February 15, 2005
Sally Blower
Department of Biomathematics
sblower@biomath.medsch.ucla.edu
UCLA School of Medicine
10833 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Dear Ms. Blower:
In August 2001 the San Francisco Chronicle reported that you were a member of the research team that developed a mathematical model "forecasting that 42 percent of HIV infections in San Francisco will be resistant to current AIDS drugs by 2005, further complicating efforts to keep the rapidly mutating virus in check."
Given the alarming news originating from New York about a gay man who within three months of becoming infected with HIV, developed a multi-drug resistant strain of full-blown AIDS, now is a crucial time to ask if your prediction for resistance has become reality.
Are 42% of all people infected with HIV in San Francisco resistant to AIDS drugs? If they are, that is crucial information for the local health department, AIDS clinics and physicians. If the 42% figure is not the current percentage for resistance, can you tell me if it's lower or higher than you predicted?
Regarding all new HIV infections, the Chronicle also reported your model estimated 16% of new transmissions would be resistant by 2005. Is that indeed the case?
Some of your colleagues, for a variety of reasons, expressed relatively little concern about San Francisco potentially reaching a 42% resistance rate by 2005.
However, I am gravely worried that such a high level of drug-resistance to any class(es) of AIDS drugs, in light of the New York AIDS patient, could portend tragedy for both our population and our public health system.
I respectfully request and would deeply appreciate a prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Ph: 415-621-6267
^^^
http://www.aegis.com/news/sc/2001/SC010811.html
Aug. 31, 2001
San Francisco Chronicle
Researchers at the University of California are forecasting that 42 percent of HIV infections in San Francisco will be resistant to current AIDS drugs by 2005, further complicating efforts to keep the rapidly mutating virus in check.
"Forty-two percent is a lot of resistance. It will certainly be a challenge if we do not get new drugs developed," said Dr. James Kahn, an AIDS specialist at San Francisco General Hospital and senior author of the report, published yesterday in the journal Nature Medicine.
[snip]
Reports, proud muckraking, photos, videos and musings from the veteran LGBT and AIDS human rights advocate Michael Petrelis. Based in San Francisco since 1995. Contact: MPetrelis_at_AOL_dot_com. Vote Petrelis for BART Board District 9 in November!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Monday, February 07, 2005
Feb. 7, 2005
Mr. Thomas Bruein
President
Board of Directors
Email: mtb19672003@yahoo.com
Stop AIDS Project
San Francisco, CA
Dear Mr. Bruein:
I see from the news release below, posted on your project's web site over this weekend, that you've hired a new executive director to oversee your programs of stopping AIDS among gay men in San Francisco.
What I find most curious about the release is that no mention is made of two positive developments in stopping AIDS: new HIV transmissions are stable and full-blown AIDS diagnoses are at their lowest level since 1983.
Is your organization unaware that the latest annual HIV epidemiology report for the city, in the executive summary, states the "HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken another turn in San Francisco. Previously, we reported that HIV transmission was resurgent among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the late 1990s. Our conclusion was based on rising trends in sexual risk behavior, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and, in several studies, HIV incidence itself. We now detect a more complex pattern in the HIV epidemic.
"New data suggest HIV incidence has leveled off in the past few years. Application of the Serological Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) to specimens collected at the anonymous and the STD clinic testing sites finds that recent infection peaked in 1999. From 1999 to 2003, HIV incidence has stabilized." (Source: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf )
Do Stop AIDS Project employees not read AIDS epidemiological reports from the San Francisco Department of Public Health? I ask this question because your news release failed to say anything about the tremendous drop in full-blown AIDS diagnoses documented in the fourth-quarter AIDS surveillance report. The report shows 466 cases were recorded in 2003, versus 245 AIDS cases last year. This is a 47% drop, which seems to have escaped the attention of your group. ( http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/qrtrpt122004.pdf)
Putting aside for a moment the announcement about your new executive director, there is nothing on your web site informing people of the stable HIV transmission rate or the serious fall in AIDS diagnoses. Is your communications director not interested in writing up a release about the latest numbers, if only to make the claim that your programs may have contributed to the drop in AIDS cases?
Perhaps your employees don't care to read and understand the HIV and AIDS epidemiology reports gathered and published by our health department, which may explain the apparent ignorance about the statistics on the part of your group.
But both gay and mainstream daily newspapers have written news articles about the current state of HIV and AIDS numbers. Does your staff not read the Bay Area Reporter and the San Jose Mercury News when these papers report on level HIV rates or AIDS cases plunging? (Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/10794451.htm?1c )
Back to your announcement. You're quoted saying the head "brings to STOP AIDS a proven track record of leadership, fundraising and management experience, making him a fantastic fit for us as we move toward the future.” Great, but does he have a history of either stopping AIDS or reducing HIV rates? If so, what is that history? And what exactly are his qualifications to run an organization dedicated to stopping AIDS in the gay community? There is nothing in your release telling me what your new director has ever done to stop AIDS, which I thought was your agenda.
I hope that in the very near future your group calls attention to current HIV and AIDS statistics, along with announcing a realistic plan to keep AIDS cases going down and HIV infections either level, or pushed to the point where they decline.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
^^^
http://stopaids.org/about_us/archive/new_exec_dir.html
New Executive Director Hired
STOP AIDS Project Announces Robert J. McMullin As Executive Director
Today, the Board of Directors of the STOP AIDS Project announced the hire of Robert J. McMullin as their executive director, effective February 7. McMullin, a native Californian, has 20 years of executive level experience in the nonprofit arena and has worked with organizations such as LA Gay and Lesbian Center and LA Shanti. As executive director, McMullin will oversee STOP AIDS Project’s programmatic, fundraising, financial, and administrative functions.
“I am thrilled and honored to join the STOP AIDS Project, I am looking forward to enhancing their work in the community and strengthening their efforts.” said McMullin. “They are poised to advance HIV prevention in new ways for gay and bisexual men with their unique community-based approach, volunteer engagement, and experienced staff.”
“We are excited to have attracted more than 60 applicants to this competitive process, and are thrilled to bring such an exceptional candidate to the helm of the organization,” said Thomas Bruein, President of the Board of Directors of STOP AIDS. “Robert brings to STOP AIDS a proven track record of leadership, fundraising and management experience, making him a fantastic fit for us as we move toward the future.”
Every month STOP AIDS Project reaches 300 gay and bisexual men through 24 activities and programs, talks with more than 800 men through street outreach, and distributes 83,000 condoms at 85 venues throughout the city. STOP AIDS Project operates with 16 employees, 250 volunteers and an annual budget of $1.5 million. McMullin will be receiving an annual salary of $93,000 and will relocate to San Francisco from his current residence in Los Angeles.
