Conal’s Billboard

I just finished reading your article about the Planned Parenthood advertising billboard being built in West Los Angeles (“Billboard Paints Justices Into Political Corner on Abortion,” Sept. 14). My first thought is, why is this piece listed in the Calendar section as art, when it belongs in Business?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not objecting to their expression of commercial speech. I would just like it to be recognized for what it is. Planned Parenthood is easily this country’s No. 1 abortion-services provider. Legalized abortion is a multimillion-dollar-a-year business, given the often quoted figure of 1.5 million abortions a year in this country.

What could better serve Planned Parenthood’s monetary self-interests than to make sure that no one or regulation or law, could impede that money flow?

Enter the new Robbie Conal “19x48-foot pro-abortion rights art piece” billboard, paid for by $20,000 privately donated to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles specifically to underwrite the work.

Planned Parenthood’s self-professed commitment to “women’s rights” and “abortion rights” seems very shallow when it has such an obvious financial conflict of interest.

DENNIS PAUL GAUCI

Bell