Schipske wants to send equal benefits ordinance to committee

Fifth District Long Beach City Councilman Gerrie Schipske posted over the weekend on her blog -- www.gerrieschipske.com -- that a proposed equal benefits ordinance should be sent to committee before the council votes on it. The ordinance would require that companies that contract with the city of Long Beach and provide spousal benefits also must provide benefits for domestic partners. The idea was proposed by 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia to ensure that gay couples have the same benefits as others, at least among businesses the city is paying for services. Other cities and the state have similar equal benefits ordinances in place. Garcia and Schipske are the two openly gay members of the council, but Schipske had some concerns. Here's an excerpt from her blog:

As far as I can see, every city that has adopted this ordinance did so after several public hearings and with input from the business and gay and lesbian communities before the ordinance was crafted.

In fairness to everyone, we need to do the same: refer it to a council committee and the Human Relations Commission for public hearings and in-put. That way we can work out the details in public -- such as the dollar threshold for the requirement to kick in.

As I wrote about in today's paper, former 7th District Councilman Mike Donelon also has voiced concerns. He wrote a letter to the editor that ran in the Press-Telegram as well about the issue. Tuesday's council meeting (5 p.m. at City Hall) should be a lively and engaging one, and I'm sure members of the public and council members will have interesting perspectives on the matter.