COUNCIL REFERRAL MEMORANDUM
Date: Immediate – Next Council Meeting; May 17, 2022
To: Mayor and City Council of Hayward
From: Council Members Aisha Wahab, Angela Andrews, Elisa Márquez Referral: Request to Support Reproductive Justice for All Residents Cities are centers for comprehensive reproductive health care, serving their own residents as well as those who may travel hours to access safe abortion care. All people deserve the right to access the care they need with dignity and respect. Many women struggle to have access to reproductive health services. Some uninsured, unable to pay, unable to use their insurance coverage due to confidentiality concerns, or because their insurance is barred from covering abortion by state or federal law. Cities can ensure that a woman can make the choices about her reproductive health and future that are right for her.
The City of Hayward is home to a Planned Parenthood facility, thousands of women – documented and undocumented, insured and uninsured. Hayward will continue to be a beacon of hope, safety, and reproductive choice.
Referral Request:
It is recommended that the City of Hayward consider the following actions (but not limited to):
• Light the City Lights Pink in support of women’s rights, reproductive justice, and the freedom of choice (preferably for a week).
• Give a grant of roughly $5,000 to $25,000 to the local organization, Access Reproductive Justice (https://accessrj.org/), to aid young or low-income folks (regardless of insurance or status) to obtain support on all aspects of reproductive health that is decided between them and their medical doctor. This organization supports local women in Alameda County who face barriers seeking reproductive health services.
o The amount ranges from 1% to 5% of the rough yearly operating budget of AccessRJ. o AccessRJ is recommended by Planned Parenthood as a local agency providing these much needed services to Alameda County residents.
• Mayor sends a letter to our State Representatives reaffirming the City Resolution that was unanimously passed on October 19, 2021 and requesting that reproductive justice be a right guaranteed to all people.
Fiscal: A grant given to the local organization AccessRJ.
Stakeholders: All Stakeholders & Community, Planned Parenthood, Access Reproductive Justice, etc.