Res. No. 472 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the Council to conduct a hearing to call attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American and Latino communities and to call for an increase in State and City funding for these specific communities. Body By Council Members Perkins, Carrion, Duane, Lopez, Marshall, Michels, Reed and Rodriguez; also Council Members Malave-Dilan, Koslowitz, Lasher, Leffler and O'Donovan. Whereas, According to the Department of Health's (DOH) Quarterly Report issued in June of 1998; 42,300 or 41% of aids cases have been reported among African-Americans; and Whereas, According to the same report, 32,197 or 31% of aids cases have been reported among Latinos; and Whereas, According to the DOH report these figures represent 71% of the 103,248 cases reported citywide since the onset of the epidemic; and Whereas, African-Americans and Latinos have been disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS; and Whereas, Despite the magnitude of HIV infections in New York's African-American and Latino residents, it is unclear if an equitable percentage of federal funding is reaching these communities; and Whereas, On the HIV prevention side, the Bureau of HIV programs consistently refuses to provide crucial budget information, thereby inhibiting the Prevention Planning Group, and other interested parties, from assessing whether DOH's allocation of funding is consistent with epidemiological data; and Whereas, In October of this year, DOH will submit two major funding applications to the federal government for crucially needed HIV prevention and care related programs; and Whereas, With these funds DOH operates core prevention and care related services, and supports numerous community-based organizations; and Whereas, According to a report issued in November of 1997, DOH has recognized the need for more equity in allocating funds to minority communities; and Whereas, Although DOH asserts that it is making strides to correct any past inequity in the allocation of funds for programs and research, there is continuing concern about their commitment; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the appropriate committee to conduct a hearing to call attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American and Latino communities and to call for an increase in State and City funding for these specific communities. BM C:\Resos\Perkins-Aids-Hiv 9\14\98 LS#891