Anti-abortion center debate heads into Monday vote

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The debate over allowing an anti-abortion Women’s Care Center to open next to a proposed abortion clinic in South Bend continues Monday, as the common council prepares to vote on the mayor’s recent veto.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced his veto at the end of April.

He said the west side neighborhood would not benefit from a zoning law change that would put the two centers right next to each other.

This decision came after South Bend Common Council members narrowly voted in favor of letting the anti-abortion center open on Lincoln Way West.

In a statement released on Friday, Buttigieg said in part, “Our main concern has never been about whether the Women’s Care Center is well-intended or peaceful. It is about whether this is the best use at the location, justifying a zoning change over the objection of neighbors.”

Buttigieg went on to say he encourages the center to expand to a different property in the same area of the city – preferably one that wouldn’t require a change in zoning.

The common council will meet Monday at 7 p.m.

At least one council member who originally voted against the rezoning will have to switch sides in order to override the mayor’s veto.   

*Correction: The video above and the original text stated the common council meeting was happening on Monday at 4 p.m. The correct time is 7 p.m.