Mayor Says No to $1 Million Increase in AIDS Funding

AIDS advocates reacted with concern to Mayor Daley's proposed 2004 budget that includes only a $100,000 increase in city funding for HIV prevention. Local community groups, AIDS advocates, and a majority of City Council had requested a $1 million increase in HIV prevention funding.

The mayor proposed a total of $3.7 million for HIV prevention programs, which is less than the city spent on HIV prevention in 1997. From 1997 to 2003, AIDS cases have increased 32% while city funding for HIV prevention has decreased by 8%.

"Without a greater commitment to HIV prevention, Chicago's HIV/AIDS crisis will only worsen," said Mark Ishaug, AIDS Foundation of Chicago's executive director. "The mayor's proposed budget does not provide the resources necessary to turn the tide against this expanding health crisis."

Disappointed with the mayor's budget, AIDS advocates began picketing in front of City Hall earlier today. They also plan to picket next week during City Council's Budget Committee hearings.

AIDS advocates noted that the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases, which disproportionately affects people of color, warrants increased attention to HIV prevention.

The City's reported number of AIDS cases has increased 32%-from 15,441 to 20,480-since 1997. For the first time, reported AIDS cases in Chicago exceeded the 20,000 mark. More than 11,000 people in Chicago have died of AIDS, and an estimated 22,000 are currently living with HIV/AIDS.

People of color, who account for approximately 69% of the City's population, represent 81% of recently diagnosed adult AIDS cases and 77% of recently diagnosed HIV cases. African Americans alone account for 65% of recently diagnosed adult AIDS cases and 61% of recently diagnosed adult HIV cases. Gay men continue to be hard hit, with male-to-male sexual contact remaining the number one mode of transmission.

Ten aldermen have already indicated that they will sponsor a budget amendment to increase the 2004 appropriation for HIV prevention by $1 million. The amendment's current sponsors include Manuel Flores (1st Ward), Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward), Leslie Hairston (5th Ward), Frank Olivo (13th Ward), Walter Burnett, Jr. (27th Ward), Ed Smith (28th Ward), Rey Colón (35th Ward), Tom Tunney (44th Ward), Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward), and Joe Moore (49th Ward).

This summer, 28 of Chicago's 50 aldermen signed a letter to Mayor Daley, asking him to increase city funding for HIV prevention by $1 million. "The City's HIV/AIDS crisis will not wait until economic conditions improve," the aldermanic signatories said. The aldermen's letter also refers to research showing that $1 million spent on HIV prevention has the potential to save $2.7 million in healthcare costs.

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Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.

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