Domestic Partner Benefits for City Workers
NYS Assemblyman, Sam Hoyt, is passionate about his plan to help get domestic benefits for the life-partner of fallen Police officer, Patty Parete.
Parete was shot in the neck in the line of duty and has since undergone 8 ½ months of rehabilitation with hopes of regaining the full use of her limbs. Hoyt has been pushing for benefits for the couple, and said that he thinks that recognition of their union and the adoption of a policy that allows those benefits for city workers and their domestic partners is only fair.
"It's a common practice across the country and in New York State," Hoyt said. "Rochester, Albany, New York City and hundreds of private companies…it's very common [to give married benefits to life-partners] each with their own standards and practices, with multiple safeguards." Furthermore, Hoyt contends that we don't need a lawyer to reinvent the wheel. "I have the NYC regulations. I've studied them. There's no way they can be abused."
Parete's partner, nurse Maryellen Opalinski, is on extended leave from her job in order to care for Parete. As a result, she has to pay health care benefits out of her own pocket.
Mayor Byron Brown, faced with a police force that is waiting for raises and may lose the health benefits they have now, said he wouldn't make a move toward the adoption of domestic partner benefit policy unless he was approached by the union to do so.
When asked what the feedback is from other officers regarding the possibility of domestic partner benefits, an unidentified police officer, said, "I haven't heard a word from anyone else on the force, and we talk about everything. Nobody I know is talking about domestic partner benefits. We feel bad, but right now all we can do is have fundraisers."
"The control board needs to act quickly and decisively to ensure that gay couples get what straight couples already have," Hoyt said, "otherwise it's odd to say we're above bigotry."
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Comment Options
Tesla
What a no brainer....
I am impressed with Sam Hoyt's position on this and sincerely hope that the City moves FORWARD. This is a human rights issue and should be treated as such.
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AvaRouge
Too progressive for Buffalo. We can barely get a dog park approved.
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happyone
FACT: Sam Hoyt is a superstar. Thanks, Sam from all of us here in gaysville.
Where is Byron "I go to all the gay fundraisers before I get elected" Brown on this? Certainly not pullng a Spitzer and taking a stand. Brown came out of the gate strong after elected, and I was a big fan. He is now limping toward the finish. He reminds me of that kid in high school who wants everybody to like him. He plays it safe and it's annoying. That's not leadership. Wait for the union? The Sherriff's Dept. is being sued for discrimating against a gay couple, last I knew. Great idea. Let's wait.
In NYS the African American community in general is one of the biggest obstacles to equal rights for the GLBT Must equal rights for all being explained to people with a history of discrimination? Duh.
PS: Spitzer? Love 'em.
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tallythedead
YaY! Sam Hoyt to the rescue! Lets see if he comes through with this because he is known for dropping the ball on everything else.
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indycat23
Probably an election year for Hoyt and I'm sure he's looking to attach himself to something like this for the benefit of his campaign...that said, it's a worthwhile cause and the right thing to do and I hope the city moves forward on this quickly
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chris69
Brown proves that he is a weasel for any issue that is not directly related to african american agenda.
SamHoyt proves tolerant for something that should have been done in the city and county decades ago.
That being said this is a minor and I say MINOR issue. There are BIGGER issues at work in Buffalo that need attention and are getting ignored...the status quo is being maintained once again by directing attention at non-issues!
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Matthewjohnp
You don't know SAM. He actually cares about this sort of thing, it's who he is and what he is passionate about. His Dad was the same way. We should be so lucky to have more politicans like him.
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ketchum_gnome
Sam's always been good on these issues, election year or not.
Also, check this out:
David Rivera, the Endorsed Democrat for Niagara District Common Council, is holding a Domestic Partner Benefit rally and press event tomorrow morning at 10:30AM outside the Mattina Community Health Center(300 Niagara Street). Rivera is a 25-year Buffalo police officer and is a strong proponent of DPB.
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rdominguez
Putting aside who's doing what for what reason, this is an important civil rights issue and I fully support the effort to get DPB for all. There is a letter-writing campaign underway to the Mayor right now- if you feel strongly about DPB rights, please send an e-mail or otherwise contact Byron Brown's office and let him know.
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BuffaloDrift
Without a doubt, this is a no-brainer. The city should already be drafting legislation to make DPB available for all city workers/employees. And the mayor should be supporting it. It was very disappointing to read the Mayor's response that the issue hasn't been brought up by the union yet. That is a poor excuse. Again, there needs to be leadership that looks forward with new ideas, not a crowd that looks to the city offices as a comfy chair (no, not the comfy chair!)
Speaking of Common Council...the primary in the Delaware district has Michael LoCurto facing a challenge from Jessica Maglietto. More at this on the artvoice site, but Maglietto is in favor of DPB while I do not know LoCurto's stance on this...Anyone else know? Link: http://artvoice.com/issues/v6n34/news/following_the_money
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NBJOHN
The hell with everthing else...
If it means more taxes.... Sam is our man!!!!!!!
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rdominguez
BuffaloDrift, Mike LoCurto is a strong supporter of Domestic Partnership Benefits.
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