March 12, 2007
Fenty's Inaction on HIV/AIDS Questioned
We get it: Mayor Fenty is one helluva busy guy. In his first few months on the job, he's hit the ground running on issues ranging from public safety to schools to Congressional representation. One area where some residents feel he's been curiously quiet, though, is on the District's ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis. Among them is the newly formed Metro D.C.chapter of The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA), which writes that with "Adrian Fenty's first 100 Days more than half over, it is clear that he has failed to lead on HIV/AIDS in the District."
Is this accusation fair? In his first week as Mayor, Fenty dismissed Marsha Martin as director of the District's Administration for HIV Policy and Programs (now HAA, the HIV/AIDS Administration). Though many thought she might have been making progress from Lydia Watt's much-maligned AHPP tenure, her post lasted only 16 months. We learned in the weeks following that her departure was just the beginning of a complete DoH overhaul. More than a month later, however, the HAA remains without a permenant director and is still being overseen on a part-time basis by DoH Director Gregg Pane.
The C2EA claims that Martin's dismissal came without a specific replacement in mind, leaving the agency foundering, and that Fenty's 100 Day Plan fails to adequately address the city's HIV health crisis. The deadline for the Mayor's specific pledge to hold an HIV Summit during his administration's first 90 days is now less than a month away, and there's concern the Summit still hasn't gotten off the ground. The 100 Day Plan was ambitious, for sure, but was it too much for the new administration to fulfill? Are those living with the HIV/AIDS crisis in the District being ignored, again, in the crush to do too much at once?
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Clearly, Fenty needs to immediately appoint an AIDS Czar, as well as a Healthcare Czar, followed by a Czar Czar to help micromanage all the sundry Czars we have.
Fenty has his work cut out for him on the AIDS front, seeing as the only alternative message is that old abstinence chestnut from the downtown churchies. This week's sermon: "Condoms: Satan's Rubbery Little Gym Sox."
With an HIV infection rate 12 times the national average Mayor Fenty does not have the option of taking his time. The Mayor should follow the lead of Congresswoman Holmes-Norton who has made addressing the HIV crisis in the District a cornerstone of her work. Granted that the Fenty administration is busy, but we are not talking about filling potholes. The District of Columbia has an HIV infection rate that would rank us between the Republic of Congo and Rwanda! This is unacceptable. Also we are not asking for the administration to reinvent the wheel here, there are tons of dedicated and intelligent folks, like those in C2EA, who are asking the Mayor how they can help. At this point I think that it is critical that the Mayor make some sort of public statement addressing this issue. The clock is ticking.
For more information go to www.dcfightsback.org
Just one more example of how the District is like a third world country.
I have to agree with Alex.
1. The mayor should follow through on his commitment to hold a summit meeting on HIV/AIDS in the first 90 days of his administration.
2. Appointing a full time, qualified Director for HAA should be a TOP priority - (sadly, it didn't even make it into the 100 day plan).
Further, I attended the HIV Community Planning Group meeting at the HIV/AIDS Administration last week. And while the community members who make up the CPG have done a lot of work in the past few months (selecting and training new members, setting goals), it's sad to me to see that there work is being greatly hindered by an ability to get accurate and timely information from the HIV/AIDS Administration. Quite frustrating.
Make no mistake, this is a problem that cannot simply be fixed with more money. This is a problem of accountability across the board.
Where does the buck stop exactly if we don't have a full time Director of the HIV/AIDS Administration?
David Mariner
www.fighthivindc.org
As a member of the Campaign To End AIDS - DC group, a new member of the DC/CPG, and and DC resident (HIV positive snice 1986), I see this as an opportunity for the vast HIV/AIDS community within the District to offer support and perhaps assistance with coordinating this much needed community summit addressing the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
Much of the past discussion in regards to defining adequate and effective prevention, care, and services has been met with misdirection, miscalculations, misplaced priorities, and misfed egos. At the bottom of the totum pole sit the HIV positive citizens who are directly affected by the funding cuts, closed agencies and programs, and lack of a clearly defined and organized plan to end a preventable and treatable disease that rages out of control in the neighborhoods that most need them.
I suggest to our cities civic, religious, educational, and political leaders that we come together and work together to create and implement that plan. Let's come together and work together to foster a healthy and productive dialogue that will result in a shared responsibility in ending this epidemic in our city.
In light of the shocking statistics available about the HIV/AIDS crisis in DC, it seems like the mayor's number one priority would be to take immediate action, beginning with installing some leadership in the agency created to address the problem. His constituency is dying. It's not a matter of being "too busy."
