SANTA CRUZ A.I.D.S. CUTS S.S.

CUTS IN STATE FUNDING (AND A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN DONATIONS) HAVE LEAD TO THE LAYOFF OF 5 PEOPLE AT THE SANTA CRUZ A.I.D.S. PROJECT, AND THE REDUCTION IN PROGRAMS (SUCH AS EQUINOX AND THE NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAM) AS WELL. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER SMITH, WHO STEPPED INTO THE JOB ONLY 10 MONTH AGO, SAID THE 20 YEAR-OLD AGENCY WILL NOW FOCUS ON RE-ORGANIZING, AND REBUILDING. THE SANTA CRUZ A.I.D.S. PROJECT WAS ONCE A MODEL PROGRAM (THAT WAS DUPLICATED NATIONWIDE).