In the weeks since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many cities and other jurisdictions have announced their intention to use local powers to protect access to abortion.

The conservative-controlled court, in its decision last month in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, gave “the people and their elected officials” the ability to regulate abortion – overturning a nearly 50-year constitutionally protected right and allowing states to impose bans on the medical procedure.

Following the decision, the Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance allowing the city’s health plan to provide access to abortion care to city employees. The city will also cover travel costs to access medical care not provided within the state — which also can include medical care for LBGTQ individuals, said Mayor Aftab Pureval. The move comes as Cincinnati’s home state of Ohio has banned all abortions after about six weeks and some state lawmakers recently introduced legislation that would ban the procedure in all cases, except when the mother’s life is at risk. Lawmakers previously introduced legislation that would ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youths.

In another example, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution declaring itself a safe city for reproductive freedom.

Across the country, prosecutors also play a role in whether or not people seeking abortions are actually penalized for doing so. Ninety elected prosecutors from around the U.S., working through the Fair and Just Prosecution network, issued a joint statement saying: “we stand together in our firm belief that prosecutors have a responsibility to refrain from using limited criminal legal system resources to criminalize personal medical decisions.” Ann Davison, Seattle City Attorney and a signatory to the statement, said. “With limited resources, we need to focus on public safety.”

Read the full article about cities protecting abortion access by Karen Kroll at Smart Cities Dive.