ActivePaper Archive Abortion clinic location identified? - Hobbs News Sun, 10/7/2022

Abortion clinic location identified?

Although cited as the location of an abortion clinic looking to move into Hobbs, a building on Clinton Street is not under contract

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SUBMITTED PHOTO President of Right to Life Lea County, and pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Kyle Brown, leads anti-abortion supporters in prayer before a rally at the Hobbs City Commission meeting Mondy evening in Hobbs. About 100 demonstrators gathered outside the chamber to show support for a possible ordinance to govern abortion clinics within city limits.

Concern about an abortion clinic opening in a building on West Clinton Street in Hobbs pushed around 100 people to the City of Hobbs Commission meeting Monday — but the building organizers said is the location the clinic is moving into, is not under any purchase contract.

A local real estate agent familiar with the property told the News-Sun the property was under contract, but that contract fell through. The agent did not say who the potential buyer was, but anti-abortion activists insisted the potential buyer was Whole Woman’s Health doing business as Stirrups LLC.

Stirrups LLC — part of Whole Woman’s Health — has made known their plans to move into southeastern New Mexico since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. A current GoFundMe shows they have raised about $310,398 of a $750,000 goal to relocate their facilities from four locations in Texas to southeastern New Mexico.

“If Whole Woman’s Health actually cared about women’s health, they would have kept their offices open in Texas. Texas didn’t outlaw women’s health, they outlawed abortion,” said News Mexico State Senator David Gallegos, R-Eunice. “It’s obvious (Whole Woman’s Health) are more concerned with the money they get from the abortion industry,”

Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn founder and Director for Right to Life of East Texas Mark Lee Dickson posted to social media stating a building on West Clinton Street in Hobbs had been purchased, or at least was in the process of being purchased, by Stirrups LLC.

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“This building, located at 111 West Clinton Street in Hobbs, New Mexico, is the newest project of Stirrups, LLC - also known as Whole Woman’s Health,” his post stated. “For years Whole Woman’s Health has led the way as one of the most aggressive abortion providers in the State of Texas. WWH had facilities in Austin, Fort Worth, McAllen, and McKinney. ... “Now they are opening up in Hobbs, New Mexico - a city just 4 miles from the Texas border.

“... Many throughout the City of Hobbs, New Mexico do not take it kindly that Amy Hagstrom Miller wants to come into their city to end the life of their kids and their neighbor’s kids. Coming to Hobbs, New Mexico to open up an abortion facility was a very big mistake. ... Perhaps WWH really is looking for a fight.”

But Lea County Tax assessor records show the property and tax liability are under the current owner, a dentist. The building is listed for sale by Edge Realty Group in Hobbs, who also stated the building is not under contract.

And abortion opponents say the fight isn’t just in Hobbs.

“I’ve received calls from people in Carlsbad, Clovis, Portales and Roswell from concerned residents who do not want to see abortion clinics come in to their towns. It isn’t just the people of Hobbs concerned about this,” said Gallegos. He also said New Mexico repealed abortion laws from 1969 with house bill 51 in 2019, but they did not repeal and replace, which leaves the 1963 laws concerning abortion on the books.

Dickson, along with more than three dozen supporters attended the Hobbs commission meeting on Monday with the intent of asking commissioners to pass an ordinance restricting the ability of abortion clinics to open within the city limits of Hobbs.

The hope is Hobbs commissioners will consider the ordinance presented and place it as an action item on the agenda of a future commission meeting, said Kyle Brown, president of Right to Life Lea County.

In an email to the News-Sun, Dickson stated federal law prohibits a person sending abortion medications or related paraphernalia under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act also known as RICO. He said federal laws in place that were never repealed, and since the fall of Roe V Wade and Planned Parenthood V Casey 1992, are able to be enforced.

“The City of Hobbs, New Mexico has an ordinance in their possession which would require any abortion facility which opens in Hobbs to comply with federal laws on abortion,” said Dickson.

Lori Bova, a board member for Legacy Pregnancy Resource Center urged Hobbs residents to contact commissioners regarding the possible location of an abortion clinic with Hobbs city limits.

“Talk to your city commissioners,” she said. “They need to hear from their constituents on what (the people of Hobbs) want for their city.”

Bova said when she moved back to New Mexico about 12 years ago, she was appalled at the stance the state had taken concerning abortion. She served on the New Mexico State Right to Life board for a period of time, before focusing her efforts locally.

Virginia Cunningham’s email is reporter2@hobbsnews.com .