lifestyles -- all of those things are taught in the class is we offer. -- classes we offer. supervisor avalos: think you. -- thank you. >> a reminder to speak into the microphone. the next person is katie. please state your name for the record. >> my name is katie hoval. i am 24-weeks pregnant today. i was a confused and honorable woman at the point of finding out i was pregnant. i did call my normal health care provider i had been seeing for the past eight years and been told that if i -- i have no idea what i wanted to do at all.

i was told if i wanted to keep my baby, that it would not help the it would not give me a pregnancy test. therefore i went on line and put in i am pregnant san francisco, what do why do? -- what do i do? i called and made an appointment because i know time is of the essence. when i went in and took my test, i was pregnant. they sat down with me and offered me my options. and i sat there with my partner and decided that i was going to keep my pregnancy and go through with it, but it was not an easy decision because it was unexpected. just because it was unexpected did not mean it was on wanted personally. they walked me through options of both sides of the story. and they told me what would

happen if i wanted to terminate. i did not know what would happen if i decided to go through with it. if you do not have insurance, you cannot see a doctor. it took me two months to get insurance. i would like to speak for the other side of things that this is scary when you decide to keep it. thank you. supervisor avalos: did you say what cpc you went to? >> i went to first resort. >> tanya smith. >> good morning, supervisors. i have the pleasure of meeting women who come to a first resort for counseling and medical care. it is my imperative to make sure they feel respected, met with

compassion, and are given information to help them make a fully-informed decision regarding their pregnancy. our clients are asked what their objections are and concerns are. and it is our every effort to make sure we provide the resources and referrals that will support them in their decision-making process. that might include making decisions regarding housing, decisions for domestic violence, even taking people who have experienced sexual trauma to the trauma center. it also includes other referrals, including those to mental health, and most importantly, to help them receive that medical insurance. in doing so, we are also inclined to invite a client's partner, a boyfriend, or has

been into the counseling session if we think that will help is closed -- facilitate communications between the client and partner. we believe we develop a rapport with them. we find we make no attempt to delay or persuade a client in any way in their decision. it is their decision. to do that would be opposed of what our goal is, to help them make a fully informed decision. 97 percent of the women who were surveyed coming in your clinic stated they never felt pressured. we believe that percentage speaks to the fact that we do use an unbiased approach. we work hard to make sure every woman greasy receives the support she needs and we used research-based material in the counseling room that is produced and distributed by rep little -- reputable helpealth agencies suh

as the center for disease control, march of dimes, and a non-profit secular health education resources. >> thank you. just as a reminder, you hear a soft beep that reminds you have 30 seconds. that will go off at one minute 30 seconds. allow your time will go off when your time is up. -- a louder chime will go off when your time is up. danielle istria. >> i am danielle istria with the first resort. i went to first restored after going to another clinic, and they told me that my only options really work to aborere .

i looked up online and it was the first place that came in. when i call them, there were very nice. i call th-- called them, they wy nice. they gave me both options. they gave me what i was looking for as far as counseling. never once did i feel pressured. they never told me what choices i have to make. options were always up to me. there were always available for questions i feel like i got more support from them and answers than i got from any of their clinic that i went to that only gave me really negative options and to not offer me any kind of support whatsoever. i left the clinic feeling disappointed. when i went to first resort i felt supported in any option i

decided to make. that is all i have to say. supervisor cohen: thank you. we have laura and then paul. >> good morning, supervisors. my name is laura uher nberger. i work with ob/gyn medical directors of first resort. and you will hear them say every woman called is offered the same day appointment. historically 30 women per year are sent to the emergency room or instructed to see a physician within 24 hours based on the results of an ultrasound or information they have given the nurse if they are too early to get an ultrasound. some are taken immediately to

surgery for an ectopic pregnancies. with an outcome of pregnancy loss, pregnant -- counseling is offered either a first resulresr at some of the other excellent programs in the city. other medical conditions are identified such as asthma or depression. oftentimes women have stopped taking their medication because they're not able to afford them. direction is given on how and where to seek care for these other non-privacy issues. -- non-pregnancy issues. and prenatal care is available to women who have decided to continue the pregnancy. our insurance allows us to provide care until we can help them transfer. during this time examinations

and diagnostic testing is done accordingly. most women are able to navigate the insurance process smoothly. for those who cannot, we assist them. supervisor cohen: thankyou. you. next we have paul solis. sarah leighton, michele meyers, susan goodman. >> good morning. i am in my 30th year as a california attorney and 20th year as a volunteer director at first resort. three bills of this type have already been ruled unconstitutional, and they are 0-3. they have introduced similar

