It appears as though City of San Antonio officials are going to great lengths to give preferential treatment to Planned Parenthood in regard to their improperly zoned $6.5 million facility located at 2140 Babcock.
As we’ve previously reported, the City of San Antonio is currently slated to be the home of a 22,000 sq. ft. Planned Parenthood abortion mega-center, despite public outcry and a prolonged legal battle being led by the San Antonio Family Association. The facility, which is set to be one of the largest such facilities in south Texas, is located in a suburban residential zone, at 2140 Babcock Road. In fact, the city even issued a zoning verification letter stating officially that the facility is not zoned properly for any kind of ambulatory surgical center, which would be the proper zoning designation for an abortion facility.
Here’s where the controversy boils over into a full-fledged scandal. The senior planner, Trenton Robertson, who issued the city’s letter — which has been crucial to the lawsuit against the development — no longer works with the City of San Antonio. In fact, Robertson voluntarily testified in deposition of the suit (Thelma Franco vs. City of San Antonio) that his issuance of the letter —angered his superiors in city management to the point of calling for his termination. Robertson testified by the issuing the letter he was merely doing his due diligence in applying the Unified Development Code.
Robertson further testified that it wasn’t the accuracy of his work, but rather the process he followed that enraged management. He testified that prior to signing the letter, San Antonio Planning Manager Catherine Hernandez sent out an email informing staff that anything regarding 2140 Babcock was required to be sent up the chain of command.
Robertson recounted that, due to approaching deadlines for issuance, his colleagues being on vacation at the time, and simply forgetting about the email regarding special treatment, he decided to go ahead and do his job by issuing the letter. Shortly thereafter, he testified, Catherine Hernandez indicated to him that people in the Director’s office and City Manager’s office wanted him terminated, although, as he further stated, he had never been disciplined or received any negative evaluation.
Robertson now works for the City of Kerrville in a similar capacity, where he plans to move himself and his family.
Planned Parenthood’s facility is all-but-set to open up and begin operation. Residents have repeatedly called on the San Antonio City Council to do something about the controversial facility being built in the middle of their neighborhood. Unfortunately, as we’ve previously reported, San Antonio City Council members are tainted with campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood board members and donors. However, Mayor Ivy Taylor —who is currently in a runoff with notorious abortion advocate Leticia Van De Putte— has promised to look into the situation.