“Like most gay men, HIV has impacted me, my friends and my community too often and too deeply. I’ve lost a number of the most important people in my life to AIDS,” said McMullin, who is also HIV positive. “Right now, each of us has opportunities to minimize the continuing impact of HIV in our community and among our friends and partners while creating the kind of community that we long for and deserve. That is the promise of HIV prevention and the reason I am drawn to STOP AIDS Project.”
“One of the greatest opportunities working in the LGBT community and in HIV/AIDS is that things are always changing,” said McMullin. “I enjoy keeping organizations on the cutting-edge by encouraging constant creativity and innovation. My job is to make sure that things are in place organizationally for that to occur. Ultimately, I thrive in that kind of environment.”
McMullin added that he will focus on STOP AIDS Project’s contribution to the Department of Public Health’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by 50%, broadening funding streams to pay for new approaches to HIV prevention, and moving HIV prevention efforts into the places where gay and bisexual men meet and live.
McMullin’s experience spans two decades in the nonprofit arena at organizations such as the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and LA Shanti. McMullin served on the management team of the Center for four years as the Director of Development and four years as the Director of Major Gifts. During his tenure the Center’s budget increased 300% to a $30 million annual budget. Half of the Center’s programming is dedicated to HIV prevention, medical care and comprehensive mental health programs for people with HIV.
Prior to the Center, McMullin was the Director of Development for the LA Chamber Orchestra, one of the premiere chamber orchestras in the country, comprised of musicians from Hollywood’s motion picture and recording industries. The Orchestra was founded by Neville Mariner and is currently led by the world-renowned pianist and conductor Jeffrey Cahane. McMullin also served as he executive director of the Pasadena, CA and Huntsville, Alabama Symphony Orchestras.
“Its not very often you are given a chance, like the one at STOP AIDS Project, to make a meaningful impact in the community as part of your professional life,” said McMullin. “I relish the challenge and I look forward to the work.”
Mr. Thomas Bruein
President
Board of Directors
Email: mtb19672003@yahoo.com
Stop AIDS Project
San Francisco, CA
Dear Mr. Bruein:
I see from the news release below, posted on your project's web site over this weekend, that you've hired a new executive director to oversee your programs of stopping AIDS among gay men in San Francisco.
What I find most curious about the release is that no mention is made of two positive developments in stopping AIDS: new HIV transmissions are stable and full-blown AIDS diagnoses are at their lowest level since 1983.
Is your organization unaware that the latest annual HIV epidemiology report for the city, in the executive summary, states the "HIV/AIDS epidemic has taken another turn in San Francisco. Previously, we reported that HIV transmission was resurgent among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the late 1990s. Our conclusion was based on rising trends in sexual risk behavior, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and, in several studies, HIV incidence itself. We now detect a more complex pattern in the HIV epidemic.
"New data suggest HIV incidence has leveled off in the past few years. Application of the Serological Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) to specimens collected at the anonymous and the STD clinic testing sites finds that recent infection peaked in 1999. From 1999 to 2003, HIV incidence has stabilized." (Source: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf )
Do Stop AIDS Project employees not read AIDS epidemiological reports from the San Francisco Department of Public Health? I ask this question because your news release failed to say anything about the tremendous drop in full-blown AIDS diagnoses documented in the fourth-quarter AIDS surveillance report. The report shows 466 cases were recorded in 2003, versus 245 AIDS cases last year. This is a 47% drop, which seems to have escaped the attention of your group. ( http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/qrtrpt122004.pdf)
Putting aside for a moment the announcement about your new executive director, there is nothing on your web site informing people of the stable HIV transmission rate or the serious fall in AIDS diagnoses. Is your communications director not interested in writing up a release about the latest numbers, if only to make the claim that your programs may have contributed to the drop in AIDS cases?
Perhaps your employees don't care to read and understand the HIV and AIDS epidemiology reports gathered and published by our health department, which may explain the apparent ignorance about the statistics on the part of your group.
But both gay and mainstream daily newspapers have written news articles about the current state of HIV and AIDS numbers. Does your staff not read the Bay Area Reporter and the San Jose Mercury News when these papers report on level HIV rates or AIDS cases plunging? (Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/10794451.htm?1c )
Back to your announcement. You're quoted saying the head "brings to STOP AIDS a proven track record of leadership, fundraising and management experience, making him a fantastic fit for us as we move toward the future.” Great, but does he have a history of either stopping AIDS or reducing HIV rates? If so, what is that history? And what exactly are his qualifications to run an organization dedicated to stopping AIDS in the gay community? There is nothing in your release telling me what your new director has ever done to stop AIDS, which I thought was your agenda.
I hope that in the very near future your group calls attention to current HIV and AIDS statistics, along with announcing a realistic plan to keep AIDS cases going down and HIV infections either level, or pushed to the point where they decline.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
^^^
http://stopaids.org/about_us/archive/new_exec_dir.html
New Executive Director Hired
STOP AIDS Project Announces Robert J. McMullin As Executive Director
Today, the Board of Directors of the STOP AIDS Project announced the hire of Robert J. McMullin as their executive director, effective February 7. McMullin, a native Californian, has 20 years of executive level experience in the nonprofit arena and has worked with organizations such as LA Gay and Lesbian Center and LA Shanti. As executive director, McMullin will oversee STOP AIDS Project’s programmatic, fundraising, financial, and administrative functions.
“I am thrilled and honored to join the STOP AIDS Project, I am looking forward to enhancing their work in the community and strengthening their efforts.” said McMullin. “They are poised to advance HIV prevention in new ways for gay and bisexual men with their unique community-based approach, volunteer engagement, and experienced staff.”
“We are excited to have attracted more than 60 applicants to this competitive process, and are thrilled to bring such an exceptional candidate to the helm of the organization,” said Thomas Bruein, President of the Board of Directors of STOP AIDS. “Robert brings to STOP AIDS a proven track record of leadership, fundraising and management experience, making him a fantastic fit for us as we move toward the future.”
Every month STOP AIDS Project reaches 300 gay and bisexual men through 24 activities and programs, talks with more than 800 men through street outreach, and distributes 83,000 condoms at 85 venues throughout the city. STOP AIDS Project operates with 16 employees, 250 volunteers and an annual budget of $1.5 million. McMullin will be receiving an annual salary of $93,000 and will relocate to San Francisco from his current residence in Los Angeles.
“Like most gay men, HIV has impacted me, my friends and my community too often and too deeply. I’ve lost a number of the most important people in my life to AIDS,” said McMullin, who is also HIV positive. “Right now, each of us has opportunities to minimize the continuing impact of HIV in our community and among our friends and partners while creating the kind of community that we long for and deserve. That is the promise of HIV prevention and the reason I am drawn to STOP AIDS Project.”
