2011 City of Chicago Candidate Questionnaire PART 3: Written Responses from Candidates for Aldermen Sorted by Question
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2011 City of Chicago Candidate Questionnaire PART 3: Written responses from candidates for aldermen sorted by question The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) regularly surveys candidates on AIDS-related policies and publishes the results to educate voters, HIV/AIDS advocates, and the general public. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT: The survey results are divided in to three sections, which are available at aidschicago.org/candidate. Written responses from candidates for mayor are in the first section. Section 2 is a chart of responses from city council candidates. Written responses from individual aldermen are available in part 3. Find out which ward you live in at www.chicagoelections.com. 1. Do you support maintaining current City corporate funding of $4.6 million for community- based HIV prevention services, HIV prevention supplies, and awareness as a strategy to address the escalating HIV/AIDS crisis in our city? AFC Answer: YES- Until an effective anti-HIV vaccine, microbicide, or cure is developed, proven HIV prevention strategies remain our best tools for slowing the epidemic and improving the lives of people affected by the HIV/AIDS. 1: DEBORAH LOPEZ: Yes- I support maintaining current corporate funding of 4.6 million for community HIV prevention services. I also favor the Chicago Department of Public Health researching the possibility of using TIF money to invest in this public health crisis. Economic development in communities of color where the epidemic shows high rates should include public health issues in its use of TIF monies. 2: JIM BOSCO: Don’t know- Chicago is facing an unprecedented budget crisis and every expenditure must be looked at closely. There is no doubt that the funds are providing a valuable service to the community. The question is whether the services being provided are cost effective. We're all in this budget mess together, everyone's going to have to live with some cuts. But we should focus on the waste first. 4: GEORGE RUMSEY: Yes- I would favor increasing city funding especially for education and awareness campaigns that can help prevent HIV/AIDS. 5: MICHELE TANKERSLEY: Yes- I taught HIV/AIDS awareness in the Chicago Public Schools since 1989; it is so important to bring awareness at an early age, communicating a basic understanding of what HIV/AIDS is, what it does to the human body and why we should be concerned about it. It is important to continue to maintain the corporate funding support for community-based HIV/AIDS prevention services. aidschicago.org/candidate Part 3: Responses from Aldermen (sorted by question) 8: FAHEEM SHABAZZ: Yes- This is a no brainer. It would be great if we could find even more funding to be applied for HIV prevention. 15: RAYMOND LOPEZ: No- I support increasing funding for HIV/AIDS prevention services, awareness and supplies. The continuous rise in not HIV/AIDS but STDs is an alarming issue that must be dealt with head-on and not in a piecemeal fashion with no sustained long-term strategy. 25: CUAHUTEMOC MORFIN: Yes- In dire economic times like these services are more essential than ever. I support fully funding all of these services. 28 JASON ERVIN: Yes- I believe that maintaining current city of Chicago funding of $4.6 million for community based HIV prevention services is critical to fighting the escalating HIV/AIDS crisis in out city. It is a well known fact that community based HIV prevention services that utilize HIV/AIDS prevention supplies with culturally sensitive educational awareness outreach efforts continue to be an effective strategy in addressing the escalating HIV/AIDS crisis in and out of the city. 32: DAVID PAVLIK: Yes- I do support the continued city funding of the community based HIV prevention services. It is extremely important to maintain the strategy and perhaps find ways to expand education regarding this crisis. Education for awareness and prevention is vital. It has been decades since the dark ages of GRIDs and total denial of the epidemic but we still have a very long way to go. Every dollar in education and awareness saves countless dollars and more importantly lives because that means Chicagoans are better equipped to prevent the spread of this virus. 35: REY COLON: Yes- While AIDS related mortality continues to decrease, more than 20,000 Chicagoans are living with HIV and AIDS. 36: BRUCE RANDAZZO: Yes- More funding is needed for in the community based prevention services. There should be more free clinics for HIV people. I do believe we have a crisis in our city. 44: TOM TUNNEY: Yes- I have been the leader in the City Council on HIV issues. I advocate annually for increases in the budget or to prevent any cuts. I meet regularly with AFC to discuss budget and service priorities in the city. 46: DIANE SHAPIRO: Yes- We must do all we can to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Chicago by any means necessary. It all begins with education and we also need properly accurate teaching of how they are transmitted. 