Is there anything he can do that's more left wing that can put him in more disrespect with the right wing

Blanket city in latex?
BY KATE MEYER and LISA L. COLANGELO / DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Coming soon to a cinema, Laundromat or nail salon near you: free condoms, if city officials get their way.

"We can stop the HIV epidemic with the tools that we have today," Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said yesterday. "We know that condoms prevent HIV - let's get them out everywhere."

Making free condoms available at such public places was one of the recommendations in a 44-page draft report issued yesterday by the New York City Commission on HIV/AIDS, which includes city health officials, researchers, AIDS service organizations and persons living with the disease.

But not everyone likes the idea.

"I think it's right to promote safe sex, but I don't think this is the right venue," said Toni Ryan, 40, who was getting her hair braided at the Fanta Hair Braiding Salon in Harlem.

Still, 38-year-old John Payne said he thinks people will "pick up anything that's free."



"There's nothing worse than when you're in the bar at 2 a.m. looking for the elusive two quarters for a condom," said Payne, who was having a drink at Nice Guy Eddie's Bar in the East Village.

The report also called for a better HIV/AIDS curriculum in city schools, saying the current one "does not fully comply with statewide and citywide education mandates."

Education Department officials said they are in the process of updating the HIV/AIDS curriculum.

According to Frieden, New York City is the epicenter of the country's AIDS epidemic. About 4,000 people every year are diagnosed with AIDS in the city and about 1,700 people die because of it. More than 100,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the five boroughs.

Mayor Bloomberg, who has said he supports a progressive plan to fight AIDS, will review the plan after a public comment period. But it's not clear whether there will be any protest against the politically thorny issues of condom distribution and needle exchange - even though there have been protests in the past.

Conservative Republican Thomas Ognibene, who wants to repeal Bloomberg's smoking ban, said the mayor is out of touch with the Republican Party.



"Is there anything he can do that's more left wing that can put him in more disrespect with the right wing?" said Ognibene, who is challenging Bloomberg in the primary.

http://nydailynews.com/05-24-2005/front/v-echo/story/312532p-267321c.html

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