Salem Takes Steps to Safeguard Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare Access

Mayor Kim Driscoll and members of the Salem City Council today announced measures intended to safeguard abortion and reproductive healthcare access in Salem for residents, visitors, and those who work in the community.

Reproductive Healthcare Access Ordinance – Building on the state’s new law protecting providers against prosecution by other states or jurisdictions, this proposed ordinance prohibits any City employee, contractor, or recipient of City funding from providing information or assistance to any jurisdiction or individual engaged in a prosecution, lawsuit, or extradition due to a lawfully protected healthcare service rendered in Massachusetts, including abortion, reproductive healthcare, or gender affirming healthcare. It also prohibits the use of any municipal resources or funds for the same. The ordinance will be before the City Council at its next regular meeting on September 14. The ordinance and a fact sheet summarizing it can be found at www.salemma.gov/safeaccess.

Emergency Contraception Dispensers – The City is beginning due diligence on purchasing, installing, and maintaining emergency contraception dispensing machines in public restrooms. The machines will dispense, at cost, over-the-counter emergency contraception, as well as, for free or at cost, other public health items.

“These measures are intended to ensure all Salem residents, visitors, and those who work in our community are able to access all legally-protected healthcare services to which they are entitled while in the Commonwealth,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Right now, these rights are under attack across much of our nation and, as a welcoming, inclusive, and forward-looking city, we have an obligation to stand up to protect these important rights by every means possible.”

“I am honored to join the Mayor, and the women of the Salem City Council, in introducing this ordinance," said City Council President Patti Morsillo. "Equitable access to legally-protected healthcare is a human right, and should not be under assault in this country from any corner. I look forward to discussing the ordinance in City Council and ultimately, to unanimous support.”

“I am so pleased to see Salem taking these extra steps necessary to protect access to healthcare services, particularly for abortion, reproductive, and gender affirming healthcare,” added At-Large City Councillor Alice Merkl.

"At this time of open attack on the civil liberties and the right to safe and legal reproductive and gender affirming healthcare in our nation, codifying protections, and publicly committing to protecting people is an imperative responsibility of those in government any- and everywhere it may be possible,” said Ward 2 City Councillor Caroline Watson-Felt. “I’m proud to support this ordinance to protect people who come to Salem who may be seeking safe and legal access to reproductive and gender affirming healthcare services and the people here who endeavor to help them, and I’m personally grateful, as a woman, for the message of support and safety that it sends." 

"As a community, it is important to reaffirm our support for human rights and health care equality,” added Ward 6 City Councillor Meg Riccardi. “This matter is of grave importance, and we need to treat it as such."

"This ordinance will codify protections for patients and providers of abortion care on the local level and we applaud Mayor Driscoll for her leadership. As more people look to Massachusetts for care, it is critical that we have the strongest possible protections for patients and health care providers so that everyone can access reproductive health care without fear or shame," said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

"With abortion and gender-affirming care under attack in states across the country, we need bold solutions from state houses to city halls to protect access to life-saving and life-affirming health care. The City of Salem is taking critical action to insulate providers from harmful consequences for providing care that is legal in the Commonwealth, ensuring that our state remains a place people can turn to for compassionate abortion care," said Rebecca Hart Holder, executive director of Reproductive Equity Now. "Thank you to Mayor Driscoll for setting an example of the creative steps municipalities can take to protect and expand access to reproductive health care in a post-Roe America."