County Agrees to Pay AIDS Group $600,000

LOS ANGELES COUNTY — County officials agreed Monday to pay a local AIDS foundation $600,000 that the group alleged was being withheld as political retribution.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation sued the county this year, alleging that the money was withheld because the organization had criticized the county’s slow pace in securing federal AIDS funding.

County officials confirmed Monday that they have settled the suit but denied that it was an admission of any wrongdoing against the foundation.

Still, Michael Weinstein, the foundation’s president, hailed the agreement as a “vindication.”

“This marks the end of a bitter era of confrontation,” Weinstein said.

With no discussion, the Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to give the foundation most of its promised funding. Supervisor Mike Antonovich opposed the motion.

County officials also say they have decided not to pursue the foundation for $653,000 they said it overbilled the government in AIDS funding. The foundation had said it was entitled to the money under federal law.