Housing Works: Housing Prevents AIDS. Housing Improves Health.

AIDSVote.org announced today that it will host a mayoral candidate forum focused on critical AIDS issues on Wednesday, October 21 at 4pm (location to be announced). Both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Democratic candidate Comptroller Bill Thompson have been invited. Thompson has already accepted the invitation and completed his candidate questionnaire, which is available at AIDSVote.org.

WHAT: AIDSVote mayoral candidate forum
WHEN: 4pm, Wednesday, October 21
WHERE: Location to be announced
WEBSITE: www.AIDSVote.org

While format details have not been pinned down, candidates will likely answer a series of questions about urgent AIDS issues posed by members of the AIDS community. Organizers are hoping Bloomberg and Thompson may engage in some debate at the event, as well.

Much is at stake in this year’s Mayoral election. AIDS groups are pushing for the re-establishment of the Mayor’s Office of AIDS Policy. Bloomberg put the coordination of many of the City’s AIDS services under the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, a move that has interfered with the ability of commissioners involved in AIDS policy to work together.

A Mayor’s Office of AIDS Policy would re-establish that coordination, as well as allow the City’s Ryan White Planning Council, which influences the spending of more than $100 million in federal money, to operate more independently of DOHMH’s influence.

Bloomberg and Thompson will also likely be asked to address the funding shortages for AIDS housing and the City’s backward policy of letting people fall seriously ill before they qualify for AIDS housing (which could be addressed by the HASA for All act).

New York City remains the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. New York City has more people living with the disease—104,000 residents—than any other city in the nation.

In September, AIDSVote hosted a successful New York City Comptroller and Public Advocate candidate forum.