“One of the greatest opportunities working in the LGBT community and in HIV/AIDS is that things are always changing,” said McMullin. “I enjoy keeping organizations on the cutting-edge by encouraging constant creativity and innovation. My job is to make sure that things are in place organizationally for that to occur. Ultimately, I thrive in that kind of environment.”
McMullin added that he will focus on STOP AIDS Project’s contribution to the Department of Public Health’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by 50%, broadening funding streams to pay for new approaches to HIV prevention, and moving HIV prevention efforts into the places where gay and bisexual men meet and live.
McMullin’s experience spans two decades in the nonprofit arena at organizations such as the LA Gay and Lesbian Center and LA Shanti. McMullin served on the management team of the Center for four years as the Director of Development and four years as the Director of Major Gifts. During his tenure the Center’s budget increased 300% to a $30 million annual budget. Half of the Center’s programming is dedicated to HIV prevention, medical care and comprehensive mental health programs for people with HIV.
Prior to the Center, McMullin was the Director of Development for the LA Chamber Orchestra, one of the premiere chamber orchestras in the country, comprised of musicians from Hollywood’s motion picture and recording industries. The Orchestra was founded by Neville Mariner and is currently led by the world-renowned pianist and conductor Jeffrey Cahane. McMullin also served as he executive director of the Pasadena, CA and Huntsville, Alabama Symphony Orchestras.
“Its not very often you are given a chance, like the one at STOP AIDS Project, to make a meaningful impact in the community as part of your professional life,” said McMullin. “I relish the challenge and I look forward to the work.”
Monday, January 31, 2005
Subj: Johnny Carson
Date: 1/31/2005 2:46:21 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: strum@nytimes.com
To: MPetrelis@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Mr. Petrelis:
Thank you for taking the trouble to write us about the Carson obituary, and
for your kind words. You're quite right about Jerry Brown's presidential
campaigns. As it happens, the original version of the obituary referred to
Brown as a former presidential aspirant and did not mention a year or
years. It appears, from backtracking in our computer system, that 1992 was
added by an editor on deadline. We'll offer a correction.
Your findings from the Federal Election Commission, while interesting, do
not warrant a correction in our view. The paragraph that discusses Carson's
penchant for guarding his political views refer in context to his penchant
for being an equal-opportunity comedian; i.e., political leaders of either
major party were targets. Unlike other entertainers--Bob Hope and Barbra
Streisand are but two of many who come to mind--Carson shied away from
making his personal politics part of this job.
Again, thank you for writing and for reading so closely.
regards,
Charles Strum
obituaries editor
Date: 1/31/2005 2:46:21 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: strum@nytimes.com
To: MPetrelis@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Mr. Petrelis:
Thank you for taking the trouble to write us about the Carson obituary, and
for your kind words. You're quite right about Jerry Brown's presidential
campaigns. As it happens, the original version of the obituary referred to
Brown as a former presidential aspirant and did not mention a year or
years. It appears, from backtracking in our computer system, that 1992 was
added by an editor on deadline. We'll offer a correction.
Your findings from the Federal Election Commission, while interesting, do
not warrant a correction in our view. The paragraph that discusses Carson's
penchant for guarding his political views refer in context to his penchant
for being an equal-opportunity comedian; i.e., political leaders of either
major party were targets. Unlike other entertainers--Bob Hope and Barbra
Streisand are but two of many who come to mind--Carson shied away from
making his personal politics part of this job.
Again, thank you for writing and for reading so closely.
regards,
Charles Strum
obituaries editor
Sunday, January 30, 2005
January 30, 2005
Dr. Mitch Katz
Director
Mitch.Katz@sfdph.org
Department of Public Health
101 Grove Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Dear Dr. Katz:
The San Francisco Department of Public Health released its 2004 annual AIDS epidemiological report on January 28 and the document shows the city experienced a 47% drop from 2003 of full-blown AIDS diagnoses, which is good news.
The latest report shows 245 AIDS cases were recorded last year. The last time this number was so low was back in 1983, more than twenty years ago as the epidemic was just starting, when 275 diagnoses were reported.
Deaths due to the diseases associated with AIDS are also down again, but the percentage is not as great as the falling number of cases. AIDS-related deaths in 2004 dropped just 15% from the previous year.
In 2004, 182 AIDS-related deaths occurred. The last time the city saw such a relatively small number of AIDS deaths was back in 1983. A total of 112 death were documented that year.
The newest AIDS report documenting drops in diagnoses and deaths comes on the heels of the health department reporting a continuing level number of new HIV infections in San Francisco. As you know, the most current annual HIV report and the monthly sexually transmitted disease report for the city clearly show HIV infections are either stable or slightly declining. (Sources: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf, Page 11, and http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STDMONTH.pdf, Table 3.)
However, I am concerned that you and your department have issued no press releases or detailed explanations about the new AIDS report and the continuing dramatic drops.
Here are several questions I hope you will answer for me:
- Has the number of cases dropped because more HIV positive people are taking drug cocktails, preventing them from contracting opportunistic infections and progressing on to full-blown AIDS?
- Are there simply less people contracting HIV and not developing AIDS?
- Since the health department has said for more than a year now that the HIV infection rate in the city is flat to declining, is the plateau of new HIV transmissions because of government-funded prevention messages and programs?
- What role, if any, does the fact that so many people with AIDS and HIV in San Francisco are on the drug cocktails, with undetectable or very low HIV viral loads, play in the new infection rate stabilizing?
- Is the human immunodeficiency virus slowly burning itself out?
- Is a combination of factors causing the stable HIV infection rate, declining number of new full-blown AIDS cases and AIDS-related deaths?
- What are you planning to do to keep HIV transmissions level, along with maintaining falling AIDS diagnoses and associated deaths?
Frankly, as a gay man who buried friends from this epidemic before AIDS was even called GRID, Gay Related Immune Deficiency, it gives me great hope the epidemic in San Francisco is under control and declining, as represented in the figures below from your new AIDS report.
San Francisco AIDS Cases:
1980
3
1981
26
1982
99
1983
275
1984
666
1985
860
1986
1236
1987
1630
1988
1762
1989
2159
1990
2046
1991
2280
1992
2327
1993
2081
1994
1789
1995
1561
1996
1079
1997
808
1998
685
1999
579
2000
546
2001
496
2002
463
2003
466
2004
245
--
San Francisco AIDS-Related Deaths:
1980
0
1981
8
1982
32
1983
112
1984
272
1985
531
1986
807
1987
877
1988
1036
1989
1272
1990
1362
1991
1496
1992
1633
1993
1584
1994
1584
1995
1475
1996
982
1997
413
1998
396
1999
353
2000
340
2001
318
2002
241
2003
216
2004
182
(Sources: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/qrtrpt122004.pdf, Tables 5 and 9.)
