s health and the safety of reproductive services. This legislation is not about advocating for or against abortion; rather, it seeks to uphold the right of every individual to make informed decisions about their health. To do so, women must be given proper and transparent information along with essential supportive resources.

“In order to ensure that the benefits of this legislation are not lost, the sponsors have decided to table the bill this week to reconvene and look at opportunities to strengthen these protections and allow for further discussion. 

“We look forward to working together to ensure that women have the information necessary to make informed choices about their reproductive options.”

Edward Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany, issued this statement on the proposed Local Law D:

“The proposal of Local Law D, which would force pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion, is the latest in a string of disgraceful attacks on good people doing good work in their communities ….

If our state was truly ‘pro-choice,’ they would not seek to destroy all choices other than abortion by tearing down pro-life pregnancy centers. These centers meet women with grace, compassion, and support, and guide the way to networks that lift women up in their time of need.

“It should not be illegal to help women keep their babies. We must do better to support the vulnerable, and Albany should know that support doesn’t have to mean pressuring women to end the life of their child.”