Isn’t AIDS a Costa Mesa Issue?

In response to Zan Dubin’s article “Costa Mesa Refuses to Issue Proclamation” (Nov. 30), I find it hard to believe that cost alone was the determining factor behind Mayor Sandra L. Genis’ decision not to officially proclaim Dec. 1 as A Day Without Art.

The mayor states in the article that “she supports proclamations only for individuals or groups based in Costa Mesa or involved in projects that directly benefit the city and its residents.” Are we to understand that there are no HIV-positive or AIDS-infected residents in the fair city of Costa Mesa? Are we to believe that if, through an outpouring of financial and moral support, a cure for AIDS is discovered, it would have no “direct benefit to the city of Costa Mesa and its residents”?

Just in case this terrible scourge is with us at this time next year, I will be sending Ms. Genis a five-dollar bill in support of next year’s Day Without Art. That way, she will not need to worry whether a proclamation would be “a good use of taxpayers’ money.” With an estimated 1 million Americans already infected with HIV, AIDS research and HIV-infected individuals need all the help we can give.

LUCILLE A. HARRISON

Corona del Mar

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