Richmond City Council Sells $1.2 Million Property to Planned Parenthood for $10

This week, Richmond, Virginia’s capital city, made headlines by voting to sell a $1.2 million property to Planned Parenthood for a mere $10. The decision has sparked outrage and potential legal challenges, as critics argue the move violates city regulations and undermines public trust.

The property in question, an abandoned public school building situated near a middle school, was sold to the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood under highly contentious circumstances. On Monday, the Richmond City Council approved the sale without following the procedures outlined in Richmond City Code Section 8-58. According to this section, the council must first declare the property “surplus” and entertain competing bids, neither of which was done. This oversight has led Josh Hetzler of the Founding Freedoms Law Center to label the deal "unlawful."

Key issues with the sale include:

• The property was not designated as “blighted,” a requirement for such nominal sales.

• The council bypassed the process of declaring the property surplus and soliciting bids.

• A rule stipulates surplus property should be sold to support local schools, which was ignored.

Former city council member Marty Jewell also criticized the sale, questioning the logic behind giving away a building for $10 and highlighting the conflict with existing rules.

Adding to the controversy, Hetzler pointed out that the city council claimed to have received an unsolicited offer from Planned Parenthood. However, evidence suggests that Mayor Levar Stoney’s administration may have collaborated with Planned Parenthood to identify the property, raising further questions about the integrity of the process. Stoney, seen as a potential gubernatorial candidate, faces scrutiny over this decision.

The public response has been overwhelmingly negative. At Monday’s council meeting, only 10 citizens spoke in favor of the sale, while 40 opposed it. Concerns ranged from the legality of the sale to the proximity of the planned abortion clinic to local schools. One resident, 39 weeks pregnant, voiced her distress over the clinic’s location near her home and children’s school.

Hetzler warned the council of impending legal action, urging them to adhere to the law to avoid unnecessary expenses and embarrassment. Despite these warnings, the council proceeded with the sale, prompting one speaker to sarcastically suggest a resolution honoring the council’s “commitment to child sacrifice.”

Supporters of the sale included a woman who had previously received an abortion from Planned Parenthood. While she endorsed the sale, she acknowledged that the price was shockingly low and suggested that Planned Parenthood could afford to pay more.

The contentious sale of the Richmond property to Planned Parenthood is likely to face continued legal and public challenges, highlighting the need for transparency and adherence to regulations in local government decisions.

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