LOCAL : Health Chief Gates Graffiti Target
Graffiti demanding the resignation of Los Angeles County Health Services Director Robert Gates in apparent response to the increase in AIDS cases in the county were painted on and around the front entrance to the department’s headquarters at 303 N. Figueroa St. during the night.
County security personnel said such slogans as “Government Genocide” and “Gates Must Go” were smeared on the building in red paint. No group had claimed responsibility and police said an investigation is under way.
The department had reported on Wednesday that there were 229 new AIDS cases in the county in March, up from the previous monthly high of 220 last August. Last year, Dr. Shirley Fannin, physician in charge of disease control programs for the county, accused Gates’ department of concentrating on public relations “puffery” while failing to contain epidemics. Fannin’s comments focused on venereal disease, but they were included in a broad attack on the department’s policies.
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