Concerns Over Future of Pregnancy Care Center Amid New York City Mayoral Transition
In the Bronx, the CEO of a pregnancy care center organization is expressing worries about the direction of her ministry as the new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, who labels himself a democratic socialist, gets ready to take charge in January.
Rev. Jim Harden, the CEO of Compass Care, which operates a network of anti-abortion health clinics in New York, voiced his apprehensions during an interview. “We have really significant concerns about Mayor-elect Mamdani’s plans to shield New Yorkers from pro-life pregnancy centers,” he stated.
Harden oversees centers not just in the Bronx but also in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and various other areas. He recently penned an article titled “Zoran Mamdani Vows to Shut Down Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers.”
According to Harden, Mamdani’s campaign suggested he would “protect” New Yorkers from these centers, accusing them of disseminating “false or misleading information.” This sentiment was reflected in campaign materials.
Mamdani apparently backed a local law known as Local Law 17, seen by Harden as a consumer protection guideline for pregnancy care centers. The document titled “Zoran for New York City” asserts that the Mamdani administration will ensure that New Yorkers are not misled by crisis pregnancy centers, particularly regarding abortion safety and medication access. It mentions intentions to strengthen abortion access services and increase funding to help residents obtain confidential abortions.
This initiative would also double support for the New York State Abortion Access Fund. Harden commented that Local Law 17 would mandate pro-life centers to disclose in large print which services they do not provide—including abortion referrals—raising questions about First Amendment rights.
Compass Care operates three centers, and Harden mentioned that his organization delivers various free services, such as STD testing and ob-gyn care. He lamented that if Mamdani’s plans succeed, many women would lose access to these services. “We simply don’t know how far Mamdani will go with his policies,” he remarked. “He aligns with progressive groups, but there are also aspects of his identity that complicate this.” Mamdani has denied being a “communist” despite what some critics assert.
Harden shared his views on how Mamdani’s policies might affect community health care, expressing uncertainty. He believes that if successful, these initiatives could deprive women of support and alternatives to abortion, which his centers aim to provide.
“No reasonable woman really seeks an abortion; it’s more about feeling trapped with no options,” he said. “We want to help empower individuals to avoid that situation entirely.”
Fox News Digital has sought comments from representatives of Mamdani on this issue.
