The Daily News has a story about a (male) firefighter, Michael Gorumba, who died of heart failure while fighting a fire last August. Albany and the City are talking about passing a bill to allow his (female) domestic partner to receive survivor benefits. Kudos to Christine Quinn:
A bill pending in Albany would extend those benefits, worth $11,000 a year, to their mother. The bill required Council authorization.City Labor Relations Commissioner James Hanley, who testified in favor of the measure, was pressed on whether he and Mayor Bloomberg also supported benefits for surviving partners in gay relationships.
Hanley said only that Bloomberg would be willing to "take a look at it."
"Do you or don't you?" demanded Councilwoman Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).
"It's not a yes or no answer," Hanley replied, contending there could be substantial costs.
The bill for Campbell was approved later by the full Council.
