Meeting of the
CONSUMERS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
MINUTES
Committee Members Present: John Schoepp (Co-chair), Charmaine Graham (Consumer-at-Large), David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Lisa Best, Gus Angelopoulos, Paul Carr, Billy Fields, Lawrence Francis, Newton Francis, Yves Gebhardt, Ralph Henderson, Charmaine Graham, Adanna Joels, David Martin, Annette Tomlin, Rob Walker
Staff Present: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Laura Moya Adames
Guests Present: Jennifer Cantrell, Rachel Warhaw, Rae Brown
Agenda Item 1: Welcome/ Moment of Silence/Minutes
John S. opened the meeting, welcomed attendees, and led a moment of silence, reflecting on current challenges.
The minutes of December 16, 2025 were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item 2: Presentation: Most Quits
Jennifer Cantrell and Rachel Warshaw from New York University’s School of Public Health presented on “MOST Quits,” a study funded by the National Cancer Institute aimed at helping people living with HIV (PLWH) quit smoking. They previously presented at the December 17, 2024 CC meeting and returned to provide a refresher and recruit new study participants.
They began by noting that cigarette smoking rates among PLWH are two to three times higher than in the general population and then reviewed key information, including the health effects of smoking, the benefits of quitting, and an overview of the four interventions used in the MOST Quits study: smoking‑cessation counseling, a peer monitoring program, a text‑messaging program, and a medication/nicotine‑patch combination.
Following the presentation, Rae B., a participant in the MOST Quits study, shared his personal experience. He reported receiving all four interventions, spoke positively about the program, and stated that his participation ultimately helped him quit smoking.
The presentation was followed by Committee Member questions and comments. Committee members asked questions about compensation for participation and details on being a peer recruiter. Jennifer Cantrell can be contacted at jennifer.cantrell@nyu.edu for study and enrollment questions.
Agenda Item 3: Update on Immigrant Health Surveys, Letter to Mayor, Federal Budget, Needs Assessment, Gift Cards
Immigrant Surveys
Michael provided a brief review of the immigrant health surveys developed by the Committee, the letter to Mayor Mamdani, and the Immigrant Resource Directory. He explained that two separate surveys were created—one for providers and one for immigrant clients living with HIV—to better understand how recent immigration policies may be affecting agencies, access to care, and the overall well‑being of clients. He emphasized that participation in both surveys is voluntary, responses are anonymous, and no identifying information is collected.
Michael and David K. then outlined the survey distribution process. Both surveys were disseminated with support from the Recipient. The provider survey was shared with all RWPA‑funded agencies via a URL emailed by Frances Silva, Deputy Director of Quality Management & Program Implementation. The consumer survey was distributed as a flyer—also sent by Frances—to providers for sharing with their clients. Michael noted that Abraham, the Community Coordinator, is also actively distributing the flyer, which includes both a URL and a QR code to facilitate access. The survey was also sent to the complete PC mailing list.
Members raised concerns about the surveys being available only in English and Spanish, noting that this limitation excluded many immigrants who speak other languages and reduced the opportunity to gather broader insights. They stressed the importance of expanding language accessibility in future efforts. Michael and David K. acknowledged these concerns and explained that translation through DOHMH Communications requires more time than was available during survey development. Members also asked how long the surveys would remain open for clients and recipients to complete.
Letter to Mayor Mamdani
Michael then reviewed the letter sent to Mayor Mamdani, which was written to welcome the new administration and begin building a collaborative relationship centered on the health and well‑being of people with HIV. The letter highlights urgent challenges, including funding threats and the heightened vulnerability of immigrants, and expresses the Committee’s desire to work with the mayor to protect access to HIV services. It opens with congratulatory remarks and provides an overview of the Planning Council’s role, emphasizes the work of the Consumers Committee, addresses concerns related to funding cuts and immigrant protections, and concludes with an invitation to collaborate moving forward.
David K. then reported that the letter to Mayor Mamdani had been reviewed by Adrian Guzman and Sarah Braunstein and was sent both before and after the inauguration.
David K. also provided an update on one of Mayor Mamdani’s executive orders outlining the structure and operations of the new administration. He highlighted that the order specifies that the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services will review the activities of the Board of Health and the NYC HIV Planning Council. While this role has existed in practice, this is the first time the Planning Council has been explicitly named in an executive order.
Federal Budget Developments
Finally, David K. briefed the Committee on federal budget developments. He explained that Congress must pass appropriations bills to fund federal agencies and noted that the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill currently mirrors the Senate’s proposal, which maintains flat funding levels across most programs while providing a $24 million increase for HOPWA.
Needs Assessment Update
Laura provided a summary of Abigail A. and Molly C.’s presentation on legal considerations affecting immigrants living with HIV, with a focus on challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals seeking asylum. She noted recent barriers under current immigration policies, including allowing judges to dismiss cases without full hearings, and Asylum Cooperative Agreements that may send asylum seekers to third countries despite significant risks.
Laura also highlighted the presenters’ practical recommendations for healthcare providers. These included building trusting relationships, collaborating with reputable legal service organizations, supporting clients with safety planning, and providing detailed medical documentation to strengthen legal cases. Additional guidance included preparing clients for potential detention, supporting motions for virtual court appearances, and supplying letters or evidence for bond hearings that emphasize health vulnerabilities and community ties.
Gift Cards
Toward the end of the meeting, members asked about the status of gift cards. David informed the Committee that Daniel sent an email outlining a new system for acknowledging receipt. Moving forward, all CC members will be required to respond to Daniel’s email to confirm that they have received their gift cards, in accordance with accounting department requirements.
Agenda Item 4: Public Comment & Adjournment
Doienne read an inspiration quote by Dr. Martin Luther King.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting of the Consumers Committee will be a hybrid meeting. It will be held on: February 18th, 2026, 1-3pm IN-PERSON at Cicatelli Associates, 505 8th Avenue, 20th Floor or VIRTUALLY by Zoom: https://health-nyc.zoomgov.com/j/16087736946