bills in a total of 10 jurisdictions by my count, and the eight previous iterations of this bill each carried an exception for medical clinics. however, in san francisco, the template was tweet to take that exception out. why? we can only surmise this was done to specifically target first resort, which is the only licensed medical clinic that would be affected by the ordinance. and you have heard about the excellence care, high level of integrity, and you have also heard about abuses that have happened in other parts of the country. first resort is not a national organization. we are locally operated and locally directed. and we do not deserve to be smeared by other outfits and other points of the countries at other points in time. i have submitted a legal point

about this ordinance. -- i have submitted legal point about this ordinance. the city could run its own pr campaign. we have opened a dialogue with the city attorney. if anything about art -- art reached truly is false and misleading, we will fix it, but we have not seen anything yet. we have seen grasping at straws to call google searches misleading. and this would have a chilling effect on legitimate, truthful free-speech. i urge you to vote no. >supervisor cohen: sara lee ighton.

>> i would like to submit for public record a yelp review. and "i contacted first resort with my sister who wanted to know all her options after finding out she was pregnant. i have heard negative reviews, but i thought since they are close to where we live we may as well give them a shot. it would make it so much easier to have a clinic nearby. they sounded super friendly on the phone, but that all changed once we met them in person. not only did they offer the services they claim to on the website enter the phone, but my sister and i left feeling or a full and angry. i stood there with my sister as they tried to preach to her about what abortion can cause. i was horrified and my sister was devastated. i cannot believe how the so- called "professionals" and like

to anyone wanting information on abortion. as a woman i am insulted by the way they treated me and my sister. we wanted information and help, but instead we got a slap in the face. no wonder the d.a. is investigating these people. if you are ok with right-wing religious propaganda and being misled about the services they offer in the true nature of the organization, straw right in. anyone wanting options and information, stay away from here. like me you will probably leave feeling angry and confused, wondering how anyone could lie so blatantly to the public and potential clients. i will never go back." supervisor cohen: thank you. >> my name is michelle myers,

and i am here on behalf of the sentences go women's political committee. i want to thank supervisor cohen for introducing this legislation, and i hope you will support it today. women are looking for information in this situation. they need to be presented with all of the information possible to make a sound decision that will impact the quality of life and the quality of life of the potential person there will bring into the world. we need places where women can go in trust the information they're getting. this ordinance stops false advertising to let women know this is a facility that provides counseling, maybe religious counseling, whatever type of counseling is provided, or a place that provides medical facilities. i really for -- hope you will support this legislation. thank you. >> good morning. my name is dr. suzanne good men. i'm a family physician and a

clinical professor here at ucsf. i camera we work with adolescents and young adults dealing with pregnancy care, abortion, contraception and preventative services. earlier this month i presented to the american academy of physicians. i wanted to present the decision been reached regarding crisis pregnancy centers. result that the american academy of family physicians urges local governments in states to support only the programs that provide medical-accurate information to women facing unintended pregnancies and forcing connection loss. i fully agree with the statement have many -- and have had many patients over the years report deceptive counseling causing significant delays unnecessary care and having impact on child

care, transportation, air arrangements, cost and safety of outcome. i urge you to vote yes on this ordinance. supervisor cohen: thank you. >> my name is jerry plunkett, ceo of first resort. -- sherry plunkett. our three-state l state-licensed clinics exist to help women make a fully informed decisions about their unintended pregnancies, decisions that aligned with their own beliefs and values. we treat each woman with dignity and respect, and regardless of a woman's choice, her right to choose is respected by hare stopped. we are not affiliated or funded

by any pro-like groups. unlike planned parenthood, we receive no government dollars, nor do we have a financial interest in a woman's decision. we do not pursue political action to undermine women's legal abortion rights. our clinics are supervised under the direction of wto two board certified is, like california licensed ob/gyns. all counseling is supervised or done by a woman with a master's degree or a licensed clinical social worker. most importantly, are no-cost care is timely. every woman who calls it offered a same-day appointment. our care is high quality and supportive. please note we do not use the year, isolation or manipulation with our clients, and we

informed every person who calls and mentions abortions on the phone that we do not perform or refer for abortion. every client is informed again in writing in a one-page document before she meets with a counselor. our communication is clear, honest, and appropriate. i would not participate, nor what my board, in any type of deception or misleading women in any way. can i say one last thing? supervisor avalos: your time is up. we give the same amount of time for everyone. >> thank you very much. please vote no. >> good morning, supervisors. i am of public affairs director for the planned parenthood in san francisco. it is a non-profit health-care provider, which has a wide range of community health care services and sexual health

education providing services towards 100,000 men, women, and teenagers annually in 17 counters -- 17 counties. 90 percent of the medical services provides our life- saving cancer screenings, prenatal caring, press help screenings, sexual health information, education, and health counseling. we operate 30 help centers, including two in the city and county of san francisco that provide comprehensive, medically-accurate and unbiased reproductive and sexual health information to all who walk through our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. planned parenthood highly trained doctors, nurses, and health care professionals provide affordable, accessible, and quality care to everyone seeking our services. planned parenthood provides accurate information and non- judgmental counseling for all

