Statement by Greg Pfundstein of the Chiaroscuro Foundation:
In today’s State of the State address, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged to pass the Reproductive Health Act, a controversial piece of legislation designed to further liberalize abortion law in New York State. New York’s abortion regime is among the most liberal on Planet Earth already. The notion that women need more access to abortion in New York is simply preposterous.“According to data publicized by the Chiaroscuro Foundation beginning in 2011, the rate of abortion in New York City is nearly twice the national average, with 40% of pregnancies ending in abortion in the City. In some zip codes, the abortion ratio approaches 60%.
“A 2011 poll conducted for the Chiaroscuro Foundation by McLaughlin and Associates found that two-thirds of New Yorkers (64%)-including 57% of pro-choice women- think the abortion rate in New York City is too high. The poll also found that strong majorities of New Yorkers-like strong majorities of Americans-support sensible restrictions on abortion: 69% of New Yorkers would support a law requiring informed consent; 59% support requiring parental consent for minors; 51% even support a 24 hour waiting period before an abortion. “New Yorkers support sensible restrictions to bring down New York City’s unconscionably high rate of abortion, and Governor Cuomo promises the exact opposite in the Reproductive Health Act. New York certainly needs abortion legislation, but the RHA is not it.”
New York City abortion data, along with the 2011 poll, are available at NYC41percent.com .
