Bradley Sees Prop. 64 Peril for Minorities

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, joining other opponents of Proposition 64, the AIDS initiative on the November ballot, Tuesday denounced the measure as one that would place an unfair burden on the state’s minority workers.

The press conference here, organized by the No on 64-Stop LaRouche organization, featured several black, Latino and Asian politicians and community leaders in an attempt to broaden opposition to the measure outside the gay community.

Hours after the press conference designed to promote greater awareness of Proposition 64, a California Poll indicated that 44% of the people in the state know nothing about the measure. The poll, with less than a month to go before the election, found 26% of those questioned opposed to the initiative, 10% supporting it and 20% undecided.

If the initiative is approved, it would declare acquired immune deficiency syndrome a communicable and contagious disease and require that the names of victims and carriers be maintained on a state health department list. Victims and carriers could be subject to quarantine, according to one interpretation of the measure, which is sponsored by backers of political extremist Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr.

Blood Tests

The measure also seeks to require teachers and restaurant workers to undergo a blood test to see if they have been exposed to the AIDS virus and have those who test positive removed from their jobs.

It is the testing of food handlers that would place a heavy burden on minority workers, Bradley said Tuesday.

Latinos, Asians and blacks, many of whom hold food service and handling jobs, “are going to be . . . affected by this particular initiative if it were to pass,” Bradley said.

It was a statement echoed by others at the press conference, including Tom Hsieh, an Asian-American recently sworn in as a San Francisco County supervisor.

“We as a minority have language problems, have problems getting jobs and one of the jobs we’re familiar with . . . is working as chefs and waiters. One of the largest industries Asians have is the restaurant business,” Hsieh said.