Responding to PubliCola's reporting yesterday that the city plans to eliminate two divisions of the Human Services Department that are dedicated to preventing domestic violence and sexual assault (including domestic violence and sexual assault prevention director Terri Kimball), Mayor Mike McGinn's spokesman Aaron Pickus says the city remains "committed to domestic violence and sexual assault programming.

"We are maintaining current funding of $4.6 million for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention services, and will continue to have a team of staff in place to collaborate with community, agencies and domestic violence survivors to ensure they get the services they need," Pickus said.

We're hoping to talk to HSD's new director, Dannette Smith, about the implications of and reasons for the shakeup later today.