Emily Davis, Vice President of Communication at Susan B. Anthony List (SBA), said that Richmond city officials “shorted” over a million dollars in taxpayer funds to support Planned Parenthood’s conversion of a school into an abortion clinic.
“The city of Richmond has shorted their residents more than a million dollars so that Planned Parenthood can turn a school into a chain that destroys children before they are born,” said Davis, VP of communications. “The city council voted unanimously for this big abortion handout which the mayor characterized as a way to help increase abortion travel into Virginia. The Family Foundation is rightly fighting this in court.”
According to ABC8News, the Family Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the City of Richmond. The legal action challenges the sale of a former public school property to Planned Parenthood for $10. Represented by its legal arm, the Founding Freedoms Law Center, the foundation argues that the City Council’s decision to transfer the 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue property—previously known as Brook Hill School—was irresponsible given its assessed value of $1.25 million. The building was declared surplus by Richmond Public Schools in 2022 and is reportedly in poor condition with issues such as mold, lead paint, and possible asbestos. The Virginia League of Planned Parenthood plans to construct a $6 million, 10,000-square-foot health clinic on this site, marking it as the third such facility in the city.
The lawsuit is being brought on behalf of local psychiatry practice Sheila M. Furey, MD, PC. According to ABC8News, Dr. Sheila Furey opposed the sale during a City Council meeting. She provides specialized services to individuals with autism and brain injuries and argues that the low-cost deal excluded other qualified organizations from bidding on the property and redirected potential funds away from pressing community needs like school improvements and children’s healthcare.
Planned Parenthood offers gender-affirming hormone therapy—including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—to transgender and nonbinary youth in some of its health centers. This typically begins at age 16, though age policies can vary by state and clinic according to their website.
Davis told the Richmond Leader: “While these local officials aren’t on the ballot this year, Richmond’s state legislators are. Voters have the ability to stop the Democrats from winning the statehouse and passing an amendment that strips away all safety regulations on abortion facilities and could give Planned Parenthood a right to set up shop in even more controversial places.”
Davis is Vice President of Communication at Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life advocacy group according to their website.