Finally, if the health department plans to release more information about the drops in new HIV infections, full-blown AIDS diagnoses and related deaths, I would appreciate it if the information were posted on your web site.
A prompt written reply is respectfully requested and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
MPetrelis@aol.com
San Francisco, CA
Cc:
Mr. Jimmy Loyce, Director, DPH AIDS Office
Jimmy.Loyce@sfdph.org
Dr. Mitch Katz
Director
Mitch.Katz@sfdph.org
Department of Public Health
101 Grove Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Dear Dr. Katz:
The San Francisco Department of Public Health released its 2004 annual AIDS epidemiological report on January 28 and the document shows the city experienced a 47% drop from 2003 of full-blown AIDS diagnoses, which is good news.
The latest report shows 245 AIDS cases were recorded last year. The last time this number was so low was back in 1983, more than twenty years ago as the epidemic was just starting, when 275 diagnoses were reported.
Deaths due to the diseases associated with AIDS are also down again, but the percentage is not as great as the falling number of cases. AIDS-related deaths in 2004 dropped just 15% from the previous year.
In 2004, 182 AIDS-related deaths occurred. The last time the city saw such a relatively small number of AIDS deaths was back in 1983. A total of 112 death were documented that year.
The newest AIDS report documenting drops in diagnoses and deaths comes on the heels of the health department reporting a continuing level number of new HIV infections in San Francisco. As you know, the most current annual HIV report and the monthly sexually transmitted disease report for the city clearly show HIV infections are either stable or slightly declining. (Sources: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf, Page 11, and http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STDMONTH.pdf, Table 3.)
However, I am concerned that you and your department have issued no press releases or detailed explanations about the new AIDS report and the continuing dramatic drops.
Here are several questions I hope you will answer for me:
- Has the number of cases dropped because more HIV positive people are taking drug cocktails, preventing them from contracting opportunistic infections and progressing on to full-blown AIDS?
- Are there simply less people contracting HIV and not developing AIDS?
- Since the health department has said for more than a year now that the HIV infection rate in the city is flat to declining, is the plateau of new HIV transmissions because of government-funded prevention messages and programs?
- What role, if any, does the fact that so many people with AIDS and HIV in San Francisco are on the drug cocktails, with undetectable or very low HIV viral loads, play in the new infection rate stabilizing?
- Is the human immunodeficiency virus slowly burning itself out?
- Is a combination of factors causing the stable HIV infection rate, declining number of new full-blown AIDS cases and AIDS-related deaths?
- What are you planning to do to keep HIV transmissions level, along with maintaining falling AIDS diagnoses and associated deaths?
Frankly, as a gay man who buried friends from this epidemic before AIDS was even called GRID, Gay Related Immune Deficiency, it gives me great hope the epidemic in San Francisco is under control and declining, as represented in the figures below from your new AIDS report.
San Francisco AIDS Cases:
1980
3
1981
26
1982
99
1983
275
1984
666
1985
860
1986
1236
1987
1630
1988
1762
1989
2159
1990
2046
1991
2280
1992
2327
1993
2081
1994
1789
1995
1561
1996
1079
1997
808
1998
685
1999
579
2000
546
2001
496
2002
463
2003
466
2004
245
--
San Francisco AIDS-Related Deaths:
1980
0
1981
8
1982
32
1983
112
1984
272
1985
531
1986
807
1987
877
1988
1036
1989
1272
1990
1362
1991
1496
1992
1633
1993
1584
1994
1584
1995
1475
1996
982
1997
413
1998
396
1999
353
2000
340
2001
318
2002
241
2003
216
2004
182
(Sources: http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/qrtrpt122004.pdf, Tables 5 and 9.)
Finally, if the health department plans to release more information about the drops in new HIV infections, full-blown AIDS diagnoses and related deaths, I would appreciate it if the information were posted on your web site.
A prompt written reply is respectfully requested and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
MPetrelis@aol.com
San Francisco, CA
Cc:
Mr. Jimmy Loyce, Director, DPH AIDS Office
Jimmy.Loyce@sfdph.org
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
January 26, 2005
Corrections Editor
The New York Times
New York, NY
Dear Editor:
In your otherwise excellent obituary about the great TV talk show host Johnny Carson, two mistakes were made that need correcting. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/24/arts/television/24john.html?pagewanted=1 )
First, the Times claimed "Mr. Carson guarded his political views as carefully as he did his private life, insisting that the only message of his show was entertainment."
Looking at his political donations on file with the Federal Election Commission, I'd say he supported Democrats over Republicans, making some of his political views very public.
Here are his contributions to federal candidates:
CARSON, JOHNNY MR
10/17/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
-[Contribution]
REAGAN FOR PRESIDENT (1980 PRIMARY PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE)
CARSON, JOHNNY
12/3/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
N B C-TV -[Contribution]
BROWN FOR PRESIDENT (1980 PCC)
CARSON, JOHNNY MR
12/7/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
-[Contribution]
KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE
CARSON, JOHNNY
1/30/1980 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELS, CA 90034
COMEDIAN -[Contribution]
CARTER/MONDALE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INC
(Source: www.tray.com)
Furthermore, the Times reported Carson "also joked that Jerry Brown, the Democratic former governor of California who ran for president in 1992, admitted that he had smoked marijuana in the 60's 'but didn't exhale.'"
While Brown may not have exhaled and he sought the presidency in 1992, he also ran for president in 1976 and 1980, which the Times failed to mention. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Brown)
I think the Times owes readers corrections about these points.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Ph: 415-621-6267
Corrections Editor
The New York Times
New York, NY
Dear Editor:
In your otherwise excellent obituary about the great TV talk show host Johnny Carson, two mistakes were made that need correcting. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/24/arts/television/24john.html?pagewanted=1 )
First, the Times claimed "Mr. Carson guarded his political views as carefully as he did his private life, insisting that the only message of his show was entertainment."
Looking at his political donations on file with the Federal Election Commission, I'd say he supported Democrats over Republicans, making some of his political views very public.
Here are his contributions to federal candidates:
CARSON, JOHNNY MR
10/17/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
-[Contribution]
REAGAN FOR PRESIDENT (1980 PRIMARY PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE)
CARSON, JOHNNY
12/3/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
N B C-TV -[Contribution]
BROWN FOR PRESIDENT (1980 PCC)
CARSON, JOHNNY MR
12/7/1979 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
-[Contribution]
KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE
CARSON, JOHNNY
1/30/1980 $1,000.00
LOS ANGELS, CA 90034
COMEDIAN -[Contribution]
CARTER/MONDALE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INC
(Source: www.tray.com)
Furthermore, the Times reported Carson "also joked that Jerry Brown, the Democratic former governor of California who ran for president in 1992, admitted that he had smoked marijuana in the 60's 'but didn't exhale.'"
