AIDS Agency Pleads with Tampa to Restore Aid

Desperate to keep their HIV-housing program afloat, leaders of the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP) pleaded with the city yesterday for $522,000 in federal funds that have been frozen while a scandal continues to shadow the non-profit group. Jim Hammond, who recently took over as THAP's CEO, told the city council that THAP has spent $60,000 of its own money to continue housing patients with HIV because of the city's refusal to extend the contract that funds the program.

Councilmember Charlie Miranda said he would not vote to extend the contract until THAP got an up-to-date audit, as called for by federal requirements. THAP's current auditor, Jack Owens, said the non-profit's last audit was done in 1995, but he expects his audit will be completed within a month or so. He told the council he considered THAP "a very high-quality organization." Owens said THAP is paying him $37,000 to conduct his audit. Former THAP head Chester M. Luney, who left earlier this month, has acknowledged performing a series of favors for former city housing chief Steve LaBrake while LaBrake's office steered millions of dollars in grants and contracts to Luney.

"This whole situation has been an embarrassment," councilmember Bob Buckhorn told Hammond. "You have a responsibility to clean up this mess . . . It is the not-for-profit equivalent of Animal House." Even after the scolding from the council, Hammond asked it to extend THAP's HIV-services contract, saying there have been "significant changes" made since Luney's departure. Miranda told Hammond the council could not vote on extending the contract until Mayor Dick Greco submitted it to the council. Hammond and other THAP officials met with Greco and city housing officials Thursday afternoon to hash out the issue.

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