New York State Governor David Paterson has called for a special session of the legislature on November 18th to implement another round of budget cuts.

ARCS and other HIV/AIDS service providers across the state have already suffered a 10% cut to our core funding this year. These were the first ever cuts to our baseline in the history of the HIV epidemic. Because of these cuts, ARCS will be forced to close or limit certain programs and services within months.

The legislature thinks they are simply "trimming the branches" to save money. What they're really doing is digging up the roots of a 25 year old system that helps the most needy and most disenfranchized New Yorkers.

Ask your local New York State Assembly Member and State Senator to oppose additional cuts to HIV/AIDS services in the Nov. 18th special session. Download the MS Word letters pre-addressed to your representatives today to tell them that the budget cannot be balanced on the backs of the poor and needy.

Download a protest letter