While Brown may not have exhaled and he sought the presidency in 1992, he also ran for president in 1976 and 1980, which the Times failed to mention. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Brown)
I think the Times owes readers corrections about these points.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Ph: 415-621-6267
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Human Rights Campaign is running a full-page black and white ad in this week's Bay Area Reporter. As is their habit, HRC singles out Congressional Republicans, three of them, as homophobic extremists who must be demonized. For sheer tokenism, the ad cites one minor Democratic member of the House in league with the trio of GOP devils.
I don't have a problem with HRC spending money to criticize GOP leaders, and the occasional Democrat, for idiotic comments and maneuvers against queers. But what does irk me about HRC's BAR ad is that it asked San Franciscans to join the group to take on the men in the ad, and none is from either the San Francisco Bay Area or California.
First of all, HRC doesn't bother to explain how voters who don't live in the states or districts of these politicians will somehow have influence over them. Does HRC truly believe a GOP Senator from Oklahoma or South Carolina will pay any attention to letters or pleas from queers in the Castro? If they do, can HRC produce evidence that it last year persuaded any extremist in Congress to change because queers from San Francisco lobbied him or her? I'd love for the group to educate me about their effectiveness through such campaigns.
Second, why is Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from California, omitted from HRC's ad? Perhaps our national lobbying group has forgotten Feinstein's comments against marriage equality for queers, basically blaming us and our issues for the reelection of George Bush, days after he won a second four years. She felt marriage equality was an issue that was horribly too much, too fast, too soon for America. Many gay Democrats across the state viewed her statement as extremist and harbor ill feelings towards her, even threatening to withhold money and votes when she's up for reelection.
Third, I wish HRC would simply come of the Democrat Party closet and once and for all declare their true identity. HRC is a Democratic organization of people who also identify as gay and lesbian. This latest ad is another thinly veiled piece of partisan propaganda masquerading as gay advocacy for all of us. HRC would do itself a great favor, something that may also benefit the larger community, in dropping their pretense of being bipartisan. If there were truth in advertising required of HRC propaganda, the following would always appear in the copy. "The Human Rights Campaign is the largest Democratic national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the county."
Finally, the ad isn't touted anywhere on HRC's web site, which I find odd since whenever they launch an educational or outreach effort like the ad, a news release is circulated and posted on their site. Not this time.
Here's the full text and description of the HRC ad.
^^^
TAKE THEM ON!
"If a person wants to be publicly gay, they should be teaching in the public schools."
- Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
The Post and Courier
October 4, 2004
"Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman ... We don't need a few judges trying to redefine marriage."
-Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)
The Robesonian
March 3, 2004
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."
-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Associated Press
April 22, 2003
"Lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
-Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Associated Press
October 11, 2004
[Next to each quote is a washed out b/w photo of the politician.]
The anti-LGBT extremists are only getting more aggressive. And so is the Human Rights Campaign. Like never before, we're going to take them on in the media, in the courts, in the states and in Washington, DC. Don't let discrimination be the last word.
We are ready. Are you? Join us.
Working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equal rights.
202/628-4160
www.hrc.org
Human Rights Campaign
I don't have a problem with HRC spending money to criticize GOP leaders, and the occasional Democrat, for idiotic comments and maneuvers against queers. But what does irk me about HRC's BAR ad is that it asked San Franciscans to join the group to take on the men in the ad, and none is from either the San Francisco Bay Area or California.
First of all, HRC doesn't bother to explain how voters who don't live in the states or districts of these politicians will somehow have influence over them. Does HRC truly believe a GOP Senator from Oklahoma or South Carolina will pay any attention to letters or pleas from queers in the Castro? If they do, can HRC produce evidence that it last year persuaded any extremist in Congress to change because queers from San Francisco lobbied him or her? I'd love for the group to educate me about their effectiveness through such campaigns.
Second, why is Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat from California, omitted from HRC's ad? Perhaps our national lobbying group has forgotten Feinstein's comments against marriage equality for queers, basically blaming us and our issues for the reelection of George Bush, days after he won a second four years. She felt marriage equality was an issue that was horribly too much, too fast, too soon for America. Many gay Democrats across the state viewed her statement as extremist and harbor ill feelings towards her, even threatening to withhold money and votes when she's up for reelection.
Third, I wish HRC would simply come of the Democrat Party closet and once and for all declare their true identity. HRC is a Democratic organization of people who also identify as gay and lesbian. This latest ad is another thinly veiled piece of partisan propaganda masquerading as gay advocacy for all of us. HRC would do itself a great favor, something that may also benefit the larger community, in dropping their pretense of being bipartisan. If there were truth in advertising required of HRC propaganda, the following would always appear in the copy. "The Human Rights Campaign is the largest Democratic national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the county."
Finally, the ad isn't touted anywhere on HRC's web site, which I find odd since whenever they launch an educational or outreach effort like the ad, a news release is circulated and posted on their site. Not this time.
Here's the full text and description of the HRC ad.
^^^
TAKE THEM ON!
"If a person wants to be publicly gay, they should be teaching in the public schools."
- Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
The Post and Courier
October 4, 2004
"Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman ... We don't need a few judges trying to redefine marriage."
-Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)
The Robesonian
March 3, 2004
"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."
-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Associated Press
April 22, 2003
"Lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"
-Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Associated Press
October 11, 2004
[Next to each quote is a washed out b/w photo of the politician.]
The anti-LGBT extremists are only getting more aggressive. And so is the Human Rights Campaign. Like never before, we're going to take them on in the media, in the courts, in the states and in Washington, DC. Don't let discrimination be the last word.
We are ready. Are you? Join us.
Working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equal rights.
202/628-4160
www.hrc.org
Human Rights Campaign
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Dear Friends:
In a year-end interview with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Chris Bull of Planet Out made the following claim about HIV infections in San Francisco, before asking the mayor a question about the alleged rise.
"Let's talk about an issue that has taken a back seat to marriage. HIV infection rates are up among some groups of gay men. What are you doing about it?" (Source: http://planetout.com/news/feature.html?sernum=1019)
I was surprised to read Bull's allegation that HIV transmissions among some gay men in this city were up, because of all the available data on the San Francisco Department of Public Health's web site shows otherwise.
Thinking that Bull must have data to back up his claim, I emailed him and asked if he could cite a source for his claim.
Here's his reply:
>>i said it was "up" among "some" groups, by which i meant young gay men and people over [sic] color.
even the best hiv denialists can't deny that fact.<<
You'll notice Bull didn't provide a link to any data. Instead, he parsed his own words and then segued into a statement about HIV denialists, which has nothing to do with his inability to authenticate his claim of a rising HIV rate among some groups in San Francisco.
