ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg City Council members voted against a motion to allocate $50,000 from the general fund to the nonprofit, Tampa Bay Abortion Fund.
The motion fell in a 2-6 vote with councilmembers Richie Floyd and Deborah Figgs-Sanders being the two 'Yes' votes.
The $50,000 would go toward services that surround abortion but not specifically abortion, Floyd explained. The fund would help Floridians more than 15 weeks pregnant with travel-related expenses and aftercare options among other choices.
So far this year, Tampa Bay Abortion Fund has helped 626 people with their funding. Breianna Wallace with the nonprofit said, "We help to remove the financial and logistical barriers to abortion costs as well as travel. That could be ride-shares, hotels, flights, after-care kits..."
St. Pete city council's vote to reject the funding comes as the Florida Senate passed a bill this week that would ban abortions after six weeks, with few exceptions. Currently, Florida allows abortions up to 15 weeks or pregnancy.
Several St. Pete residents spoke for and against the allocation of the money. Those against argued that the city could find other ways to spend the $50,000.