The one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade is Saturday. And you may recall local Democratic leaders tripping over themselves to broadcast how New York would be a refuge for people from banned states seeking abortions. Shortly after POLITICO published the draft opinion that would strike down the constitutional right to an abortion, New York Attorney General Tish James joined hands with state Sen. Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas. They announced a bill that would fund not only abortion providers, but also nonprofits that increase access by helping individuals pay for the procedure. A press release from the trio anticipated that the number of out-of-state patients receiving abortions in New York would more than quadruple post-Dobbs. But Gov. Kathy Hochul wasn’t on board, according to two people familiar with the matter, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. One of the people said Hochul’s staff was concerned there wouldn’t be enough funding for both causes. So, instead of boosting the bill, Hochul launched her own $25 million support fund that would give money to New York’s abortion providers — but not the groups that help out-of-state patients access them. There was one subtle hint of the behind-the-scenes discord: At Hochul’s press conference announcing her fund, González-Rojas wasn’t there. The state later expanded the fund’s eligibility criteria to other licensed health care providers, such as hospitals. But nonprofits that give direct financial assistance to patients seeking an abortion — not the procedure itself — remained ineligible. That has forced groups like the New York Abortion Access Fund, which helps New Yorkers and out-of-state patients pay for abortions at local clinics, to cobble together funding as demand has increased since Dobbs. Chelsea Williams-Diggs, the fund’s interim executive director, said the state is effectively ignoring one of the tallest barriers to abortion access: the cost. She said an abortion costs $600 in New York, on average, but can be as expensive as $25,000 at some private clinics depending on insurance status and the stage of pregnancy. “We are not living up to our brand, or our name, as a safe haven,” she said. A spokesperson for the governor sidestepped the question of why Hochul declined to make state funding available for support organizations, instead referring to remarks she made last year on the importance of helping reproductive health providers. Meanwhile, a separate $10 million grant fund Hochul launched last year to help abortion providers beef up security has over $8 million left unspent — even after distributing money to all eligible applicants. HAPPY FRIDAY. WHERE’S KATHY? Speaking at the Medgar Evers College Preparatory School graduation and then signing legislation to strengthen access to reproductive health care. WHERE’S ERIC? Delivering remarks and cutting ceremonial ribbon at a “Broadway vision” event, delivering remarks and cutting ceremonial ribbon at Grand Street Settlement Community Center, delivering remarks and presenting citation at Belize Investment Forum, holding a bill signing ceremony for Intro. 844 at City Hall Rotunda, and delivering remarks at the NAACP New York Branch’s annual freedom fund gala. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Am I satisfied? Absolutely not. I’m not satisfied with the pace. It is frustrating for those who’ve been anticipating the opportunity to open businesses, and we’ve had to overcome a lot of hurdles. And we're making changes.” — Hochul on Thursday regarding how New York only has 15 retail marijuana dispensaries after announcing new enforcement efforts against illegal shops.
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