Activists to Fight Paterson HIV/AIDS Veto

HIV/AIDS activists in New York have announced a campaign to fight the veto from Gov. David Paterson that rejected a rent cap for recipients of public assistance who are HIV-positive or living with AIDS.

Paterson announced the veto with regret on Sunday, citing the weakened finances of the state. The bill, which passed both houses of the legislature by wide margins, would have capped at 30% the portion of income that public assistance recipients with HIV or AIDS may spend on rent.

Activists protested Paterson on Monday, saying that current rent cap guidelines single out people with HIV and AIDS, and arguing that the bill would actually save money by preventing evictions.

Now a campaign led by Housing Works is urging legislative leaders to override the veto when the governor calls a special legislative session this fall.

"The first step of the campaign asks New Yorkers to flood the Facebook pages of Senate Majority Leader John Sampson and Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari and push them to override the governor's decision," said Housing Works in a news release.