Well, here's some news for Bull. Today's edition of the Bay Area Reporter has an excellent story by Matthew S. Bajko about the latest HIV stats for all groups here.
The BAR headline? "San Francisco HIV cases continue to plateau."
Notice the word continue. It means, in case Bull has forgotten, that the flat HIV rate here has been going on for a while, even back in December when he interviewed the mayor.
The BAR article details reports from SF DPH HIV epidemiologists documenting stabilization of new HIV infections, which is expected to continue through at least 2007.
There isn't a single reference in the BAR story about supposed HIV surges among young gays or people of color, despite Bull's unsubstantiated claim. You can be sure that if the SF DPH had any evidence about HIV going up for either group, it would be presented to the BAR and reported on.
Unfortunately, the BAR is not on line, but if you want to contact Bajko or the BAR news editor to verify my assertions about what the paper is reporting today, please write to them at matthewsbajko@aol.com or barpaper@aol.com.
This is just the latest story in the past twelve months about HIV rates in San Francisco either leveling off or slightly declining.
This is what the San Francisco Chronicle noted last February.
"A steep rise in syphilis cases among gay men in San Francisco has not produced a related increase in HIV infections, researchers reported Tuesday, stirring hope that the city may avoid a new wave of AIDS cases abetted by other sexually transmitted diseases.
"The findings, together with other data pointing to decreases in unsafe sexual practices, hint that the overall rate of HIV infections in San Francisco, which began increasing in 1998, may be starting to ebb." (Source: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/11/BAGCM4U0TC1.DTL)
If Bull wants to read the latest annual HIV report for the city, he can follow this link, http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf, and see for himself how there is data in the report about increases for young gays or people of color.
Bull can also check out the most current Counseling, Testing and Referral HIV report and see how there's no rise in it.
Should Bull want to look at even more HIV data for the city, he can look at the past two monthly sexually transmitted disease reports at http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STDMONTH.pdf and http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STD0410.pdf, and read about the declining HIV infection rate at the municipal STD clinic.
Of course, he can choose to remain ignorant about what is really happening in San Francisco regarding flat, not rising, HIV rates. If he does have genuine data about his claimed HIV rises, Bull might want to share it with the SF DPH, the BAR and the Chronicle.
Heck, if Bull is smart he will learn a lesson from CBS's Dan Rather and simply admit he can't authenticate his claim and issue an apology.
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
In a year-end interview with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Chris Bull of Planet Out made the following claim about HIV infections in San Francisco, before asking the mayor a question about the alleged rise.
"Let's talk about an issue that has taken a back seat to marriage. HIV infection rates are up among some groups of gay men. What are you doing about it?" (Source: http://planetout.com/news/feature.html?sernum=1019)
I was surprised to read Bull's allegation that HIV transmissions among some gay men in this city were up, because of all the available data on the San Francisco Department of Public Health's web site shows otherwise.
Thinking that Bull must have data to back up his claim, I emailed him and asked if he could cite a source for his claim.
Here's his reply:
>>i said it was "up" among "some" groups, by which i meant young gay men and people over [sic] color.
even the best hiv denialists can't deny that fact.<<
You'll notice Bull didn't provide a link to any data. Instead, he parsed his own words and then segued into a statement about HIV denialists, which has nothing to do with his inability to authenticate his claim of a rising HIV rate among some groups in San Francisco.
Well, here's some news for Bull. Today's edition of the Bay Area Reporter has an excellent story by Matthew S. Bajko about the latest HIV stats for all groups here.
The BAR headline? "San Francisco HIV cases continue to plateau."
Notice the word continue. It means, in case Bull has forgotten, that the flat HIV rate here has been going on for a while, even back in December when he interviewed the mayor.
The BAR article details reports from SF DPH HIV epidemiologists documenting stabilization of new HIV infections, which is expected to continue through at least 2007.
There isn't a single reference in the BAR story about supposed HIV surges among young gays or people of color, despite Bull's unsubstantiated claim. You can be sure that if the SF DPH had any evidence about HIV going up for either group, it would be presented to the BAR and reported on.
Unfortunately, the BAR is not on line, but if you want to contact Bajko or the BAR news editor to verify my assertions about what the paper is reporting today, please write to them at matthewsbajko@aol.com or barpaper@aol.com.
This is just the latest story in the past twelve months about HIV rates in San Francisco either leveling off or slightly declining.
This is what the San Francisco Chronicle noted last February.
"A steep rise in syphilis cases among gay men in San Francisco has not produced a related increase in HIV infections, researchers reported Tuesday, stirring hope that the city may avoid a new wave of AIDS cases abetted by other sexually transmitted diseases.
"The findings, together with other data pointing to decreases in unsafe sexual practices, hint that the overall rate of HIV infections in San Francisco, which began increasing in 1998, may be starting to ebb." (Source: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/11/BAGCM4U0TC1.DTL)
If Bull wants to read the latest annual HIV report for the city, he can follow this link, http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/PHP/RptsHIVAIDS/annl2003Master-finalweb.pdf, and see for himself how there is data in the report about increases for young gays or people of color.
Bull can also check out the most current Counseling, Testing and Referral HIV report and see how there's no rise in it.
Should Bull want to look at even more HIV data for the city, he can look at the past two monthly sexually transmitted disease reports at http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STDMONTH.pdf and http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/Reports/STD/STD0410.pdf, and read about the declining HIV infection rate at the municipal STD clinic.
Of course, he can choose to remain ignorant about what is really happening in San Francisco regarding flat, not rising, HIV rates. If he does have genuine data about his claimed HIV rises, Bull might want to share it with the SF DPH, the BAR and the Chronicle.
Heck, if Bull is smart he will learn a lesson from CBS's Dan Rather and simply admit he can't authenticate his claim and issue an apology.
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
For Immediate Release
January 18, 2005
Contact: Michael Petrelis
Phone: 415-621-6267
Email: MPetrelis@aol.com
The People With AIDS/HIV Coalition Endorses "Hands Off Social Security" Demonstration
(San Francisco, CA) - Members of the newly formed People With AIDS/HIV Coalition over the weekend agreed to endorse the demonstration and rally to save Social Security which have been organized by the Gray Panthers' chapters of San Francisco and Berkeley.
WHAT: Rally and Speak Out
WHERE: Pacific Stock Exchange, 115 Sansome Street (at Bush)
DATE: Tuesday, January 18
TIME: 11:30 a.m.
WHY: No Privatization of Social Security
As the Bush Administration moves forward to privatize Social Security and make the program a gift to Wall Street, many people living with AIDS/HIV in San Francisco who currently receive Social Security benefits are growing anxious their entitlements are on the chopping block.