46: DON NOWOTNY: Yes- I would advocate for at least maintaining current funding levels. As a former board member of Howard Brown Health Center, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS is an issue I have been committed to for a long time and is something I will make a priority should I be elected Alderman. 46: MARC KAPLAN: Yes- I believe that community based prevention and awareness services are the key to stopping the AIDS epidemic. In the 1990’s I worked with a group of young people and adults that developed a Youth on Youth AIDS Campaign, that designed and carried out an educational and prevention campaign that went all over Uptown , in schools, parks and on the streets and did education and prevention activities. It had a great impact to have young people dealing directly with other young people. Page 2 Part 3: Responses from Aldermen (sorted by question) 2. Every day, 5% of people who enter Chicago Department of Public Health’s STD clinics for STD treatment are sent home because of inadequate clinic capacity. Do you support increased funding to reduce turn-away rates? AFC Answer: YES- Public health clinics provide vital sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV prevention and testing services to at-risk individuals across the city. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009 Chicago ranked first in the nation among cities and counties with the highest number of gonorrhea cases, and second highest number of chlamydia cases and syphilis cases. Since STDs increase the likelihood of HIV transmission, effective STD screening and treatment programs are a critical aspect of a comprehensive HIV prevention plan. 1: DEBORAH LOPEZ: Yes- I support increased funding to reduce turn-away rates, particularly when documentation shows an increase in STD’s amongst our youth. Our sexually active youth become vulnerable and at risk for infections that may compromise their immune system, unless we provide adequate prevention and treatment. I also support more programs targeting youth, and in particular, gay youth. 2: JIM BOSCO: Yes- I support the consolidation of City and County health departments in order to reduce administrative overhead and free up more funds for patients. This should reduce the turn- away rate. 4: GEORGE RUMSEY: Yes- I have worked for many years with programs like the CBC clinic in Austin and the Hektoen Clinics of Cook County Hospital. I am amazed at what they are able to accomplish and feel they are greatly underappreciated and under-funded. 5: MICHELE TANKERSLEY: Yes- It is unfortunate that we turn people away from receiving STD treatment. Being away only increases the rate to climb instead of decreasing. We should therefore make more funding available to support the community-based HIV/AIDS prevention services. 8: FAHEEM SHABAZZ: Yes- Definitely. There should be an ample amount of clinics and services. Turn away rates should be reduced 12: ALBERTO BOCANEGRA: Yes- Increasing funding will be difficult but a financial transactions tax should help. 15: RAYMOND LOPEZ: Yes- I have supported the availability of in-house clinics in CPS High Schools. Such clinics should be empowered to offer confidential HIV/STD screenings for students whom are particularly susceptible to unhealthy sexual activities. Additionally, I would support increasing funds for current DPH clinics to eliminate any turn-away rates. 25: CUAHUTEMOC MORFIN: Yes- The cost of turning away those in need or seeking these services is too great. Not only is this a matter of the well being and lives of those turned away, it is the lives of all the other people who will subsequently be put at risk. When individuals are seeking these services they are asking for a right to know more about their sexual health. By turning them away we lose the chance to empower them to make healthy choices and risk the lives and well being of others. Page 3 Part 3: Responses from Aldermen (sorted by question) 28 JASON ERVIN: Yes- I do support increased funding to reduce turn-away rates, for people who need assistance. When people are not helped due to inadequate clinic capacity, the STD infection rates increase, therefore, causing even greater health disparities within the 28th ward and actually adversely affecting Chicagoans throughout the city. The South Austin Public Health Center located at 4958 West Madison, in the 28th Ward needs increased funding because of inadequate clinic capacity. If elected Alderman of the 28th Ward, I would definitely support increased funding to reduce the turn-away rates of people who need assistance. 32: DAVID PAVLIK: Yes- Every person turned away due to inadequate funding is a potential transmitter of STDs.