Back in business

Planned Parenthood reopens in San Francisco

Planned Parenthood has reestablished its presence in San Francisco following a four-month hiatus after the national federation stripped its longtime former affiliate in the city of the right to use the Planned Parenthood name.

Planned Parenthood opened a new clinic at 1650 Valencia St. in San Francisco on Jan. 18 and plans to begin performing abortions there in February.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America cut its ties to its former affiliate, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, in September amid allegations of financial irregularities. The former affiliate reportedly had not operated at a profit for years, losing millions of dollars. After its disaffiliation by Planned Parenthood, it re-named itself Golden Gate Community Health and has continued operations, setting up a showdown with Planned Parenthood for millions of dollars in state and federal funding. Golden Gate Community Health now operates two facilities in Oakland, as well as facilities in San Rafael, San Francisco, Hayward and San Mateo.

Planned Parenthood has divided up Golden Gate’s former territory between Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, based in San Jose, and Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific, based in Concord. Part of Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific’s new territory includes San Francisco. Planned Parenthood Mar Monte will expand Planned Parenthood operations into Alameda and San Mateo counties, also once a part of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate’s turf.

Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific (formerly named Planned Parenthood Shasta Diablo) announced the opening of its new San Francisco clinic on its website. “San Francisco is one of the four counties where Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific is expanding its services,” said the announcement. “We are committed to providing high quality, comprehensive health care services which meet needs of the women, men and teens in the San Francisco Bay Area and the other northern California counties we serve.” It then gave the address, phone number and operating hours for its new San Francisco site.

In addition to San Francisco, Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific has expanded its operations into Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties. In late November, it opened a new facility in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma County.

In order to fund its expansion, Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific has pleaded for financial help from its backers, and already has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the David B. Gold Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Mary Wohlford Foundation, the Endurance Fund, Napa Valley Vintners, and the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Fund.

“In addition to the San Francisco and Santa Rosa sites, Planned Parenthood is set to open a clinic next month in Mill Valley and is scouting for sites in Ukiah in Mendocino County,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

From http://www.calcatholic.com/