(10/31/06) MANHATTAN - Protestors angrily gathered outside Governor Pataki's (R-NY) New York City office Tuesday to defeat a state measure that would raise rent for HIV/AIDS patients living in government-funded housing.

Bronx residents with HIV/AIDS and who live in government-funded housing receive in-house treatment for the virus. They currently put 30 percent of their incomes towards rent. More than 2,000 people in the state would be affected if the measure, which protestors say would raise the rent contribution to more than 50 percent of incomes, were passed. Lawyers for the affected group say the measure would leave only $330 per month in disposable income.

Meanwhile, a judge's ruling has forced the state to delay implementing the rent increase. The state has 45 days to respond, but some of the residents' lawyers believe the issue will take about a year to resolve.