Please call the Mayor's office and demand that he take leadership (202) 727-2980
As a member of the Campaign To End AIDS - DC group, a new member of the DC/CPG, and and DC resident (HIV positive snice 1986), I see this as an opportunity for the vast HIV/AIDS community within the District to offer support and perhaps assistance with coordinating this much needed community summit addressing the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
Much of the past discussion in regards to defining adequate and effective prevention, care, and services has been met with misdirection, miscalculations, misplaced priorities, and misfed egos. At the bottom of the totum pole sit the HIV positive citizens who are directly affected by the funding cuts, closed agencies and programs, and lack of a clearly defined and organized plan to end a preventable and treatable disease that rages out of control in the neighborhoods that most need them.
I suggest to our cities civic, religious, educational, and political leaders that we come together and work together to create and implement that plan. Let's come together and work together to foster a healthy and productive dialogue that will result in a shared responsibility in ending this epidemic in our city.
Unfortunately it seems that the Mayor is going to conform to the stereotype of politicians who promise what they need to get elected but then don't deliver once in office. This is an important issue that he cannot continue to ignore or push aside. I agree with Larry, the community and government must come together to adequately address the HIV epidemic in DC.
I have to agree with fellow posters that silence on the issue of HIV/AIDS in the district is completely unacceptable. This is not a backburner issue. High HIV prevalence is unfortunately part of Washington DC's identity as a city, and as mayor of that city, Fenty has an obligation to come forward with SOMETHING!! I heard the vow to organize an HIV summit in person, directly from Fenty's mouth during a community dialogue at Greater DC Cares. At bare minimum, he needs to follow-through. I think this call for accountability is great, but it saddens me that we need to ask for something so basic as professional responsibility.
I think everyone should at least wait until the 100 days is up before officialy criticizing the man. How does everyone know that he has been neglecting this issue? Maybe something will be announced and/or organized in the next few weeks.
I think Fenty is doing a fine job so far and I am excited to see that he is making a big push to improve the schools. If anything, I think there is a great positive energy in the city with optimism about his administration. Or, at least I felt that way until I read this thread.
I have to agree with the Third World comment. With an AIDS crisis that would be totally unthinkable in any other western city, the absolute worst public school system of any city of its size and power, and the rapidly growing socio-economic divide that would look more at home a few centuries back, it's no wonder that so many people don't last too long here. Those of us who stick it out must be out of our minds.
Mayor Fenty has many issues on his plate, and HIV/AIDS is one that is going to demand a "platter." I am willing to come to the table with him to discuss waging the war that must erupt if we are going to save our people. That must happen now [sooner], as later will be too late! It's nice to be recognized as #1,--- but not for per/capita HIV infections.
It's depressing to see a mayor who obviously wants to make a change for the better seemingly ignore a major health crisis. No matter how you spin the numbers, the AIDS epidemic in DC is horrifying and needs immediate attention. It's nothing new to see a politician "shelve" an issue that he or she doesn't want to deal with right away. Maybe that's what Mayor Fenty has done with the AIDS crisis in DC. Problem with that is every day that the issue is "shelved" because of political concerns, living breathing human beings die. This isn't about saving 100$ a year in taxes, this is about real people living and dying. This isn't an issue that can wait until next year, or even next month.
Step up and lead Mr. Mayor, god knows someone in a position of power needs to.
More than 120 persons signed on to letter calling for an HIV/AIDS State of Emergency in the District of Columbia. We have since learned that what we really need is an Executive Order. A State of Emergency would only last 15 days and need to be reconstituted but an Executive Order can live on. On Friday, March 9, 2007 I had the pleasure of attending a press conference with the Mayor where I bought up the Executive Order/State of Emergency. A part of the call is for development of a Marshall Plan not just a meeting for the sake of meeting. A summit without a plan leaves us where we are – just planning. We ask for a process which brings together community and faith based leaders with representative of the legislative and Executive branches to develop and implement a city-wide plan. Having said this it is my hope to hear from the Mayors Office within the next 10 days regarding a meeting. I would argue this issue is on his radar and on the radar of members of his cabinet and of members of the city council……we need to have or needs clearly outlined
People are dying today; Mayor Fenty does not have the luxury of concentrating on the school takeover.
Sadly, however, it seems that Mr. Fenty is going to conform to the stereotype of politicians who promise voters the Moon but can't or won't deliver once in office.
The Mayor needs to lead on this issue. He needs to understand that this issue is one that he is 100% held accountable for, and needs to work with the Council to tackle this problem.
The HIV epidemic is not over; it is still killing people right now.
