Court: New York still not meeting AIDS needs

A three-judge panel of the second circuit U.S. court of appeals ruled Monday that New York City continues to fail to meet its legal obligations in providing services for about 30,000 people with HIV/AIDS, leaving jurisdiction over the service with federal regulators, The New York Times reports. The decision upheld a 2000 ruling by a lower court that the city had violated the state's constitution and the federal Americans With Disabilities Act by offering inadequate HIV/AIDS services that forced excessive waits for programs like emergency housing and rental assistance. The lower court also had ruled that the city's HIV case managers had too many cases, which hampered referrals to care. New York officials had been working for more than a year to comply with the original ruling and regain oversight of city-run programs. While the appeals court order keeps oversight with federal officials, HIV/AIDS advocates and activists say city services have improved since the original decision was issued.