Abortion clinic work resumesConstruction of Austin office had been stalled by contractor boycott
11:15 PM CST on Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Associated Press
AUSTIN – Two months after a contractor boycott shut down work on a Planned Parenthood clinic that will offer abortion services, construction has resumed at the south Austin site.
Project planners hope to meet their original fall completion date.
"We're more committed than ever," Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Danielle Tierney said Tuesday. "We've been encouraged and inspired by support, not only in this community, but from pro-choice supporters everywhere."
The boycott drew national attention in November when the previous general contractor, Browning Construction of San Antonio, pulled out. Browning said it couldn't get subcontractors to do the work.
Chris Danze, an Austin foundation contractor, organized the boycott. It targeted suppliers of workers and materials – including plumbers, air conditioning and drywall installers – and ground the project to a halt within six weeks.
Ms. Tierney called the work stoppage "emotionally devastating" but said that as soon as the project was halted, other contractors called to offer their services.
To get restarted, Planned Parenthood decided to operate as its own general contractor, and workers first returned Jan. 8. Now workers can be seen shoveling dirt, carrying boards and driving heavy machinery that kicks up clouds of dust.
Planned Parenthood won't identify the companies working for fear of another telephone and letter-writing campaign from Mr. Danze. The site is surrounded by a fence of orange nylon webbing, and work trucks carry no identifying markings.
"It's our commitment to protecting the safety and privacy for our team," Ms. Tierney said.
Planned Parenthood officials have called the boycott a campaign of intimidation and harassment. Mr. Danze says it has been peaceful but acknowledges it is meant to be forceful.
He recruited contractors to join what he called the Texas Contractors and Suppliers for Life Association. And he asked churches to avoid businesses who work on the project. Mr. Danze said he has taken that effort nationwide, sending letters to Catholic bishops around the country.
Mr. Danze said he's also attempted to contact major national suppliers of plumbing, air conditioning, elevators and other equipment.
He doesn't know yet who is working on the clinic but said he'll be patient.
"The plumber and electrician will have to take out city permits," Mr. Danze said. "We'll know who they are."
While anti-abortion groups have touted the boycott's early success as a new wave of activism, donations to Planned Parenthood in Central Texas rose sharply after the initial wave of publicity.
Planned Parenthood's fund-raising goal for the Choice Project last year was $720,000. The group finished 2003 with just over $1 million, with $488,623 coming in November and December, Ms. Tierney said.
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/012104dntexabortion.509d7.html
I received this in my Freep mail recently ...
Dear Pro-Life friend,
You know about the heroic efforts of Chris Danze and Texas Contractors & Suppliers for Life to prevent Planned Parenthood's huge abortion expansion in Austin. Please let me explain why this so urgent for all Texans, and how once again you can help.
Austin, located in a county with approx. 850,000 residents, already has three abortion providers, and more to its north and south. It generally takes a city of 400,000 to support one abortion center. Why the need for a fourth?
Because a new law requires 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions be performed in outpatient-type facilities with higher medical standards. Abortion providers have no agreements with surgical centers, and now have to send women to Shreveport or New Mexico for late abortions. A new Planned Parenthood facility, located in Central Texas, will, in their own words, "meet new state requirements for abortion services."
In other words, Planned Parenthood of Austin is gearing up to be our state's sole provider of late abortions.
Construction on this new killing center is back under way, with a North Texas contractor at the helm. C D Henderson, Inc. has been identified as the General Contractor. The president is Charles D. Henderson, Chris E. Sorrells is the Ex. VP/Ch. Operating Ofcr., Jim R. Glover, VP/Field Operations, and Max J. Montegut, III is the Sr. VP, Operations. Curtis Cline is heading up the Project in Austin.
Please, please, please call, email or fax your concerns today.Be aware that if you are identified as a caller regarding the "Choice Project" as the abortion center is known, you will be referred straight to Planned Parenthood of Austin. When you call, fax or email, I know you will be polite and avoid making threats, but do not hesitate to ask them how their clients will feel if we start picketing job sites around North Texas. Ask them to vacate this project; pray that they will vacate this project. The lives of many babies are at stake and the eyes of the nation are upon us.
Tell them Texas does not want or need a late-term abortion clinic in Austin or anywhere else, and that you cannot imagine they would want to be responsible for building such a place.
CD Henderson, Inc.
1985 Forest Lane
Garland, TX 75042
tel. 972.272.5466
fax 972.494.9109
fax Chris Sorrells 972.494.2817
Austin tel. 512.441.2545
Austin fax 512.441.2568
www.cdhenderson.com
www.cdhenderson.com/clientele.html
cdhenderson@cdhenderson.com
csorrells@cdhenderson.com
jglover@cdhenderson.com
mmontegut@cdhenderson.com
ccline@cdhenderson.com
rwilliams@cdhenderson.com
Please forward this email to others who will be willing to help. Also, if you know any other information about the General Contractor or its principals, please forward that to me as soon as possible. Thank you.
Working with you to build a culture of LIFE--
Kyleen Wright, President
Texans for Life Coalition
www.texlife.org
Thanks for all the updates regarding this abortion clinic... Please keep us posted as updates come in.