people so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families and live healthy and productive lives. our doors are open to every woman, every family, and every community. planned parenthood believes all people deserve comprehensive, medically accurate and unbiased information for any and call -- and all hell for services they are seeking. plan. it was strongly urge any and all organizations providing services and information be held to the level of quality care and professionalism that we probably give clients every day. thank you very much. -- that we probably give clients every day. oudly give clients every day. >>supervisor cohen: robin

brasmo, jamie bafella,, [inaudible] [inaudible] ]. this microphone a little bit to your left. >> my name is joan m. batistbat. i had 89 previews on yelp. the only one that has ever been reviewen removed is a positive i spoke on behalf of three women who prefer to remain anonymous. one is a young woman who found herself unexpectedly pregnant.

she was frightened to tell her parents. i referred her to first resort. she went to first resort in received kind and compassionate care. she received medical insurance refer row. to receive the courage to speak with her family who welcomed her pregnancy. she is now a mother. the other two would then i met at a baby shower -- the other two women i met at a baby shower. they are mothers and very glad they have their children. i have experienced first resort to give full information to women and respect their choices if women do decide to abort, they are welcome to return to first resort for continuing care afterwards. what is your connection to a

first resort? >> i am not an employee or volunteer. thank you. supervisor cohen: thank you. >> good morning, supervisors. i am a student at san francisco university. i urge you to vote yes on this legislation. i would like to begin by applauding first resort by providing so many free in time the services to women facing unintended pregnancies. i agree such clinics are very voluble, particularly when we as women are based on assault on our reproductive rights across the country. first resort can offer services to women that are vital and relieve the load on places like

planned parenthood but to offer abortion services. i would, however, point out the severe discrepancies between what some of the public comments in support of this ordinance have said about first resort and what first resort portrays the self as offering. many of the employees and supporters have given statements that are in direct contradiction to what many women have reported about their experience with the organization. there was a man earlier who spoke about google searches are being used as evidence saying this ordinance is too broad and not viable. i am 21 now, which is an age pretty common for women facing an unintended consequencpregnan although in past years that may have not been relevant, adeptly is now.

i would like to reiterate you vote yes on this ordinance. san francisco is a place i feel lucky to live. i know my right to choose will always be protected, and i hope you vote yes to make sure every woman has accuratesupervisor co. next speaker please. >> good morning. my name is tiana andrews. i was referred to first resort by a friend. after a conversation that we had, she suggested that i checked out first resort for some of the counseling options that are out there. i called and was able to meet with a license clinician. she was very helpful in helping me to come to terms with the decision i had made to terminate a pregnancy. she was a great listener. i just felt very supported by

her. i did not feel like she judged me in any way for the decision i had made, was there to help me for post-abortion counseling. after that experience, i wished that that option was readily available for women make in that position. when i made my decision, there were no alternatives. to know that there are people supporting either way, i do not see a problem with it. i am grateful to have them now to offer post-abortion counseling. i would definitely prefer them to anybody. supervisor cohen: thank you. next speaker please. >> good morning. my name is robin brasso. over the years, i have seen many children as young as 12 and 13

become pregnant and were able to terminate their pregnancies. that is why i feel that i fully support the supervisor cohen's legislation because there needs to be absolute truth in advertising so that women are not misled when they become pregnant with an unintended pregnancy. it is a very broad emotional state and they need to be told the truth. that is why i support this legislation. thank you for doing this, malia. >> good morning, supervisors. my name is jamie wolf, vice president of public policy for the national council of jewish women. thank you for holding this hearing and giving us the opportunity to comment on this critical issue. we need judgment rooted in health, not in religious beliefs or secular beliefs.

this is about women's health. honesty in health care is necessary for responsible choices. delays cause stress, monday, and health. we stand here with friends who are interested in truth, justice, and health of women in need of real truth and real choices in their own life. this is not just about one center. we are a beacon of legislative and world wide leaders for legislative initiatives. this is one of them. i strongly urge you to vote yes on this, and i stand here for the national council of jewish women. this is about health. thank you very much. supervisor elsbernd:supervisor . next speaker please. >> kristin cohen.

misinformation on abortions is widespread individuals are often misled. some common areas of misinformation are the following. first, abortion is safer than childbirth. there is no evidence of an association between breast cancer and abortion. women who have trimester abortions are not more at risk of a mental handicap. a task force on abortion and mental health concludes first trimester abortions does not heard a woman's mental health. these are areas a crisis pregnancy centers frequently mislead their patients. no public funding should go to cpc's who misused science. patients should be