For several years Delaware County Right to Life has opposed a written agreement that the Delaware County Department of Social Services has with Planned Parenthood Association of Delaware & Otsego Counties (PPADOC) to provide family planning education services to persons in Delaware County. Originally this program would apparently provide services to anyone, however, after the protests began, it was restricted to only those who qualified for such services under the NYS social services law (Part 463 of 18 NYCRR). The protests consisted of letter writing to newspapers and members of the Delaware County Board of Supervisors. DCRTL has also picketed Board meetings and William R. Moon, the Commissioner Social Services, who has used his position to further Planned Parenthood's agenda in Delaware County. In addition, this issue has been brought before the County Board of Supervisors at their annual budget hearings by DCRTL members.
In the course of the debate, Commissioner Moon revealed that in addition to county tax money going to Planned Parenthood ($12,900 in 2000, $12,300 in 2001, $9,600 in 2002) county tax money also pays half the cost of Medicaid abortions for qualifying county residents. An outgrowth of DCRTL's fight against Moon's agreement with PPADOC was an extensive research paper investigating what other NYS counties do to comply with the NYS law (New York State Medicaid Funds to Planned Parenthood (SFY 1995)). The upshot is that many NYS counties comply with Social Services Regulations for family planning education WITHOUT having a special written agreement with Planned Parenthood.
DCRTL supporters are urged to contact Commissioner Moon and the County Board of Supervisors and request that the un-required agreement with Planned Parenthood be ended. It serves to funnel people to Planned Parenthood. Delaware County can comply with Social Services regulations without such a written agreement, as do many other counties in NYS.
Please contact the following to ask that they support this Suggested County Resolution. Chairman James Eisel, Del. Co. Board of Supervisors,111 Main St. Delhi, NY 13753, phone: 607-746-2603, fax: 607-746-7012. Commissioner William R. Moon, 111 Main St., Delhi, NY 13753, phone: 607-746-2325, fax: 607-746-6310. Click this link for each Supervisor's mail address/phone/fax. Email the County Board at: cob@co.delaware.ny.us
Press & Sun-Bulletin, P.O. Box 1270,Binghamton, NY 13902, Fax: 607-798-1113 froessne@binghamt.gannett.com
The Walton Reporter, 181 Delaware St.,Walton, NY 13856, Fax: 607-865-8983 news@reporterco.com
Delaware County Times, 56 Main St., Delhi, NY 13753, Fax: 607-746-3135 info@kaatslife.com
Catskill Mountain News, P.O. Box 515, Arkville, NY 12406, Fax: 845-586-2366 Mt.News@Catskill.net
Mountain Eagle, P.O. Box 278, Stamford, NY 12167, Fax: 607-652-5253 mteagle@catskill.net
Hancock Herald, 45 1/2 East Front St., Hancock, NY 13783, Fax: 607-637-4383 hancockherald@hotmail.com
Deposit Courier, 24 Laurel Bank Ave., Deposit, NY 13754, Fax: 607-467-5330 cprintoffice@tds.net
Tri-Town News, Sidney, NY 13838, Fax: 607-563-7118 powerofprint@mkl.com
The Evangelist, 40 N. Main Avenue, Albany, NY 12203-1422, Fax: 518-453-8448 james.breig@rcda.org