D.C. Residents join me to Advance the District...This wicked City Council and Mayor Williams & Fenty Inc. DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU...WE ARE ON OUR OWN!!! Fenty only care is to knock-out Robert Bob from becoming Mayor In 2010. Bob can just do a lackluster job and with a PR campaign and his city administration back-ground can easily defeat FENTY AND his big plate of city issues "That he does not have the experience to fix or repair"; HIV epidemic, crimes, killings, gentrification, no Public hospitals...YOU DON'T NEED GLASSES TO SEE THIS...FENTY IS YOUNG AND HE IS BEING DISTRACTED...HE CARES ONLY FOR HIS FUTURE...We know what this city problems are...but your hope on this young stallion will not manifest that is because FENTY is a good campaigner and T.V. chaser but he is no PEOPLE PERSON...COOLIDGE HIGH SCHOOL[Ward 4] IS STILL HURTING FOR REPAIRS...and Councilmember FENTY stood outside its doors to complain to Mayor Williams...Folks we don't have another 4 years to get things right after 8 years of Mayor Williams doing it wrong. Big business prospered but the heart of the city...its people suffered. Buildings don't make a city...its people are the city. Aside from Abe Pollin's China Town money making venture...D.C. has a Condo glut, no new business will enter D.C...the Convention Center is losing money...the new Baseball Stadium has lost money already because it will draw the customers from the Verizon Ctr. and Georgetown, etc. to its cash register...Neighbors, friends and D.C.residents WE HAVE BEEN RAPED BY THE U.S.CONGRESS-OUR WASA WATER RATES INCREASE(S) ARE FUNDING THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF THE ENTIRE CAPITAL HILL SENATE AND HOUSE BUILDINGS 'Sewer and Water Systems AND THE U.S.CAPITAL OLD SEWER SYSTEM, WASA HAS LIED ABOUT NO LEAD IN OUR DRINKING WATER...DEVELOPERS WILL GET DIRT CHEAP OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS, STABLE BLACK FAMILIES ARE BEING UNFAIRLY TAXED ON THEIR PROPERTIES WHILE UPPER N.W. PROPERTY RATES ARE AS LOW AS 5%...OUR DOLLAR IS ONLY WORTH 90CENTS IN THIS CITY...Our first generation of City Council members [David Clark, John Wilson,Wilhemenia Rolark and others] protected D.C. residents from Congress and big business carpet-baggers...this group of wicked city council members mean you NO GOOD...THEY have sold OUT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN...LAST POINT...Did not the Council promise that a percentage of Lottery Sales will be portioned to our Public School system? Well, this wicked City Council has broken this agreement and has taken our children's promised revenues to be deposited into D.C. Treasury....Folks you need to see what I SEE...we need to ADVANCE THIS CITY...RECALL THESE COUNCIL MONKIES and place council members who will get the job done in less than one year with less than the current $9 billion dollar budget...NOTE: Montgomery County Budget $4 billion with 846,000 residents...D.C. $9 billion and only 400,000 residents. Folks,We can manage this city with less and more keep more of your money in your pockets for savings and for your children. Calvin H. Gurley.
I think the problem is not attacking anyones ability to respond to HIV AIDS crisis.I believe the problem lyes in years of neglect on the previous administrations concern for big business the city of Washington,D.C. and it has become the problem our present administration has to fix. If we plan on fixing the HIV & AIDS problem in D.C. we have to mainstream a plan to educate the public on HIV AIDS that has for years been over looked. We also have to hire people that have the peoples best interest at heart and not some Director that looks at his or her job as just that a job ,they have to be community oriented and abreast in that feild of interest. they need more HIV AIDS centers in the drug infested Communites and Wards 3,6,7,8,9.
Please Comment
greetings
none of the replacements thus far in the HAA has produced results in steming the rate of AIDS infection that is 12times the national average in DC! that is because there is no active plan to get everyone tested!
last year, we organized our own event that managed to screen 187 persons in 5 hours with only 11 testers and 6 organizations. these dedicated volunteers agreed to a minimum of four hours and many stayed longer to screen all those that remained patiently waiting in long lines after the cutoff time.
i would like to thank the following supporting organizations:
Family Medical Center
Metro Teen Aids
Womens Collective
Max Robinson/Whitman-Walker
Andromeda
African-American Coalition Against AIDS
i personally contacted every AIDS testing site listed on dc.gov and more would have attended if they could have gotten paid staff. our event was a wasted opportunity that if the city could have stepped up would have resulted in 1,000 people tested in a single day!
our request is for support in accessing resources and testers in order to fully utilize the National Black L.U.V. Festival as a major AIDS Awareness/Mobilization.
until the city can come up with an active plan of getting everyone tested!
kymone freeman