"We are proud to join with senior activists in the Gray Panthers today to tell President George Bush, 'Hands off our Social Security,'" said Michael Petrelis, a member of the People With AIDS/HIV Coalition. "For quite a number of AIDS patients, Social Security provides the benefits that keep us alive and must not be jeopardized. That could happen, if Bush is allowed to privatize this federal program."
More information about the rally, background information and history of Social Security, please read the flyer below from the Gray Panthers.
* * *
http://graypantherssf.igc.org/socsec1-18.htm
HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY!
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE,
NOT FOR WALL STREET!
JOIN US: TUES, JAN. 18, 11:30 AM
PACIFIC COAST STOCK EXCHANGE
115 SANSOME ST, (BUSH) more info.
Bush has made overturning Social Security his primary domestic priority in the coming months, a payback to his corporate sponsors. We need to act now!
Social Security is basically sound, but Wall Street wants to convince us it is doomed. Wall Street wants to slash benefits for future retirees, revive a lackluster stock market, and pocket almost a trillion dollars of management fees in a privatized system.
47 million retired and disabled workers, their families, and the families of deceased workers depend on Social Security to keep them from poverty. It is a system of social insurance that has operated efficiently and reliably for 70 years, and is based on a morality of generations taking care of each other and spreading risks among everyone. (more)
Social Security is there for future generations. It has over a $1.5 trillion surplus that is growing. By conservative estimates, it can fund current benefit levels until at least 2042, and 73% of current benefit levels after 2042. Current benefit levels could be funded indefinitely by applying the existing payroll tax to incomes over $88,000. These projections actually underestimate Social Security's strength because the projections assume future growth in Gross Domestic Product to be roughly half its historical value. (more)
For future retirees, Wall Street plans to reduce the percentage of their earnings they get as retirement benefits. For a typical worker retiring 50 years from now, this reduction would be 40%. x x There would be $1 to $2 trillion in transition costs to maintain current benefit levels over the next 10 years while workers divert 1/3 of their payroll deductions into private stock market accounts. Bush plans to borrow this money and dump the repayment costs on the same future workers and retirees whose benefits would be slashed. x x Administrative costs would be 20-30 times Social Security's administrative costs, to come from our benefits. x Wall Street's financial services industry would get up to $900 billion in management fees over the next 75 years. x This is one quarter of the projected $3.7 trillion Social Security shortfall that Wall Street says makes it necessary to scuttle Social Security.
Ultimately, Social Security privatization is a plan to divert workers' savings into the stock market and the private economy, whose outlook is uncertain at best. From 1999 to 2003, the value of 401(k) accounts owned by people near retirement dropped by an average of 25%. Now Wall Street demands our money to solve the problems it created: a record government budget deficit from corporate tax cuts and war, a $55 billion per month trade deficit from exporting manufacturing to use cheap labor, and a dollar whose value is falling and could collapse and cause global depression. No way! x
Social Security was instituted in 1935 in response to organized pressure of millions of working people following the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression. Half of US seniors were in poverty because of the failure of their individual stock market ac-counts, the very system that Wall Street wants to re-institute. We won't go back there!
Join us on January 18th! Strengthen Social Security
for Future Generations…Not Wall Street!
Hands Off Social Security:
SF, 415-215-7575, mlyon01@comcast.net
East Bay, 510-548-9696, GrayPanthersBerk@aol.com
PLANS FOR THE ACTION
At 11:30 AM, We will meet at the
Pacific Stock Exchange, downtown San Francisco
115 Sansome St. (between Bush and Pine),
and have a short rally/demonstration,
We will then march 2 blocks to the
SF Chamber of Commerce,
235 Montgomery St. (also between Bush and Pine),
and have another short rally/demonstration,
We will then march again 2 blocks to the
offices of Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
1 Post St (at Market and Montgomery)
for another short rally/demonstration.
Use the Montgomery Street BART station,
(at Market and Montgomery, at Feinstein's office)
Parking is available at 71 Stevenson (between 1st and 2nd Sts.)
See a map showing this area.
The Social Security System was won by the struggle of millions in 1935, the middle of the Great Depression, where millions lost their jobs and millions more lost their life savings in bank failures. Over half of America's elderly lacked sufficient income to be self-supporting.
Through massive strikes and demonstrations workers and their families formed a movement that challenged the power of the government, forcing it to enact Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, the right to unions and other deep reforms, which business and government are now trying to take back.
January 18, 2005
Contact: Michael Petrelis
Phone: 415-621-6267
Email: MPetrelis@aol.com
The People With AIDS/HIV Coalition Endorses "Hands Off Social Security" Demonstration
(San Francisco, CA) - Members of the newly formed People With AIDS/HIV Coalition over the weekend agreed to endorse the demonstration and rally to save Social Security which have been organized by the Gray Panthers' chapters of San Francisco and Berkeley.
WHAT: Rally and Speak Out
WHERE: Pacific Stock Exchange, 115 Sansome Street (at Bush)
DATE: Tuesday, January 18
TIME: 11:30 a.m.
WHY: No Privatization of Social Security
As the Bush Administration moves forward to privatize Social Security and make the program a gift to Wall Street, many people living with AIDS/HIV in San Francisco who currently receive Social Security benefits are growing anxious their entitlements are on the chopping block.
"We are proud to join with senior activists in the Gray Panthers today to tell President George Bush, 'Hands off our Social Security,'" said Michael Petrelis, a member of the People With AIDS/HIV Coalition. "For quite a number of AIDS patients, Social Security provides the benefits that keep us alive and must not be jeopardized. That could happen, if Bush is allowed to privatize this federal program."
More information about the rally, background information and history of Social Security, please read the flyer below from the Gray Panthers.
* * *
http://graypantherssf.igc.org/socsec1-18.htm
HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY!
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE,
NOT FOR WALL STREET!
JOIN US: TUES, JAN. 18, 11:30 AM
PACIFIC COAST STOCK EXCHANGE
115 SANSOME ST, (BUSH) more info.
Bush has made overturning Social Security his primary domestic priority in the coming months, a payback to his corporate sponsors. We need to act now!
Social Security is basically sound, but Wall Street wants to convince us it is doomed. Wall Street wants to slash benefits for future retirees, revive a lackluster stock market, and pocket almost a trillion dollars of management fees in a privatized system.
