San Francisco set
to boost AIDS spending

The San Francisco board of supervisors is expected Tuesday to approve a city budget that includes an additional $2.6 million for HIV services, reports the Bay Area Reporter. The extra funds include $1 million for the city's Ryan White CARE Act contingency fund and $1 million for AIDS housing programs in the city. Both programs received steep reductions in federal funding, and city officials say the extra money is needed to make up for the loss of federal money. The city budget also includes $275,000 for HIV programs targeting African-American men; $200,000 for crystal methamphetamine treatment; $132,000 for programs aiming to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in San Francisco's predominantly gay Castro district; and funds for alternative medical treatments for HIV patients and HIV services for youths. (The Advocate)