Please consider writing to City Council (Budget and Finance Committee) about keeping vital services separated.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nMy first concern is about the proposed consolidation of the Human Relations Commission into a Human Services Department. \r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe Human Relations Commission is a unique department charged with ensuring that all communities have a voice. I am concerned that amalgamating the Human Relations Commission into a generic Human Services Department will take away from its mandate as a neutral body designed to ensure community inclusion and advocacy, thus weakening its ability to provide non-political conflict resolution services.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nIn addition, the leadership of the Human Relations Commission best understands the complexities of human relations work and how to best identify the needs of diverse communities in Los Angeles.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nI hope that you will consider the importance and strength of the Human Relations Commission in serving marginalized communities in Los Angeles. Please strongly consider advocating City Council toward maintaining the independence and neutrality of the Human Relations Commission as an autonomous entity.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nHere is a sample letter:\r\n<\/p>
\r\nDear Budget and Finance Committee:\r\n<\/p>
\r\nI am writing to express my concern about the proposed consolidation of the Human Relations Commission into a Human Services Department. \r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe Human Relations Commission is a unique department charged with ensuring that all communities have a voice. I am concerned that amalgamating the Human Relations Commission into a generic Human Services Department will take away from its mandate as a neutral body designed to ensure community inclusion and advocacy, thus weakening its ability to provide non-political conflict resolution services.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nIn addition, the leadership of the Human Relations Commission best understands the complexities of human relations work and how to best identify the needs of diverse communities in Los Angeles.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nI hope that you will consider the importance and strength of the Human Relations Commission in serving marginalized communities in Los Angeles. Please strongly consider maintaining the independence and neutrality of the Human Relations Commission as an autonomous entity.\r\n<\/p>
\r\n-------------------------------------------\r\n<\/p>
\r\nBelow is a notice from the Commission on Disability. What it does not emphasize is that the AIDS Coordinator's Office would end up at the bottom of this pile.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThis would not improve efficiency. This would pit us against the other programs for priorities. If the community cares about having an effective and independent AIDS Coordinator's Office, they should let their Councilmembers know.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nCALL FOR SUPPORT\r\n<\/p>
\r\nCITY OF LOS ANGELES COMMISSION ON DISABILITY\r\n<\/p>
\r\nTHE PROBLEM:
\r\nOnce again the existence of the Department on Disability (DOD) and the Commission on Disability (COD) is threatened in the City's budget process.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThis threat is very real.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nTHE BUDGET :
\r\nThe City Council's Budget and Finance Committee is considering exterminating the DOD and COD as they now exist and merging their roles and functions into a single entity comprised of the Department of Aging, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Relations Commission and the Commission on Children, Youth and Families.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThis will severely limit the ability of persons with disabilities to advocate for services they need and issues important to their communities. \r\n<\/p>
\r\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n<\/p>
\r\nWhat does the City AIDS Coordinator do?\r\nhttp:\/\/www.ci.la.ca.us\/DOD\/aids\/index.htm\r\n<\/p>
\r\nAIDS Education and Prevention\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe AIDS Coordinator's Office develops and manages contracts with community-based organizations to provide AIDS education and prevention services, with special outreach to the populations hardest hit by the epidemic. Activities include HIV counseling and testing referrals, distribution of HIV\/AIDS educational materials, support groups, peer-led risk reduction sessions and syringe exchange. Click here for links to our prevention contractors.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nClick here for more information on Syringe Exchange.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nAIDS Policy Planning\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe AIDS Coordinator's Office handles a number of AIDS policy and planning activities for the City of Los Angeles including:\r\n<\/p>
\r\n * Implementation and oversight of the City of Los Angeles' AIDS policy.\r\n
* Advising the Mayor and City Council on HIV\/AIDS policy questions.\r\n
* Development of City initiatives to fund prevention activities and support services for people with HIV\/AIDS.\r\n
* Collaboration with other governmental and community organizations to develop HIV\/AIDS services, funding, planning and policy in Los Angeles.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nTechnical Assistance for Events\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe AIDS Coordinator's Office assists organizations in developing seminars, workshops, public forums and publications designed to strengthen HIV\/AIDS prevention efforts and improve services for people living with HIV\/AIDS in the City of Los Angeles.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nResearch\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe AIDS Coordinator's Office provides funding and expertise for innovative research into HIV\/AIDS risk behaviors, prevention techniques and treatments. These studies help to illuminate HIV\/AIDS prevention and care needs in Los Angeles. Click here to view past studies.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nMedia Campaigns\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe AIDS Coordinator's Office supports media campaigns to educate the public about HIV\/AIDS issues and encourage testing, treatment and safe behaviors.\r\n<\/p>
\r\n\r\n<\/p>
\r\nWHAT YOU CAN DO:<\/p>
\r\nCONTACT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE<\/p>
\r\nAntonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, (213) 978-0600, mayor@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nCONTACT EACH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER:\r\n<\/p>
\r\nEd P. Reyes, First District
\r\n(213) 473-7001 Ed.P.Reyes@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nWendy Greuel, Second District
\r\n(213) 473-7002 Wendy.greuel@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nDennis P. Zine, Third District
\r\n (213) 473-7003 Dennis.Zine@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nTom La Bonge, Fourth District
\r\n(213) 485-3337 LaBonge@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nWeiss, Fifth District
\r\n (213) 473-7005 Jack.weiss@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nTony Cardenas, Sixth District
\r\n(213) 473-7006 Tony.Cardenas@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nRichard Alarcón, Seventh District
\r\n(213) 847-7777 Richard.Alarcon@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nBernard C. Parks, Eighth District
\r\n(213) 473-7008 Bernard.C.Parks@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nJan Perry, Ninth District
\r\n(213) 473-7009 Jan.Perry@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nHerb J. Wesson, Jr. Tenth District
\r\n(213) 473-7010 councilmember.Wesson@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nBill Rosendahl, Eleventh District
\r\n(213) 473-7011 Bill.Rosendahl@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nGreig L. Smith, Twelfth District
\r\n(213) 473-7012 Greig.Smith@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nEric Garcetti, Thirteenth District
\r\n(213) 473-7013 Eric.Garcetti@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nJose Huizar, Fourteenth District
\r\n(213) 473-7014 Jose.Huizar@lacity.org \r\n<\/p>
\r\nJanice Hahn, Fifteenth District
\r\n(213) 473-7015 Janice.Hahn@lacity.org\r\n<\/p>
\r\nYou can determine your City Councilmember by goingonline to http:\/\/www.lacity.org and typing in your address.\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n","contact":"scha.losangeles@gmail.com","link":"http:\/\/la.indymedia.org\/publish.php","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"The City Council (Budget and Finance Committee) is going to vote on vital services and HIV.AIDS and the Human Relations Commission (among others) are at risk!","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2009\/05\/226840.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}