From: M Petrelis Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 16:14:53 EST Subject: MP ltr.: SFChronicle on AIDS deaths in CA drop 60% Michael Petrelis 2215-R Market Street, #413 San Francisco, CA 94114 (415)621-6267 January 9, 1997 Letters to the Editor SF Chronicle 901 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94114 Editor, Count me among those who applaud the dramatic decrease in AIDS deaths across California. Your front page story, AIDS Deaths Drop 60% In California, January 9, reported that more AIDS victims in the state are living longer for several reasons; chief among them is the wide availability of protease inhibitor drugs to fight AIDS. I was greatly disappointed the reporter of the story, Mr. Sabin Russell, didn't quote a single AIDS victim. Out of seven people quoted in the article, not one was publicly identified as someone with the disease, and perhaps benefiting from the new class of AIDS drugs. I think it's good Russell went to so many politicians and bureaucrats to get their interpretations of the data. But, I wonder, did Russell also attempt to find one AIDS victim, either in San Francisco, or elsewhere in the state, and ask them what they thought of this development? Why were the voices and concerns of AIDS victims noticeably absent from this important story? AIDS victims may be living longer in California, but the SF Chronicle can’t find any of us to include in stories directly about us. A situation I hope your paper corrects immediately. Sincerely, Michael Petrelis