<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3pPqCI_0ma2d9Hl00" style="display:none" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pPqCI_0ma2d9Hl00" width="620" height="330" ><h3> The Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center, (SCV Pregnancy Center) held a press conference Wednesday which addressed accusatory statements made by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo in relation to the organization. </h3> The <a href="https://www.scvpc.org/" rel="nofollow"> SCV Pregnancy Center </a> hosted a press conference on Wednesday to address comments made by Schiavo during a committee hearing which alleged that the center was “fake,” and takes advantage of vulnerable women during a time of crisis in abortion rights in America, according to Schiavo. “It’s clear from today’s press conference that the California Family Council and the Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center either didn’t read my bill or they’re intentionally misleading the public,” Schiavo said. “Just to be clear, AB 710, a bill that died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 18, 2022, did not mention crisis pregnancy centers even once.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> However, although AB 710 does not mention pregnancy crisis centers, Schiavo’s speech to the committee did bring up these establishments multiple times. <div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oQ8wNmefTk0?enablejsapi=1&version=3&playerapiid=ytplayer" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><blockquote> “Across California, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion clinics by 20 percent, these clinics use deceptive practices targeted at vulnerable populations to draw them in, claiming they provide abortion services when they have no equipment for capacity to provide abortions,” Schiavo said during a committee hearing. “These crisis pregnancy centers shame, intentionally mislead and lie to women about their reproductive healthcare options to block them from accessing abortion care and are confusing a lot of people in our community.” “As a nurse advocate who worked with nurses in ensuring safe access to health care, I see it as extremely dangerous that these fake pregnancy centers present themselves as medical clinics. To be clear they are not licensed medical clinics, while women are in their most vulnerable state, working to get reliable medical information and possibly referrals for abortion care, they instead are met with shame and fear tactics and fed misinformation about abortions leading to infertility, depression and higher suicide rates. All misinformation.” </blockquote><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Nearly 180 crisis pregnancy centers are located in California, according to <a href="https://alliancestateadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/107/Alliance_CPC_Report_California11-4.pdf" rel="nofollow"> The Alliance </a> , a California-based women’s rights and gender equality organization. As of 2022, a study revealed that of those, none offered abortion care and only one offered contraceptive care. The SCV Pregnancy Center does not provide either of these services. Schiavo specifically mentioned that two such “fake” centers were located within her district during the May 18 committee meeting. “AB 710 was simply a transparency bill that would have directed the California Department of Public Health to initiate a public information campaign to ensure people know where they can get medically accurate abortion information and access,” Schaivo said after Wednesday’s press conference. “I’d really like to know why there is so much outrage and opposition to a simple transparency bill whose intent was merely to provide the public with facts and information about abortion healthcare. I look forward to talking with SCV Pregnancy Center to discuss how we ensure women have accurate information and full access to all the reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, when they need it.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> In the wake of the comments by Schiavo during the committee meeting, officials of the SCV Pregnancy Center demanded an apology from the assemblywoman. “Our state-licensed clinic has been supporting women and families facing unplanned pregnancies in Santa Clarita Valley for the past 35 years,” said Angela Bennett, President and CEO of the SCV Pregnancy Center. “We find it very disheartening to have our own state representative mischaracterize our center as a ‘fake clinic.’” According to its website, the SCV Pregnancy Center is a non-profit community health center specializing in pregnancy confirmations and limited STD testing and treatment. The center does not offer extended obstetrics or gynecological or prenatal care beyond initial ultrasound appointments, pregnancy confirmation and parenting classes, nor do they offer or refer abortion services, emergency contraception, or birth control. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Bennett was joined by several other representatives from the SCV Pregnancy Center, as well as Jonathan Keller, president of the California Family Council, a special-interest group focused on “advancing God’s design for life, family, and liberty through California’s church, capitol, and culture,” according to the organization. Suzette Valladares, who formerly represented the Santa Clarita Valley in the California State Assembly, the seat now held by Schiavo, commented on the issue. “The SCV Pregnancy Center is a valuable resource for women in the Santa Clarita Valley. They provide needed women’s health services, STD and pregnancy screening, ultrasound services, parenting classes, and other needed services at low or no cost to our community,” Valladares said. “I have toured this facility and spoken with patients who rely on these centers, as well as the medical professionals who provide these health services. We ought to be doing everything we can to support these licensed centers, and supporting their great work, and keeping this health access open and available for women.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Valladares is currently the Executive Director of a law enforcement-supported non-profit organization and is running for the 23rd State Senate District. Also attending the press conference were several local officials and political candidates, including Burbank Mayor <a href="https://www.konstantineanthony.com/" rel="nofollow"> Konstantine Anthony </a> , who recently announced his candidacy for 5th District Los Angeles County Supervisor, a seat currently held by Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “As Mayor of Burbank, I support Pilar Schiavo’s bill which seeks to educate the public about fake abortion clinics in California,” Anthony said. “As the next Supervisor for Santa Clarita Valley, I will demand the L.A. County Department of Public Health require signage in front of all reproductive care and family planning facilities stating clearly whether or not abortions are performed on-site.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to news@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. 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Mountain View, CA

The Santa Clarita Valley Pregnancy Center, (SCV Pregnancy Center) held a press conference Wednesday which addressed accusatory statements made by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo in relation to the organization. The SCV Pregnancy Center hosted a press conference on Wednesday to address comments made by Schiavo during a committee hearing which alleged that the center was “fake,” ...