47 million retired and disabled workers, their families, and the families of deceased workers depend on Social Security to keep them from poverty. It is a system of social insurance that has operated efficiently and reliably for 70 years, and is based on a morality of generations taking care of each other and spreading risks among everyone. (more)
Social Security is there for future generations. It has over a $1.5 trillion surplus that is growing. By conservative estimates, it can fund current benefit levels until at least 2042, and 73% of current benefit levels after 2042. Current benefit levels could be funded indefinitely by applying the existing payroll tax to incomes over $88,000. These projections actually underestimate Social Security's strength because the projections assume future growth in Gross Domestic Product to be roughly half its historical value. (more)
For future retirees, Wall Street plans to reduce the percentage of their earnings they get as retirement benefits. For a typical worker retiring 50 years from now, this reduction would be 40%. x x There would be $1 to $2 trillion in transition costs to maintain current benefit levels over the next 10 years while workers divert 1/3 of their payroll deductions into private stock market accounts. Bush plans to borrow this money and dump the repayment costs on the same future workers and retirees whose benefits would be slashed. x x Administrative costs would be 20-30 times Social Security's administrative costs, to come from our benefits. x Wall Street's financial services industry would get up to $900 billion in management fees over the next 75 years. x This is one quarter of the projected $3.7 trillion Social Security shortfall that Wall Street says makes it necessary to scuttle Social Security.
Ultimately, Social Security privatization is a plan to divert workers' savings into the stock market and the private economy, whose outlook is uncertain at best. From 1999 to 2003, the value of 401(k) accounts owned by people near retirement dropped by an average of 25%. Now Wall Street demands our money to solve the problems it created: a record government budget deficit from corporate tax cuts and war, a $55 billion per month trade deficit from exporting manufacturing to use cheap labor, and a dollar whose value is falling and could collapse and cause global depression. No way! x
Social Security was instituted in 1935 in response to organized pressure of millions of working people following the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression. Half of US seniors were in poverty because of the failure of their individual stock market ac-counts, the very system that Wall Street wants to re-institute. We won't go back there!
Join us on January 18th! Strengthen Social Security
for Future Generations…Not Wall Street!
Hands Off Social Security:
SF, 415-215-7575, mlyon01@comcast.net
East Bay, 510-548-9696, GrayPanthersBerk@aol.com
PLANS FOR THE ACTION
At 11:30 AM, We will meet at the
Pacific Stock Exchange, downtown San Francisco
115 Sansome St. (between Bush and Pine),
and have a short rally/demonstration,
We will then march 2 blocks to the
SF Chamber of Commerce,
235 Montgomery St. (also between Bush and Pine),
and have another short rally/demonstration,
We will then march again 2 blocks to the
offices of Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
1 Post St (at Market and Montgomery)
for another short rally/demonstration.
Use the Montgomery Street BART station,
(at Market and Montgomery, at Feinstein's office)
Parking is available at 71 Stevenson (between 1st and 2nd Sts.)
See a map showing this area.
The Social Security System was won by the struggle of millions in 1935, the middle of the Great Depression, where millions lost their jobs and millions more lost their life savings in bank failures. Over half of America's elderly lacked sufficient income to be self-supporting.
Through massive strikes and demonstrations workers and their families formed a movement that challenged the power of the government, forcing it to enact Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, the right to unions and other deep reforms, which business and government are now trying to take back.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Is it possible for a gay leader to be paid too much money? I asked myself this question after reading not just the latest IRS 990 tax return for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, but also the previous five years worth of their returns and learned exactly how much money the executive director, Joan Garry, has been compensated for her services.
Here's the breakdown of Garry's total pay package over the past six years:
1998
$108,302
1999
$122,657
2000
$165,032
2001
$183,324
2002
$208,688
2003
$228,417
Add up her salary over the years and the total comes to $1,016,253. (Nice pocket change, yes?)
Frankly, I'm used to seeing such high compensation of an executive director at some AIDS service organizations, which have much larger budgets than GLAAD, but Garry's annual salary is over the top, considering the group's yearly budget.
Let's put GLAAD's budget and compensation for its leader in some perspective. In 2003 GLAAD's total revenue was $6,193,332 and Garry made $228,417.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, in 2003, reported total revenue of $24,824,726, and the organization's executive director, Pat Christen, full compensation package come to $208,717. So although the foundation's budget was much larger than GLAAD's, the executive director's pay wasn't.
Maybe it's unfair to compare GLAAD to the SF AIDS Foundation, since the former deals with social and media issues, while the latter is concerned with complicated medical and HIV related matters.
So I looked at the most current IRS 990 tax return for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to get a sense of their revenue and salary level for their leader, Kweisi Mfumi.
During 2002, the NAACP's revenue was $36,311,726, much more substantial than either GLAAD's or that of the SF AIDS Foundation.
Yet the salary for the NAACP's Mfumi wasn't all that high, in fact, it seems rather low, given the large budget of his organization. Mfumi was compensated $259,751.
With all these figures in mind, I'd say GLAAD's Garry is overcompensated, and a tad greedy. More than a million bucks for Garry's service to the gay and lesbian movement over six years is troubling and hopefully of concern to GLAAD's donors.
Wanna verify these numbers? All you need do is visit www.guidestar.org, take two minutes to register, then read all the IRS 990 forms cited here.
Here's the breakdown of Garry's total pay package over the past six years:
1998
$108,302
1999
$122,657
2000
$165,032
2001
$183,324
2002
$208,688
2003
$228,417
Add up her salary over the years and the total comes to $1,016,253. (Nice pocket change, yes?)
Frankly, I'm used to seeing such high compensation of an executive director at some AIDS service organizations, which have much larger budgets than GLAAD, but Garry's annual salary is over the top, considering the group's yearly budget.
Let's put GLAAD's budget and compensation for its leader in some perspective. In 2003 GLAAD's total revenue was $6,193,332 and Garry made $228,417.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, in 2003, reported total revenue of $24,824,726, and the organization's executive director, Pat Christen, full compensation package come to $208,717. So although the foundation's budget was much larger than GLAAD's, the executive director's pay wasn't.
Maybe it's unfair to compare GLAAD to the SF AIDS Foundation, since the former deals with social and media issues, while the latter is concerned with complicated medical and HIV related matters.
So I looked at the most current IRS 990 tax return for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, to get a sense of their revenue and salary level for their leader, Kweisi Mfumi.
During 2002, the NAACP's revenue was $36,311,726, much more substantial than either GLAAD's or that of the SF AIDS Foundation.
Yet the salary for the NAACP's Mfumi wasn't all that high, in fact, it seems rather low, given the large budget of his organization. Mfumi was compensated $259,751.
With all these figures in mind, I'd say GLAAD's Garry is overcompensated, and a tad greedy. More than a million bucks for Garry's service to the gay and lesbian movement over six years is troubling and hopefully of concern to GLAAD's donors.
Wanna verify these numbers? All you need do is visit www.guidestar.org, take two minutes to register, then read all the IRS 990 forms cited here.
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