When it comes to reforming California's bloated public pensions, Governor Jerry Brown's proposed statewide reforms may get all the press, but the real action is actually taking place in the state's cities. In recent months, both San Diego and San Jose (California's second and third largest cities, respectively) have put pension reform initiatives on the June ballot. And in both cases unions have quickly mounted legal challenges to the proposals. In late February, big labor failed in San Diego. And now they've been slapped down in San Jose.
From the Mercury News:
A Superior Court judge Wednesday overruled the objections of labor and affirmed the city of San Jose's right to use the word "reform" on its June pension measure.
Judge Kevin McKenney issued his decision after an 80-minute hearing Tuesday that at times resembled a dress rehearsal for the expected legal battle after the election.
As I've written here before, successful reform efforts in two of California's biggest cities could have a catalytic effect statewide, providing an object lesson for a state with an estimated half-trillion dollars in unfunded pension liabilities. Sidelining the institutional power of the labor unions is an essential step to getting there. That's just one more reason to celebrate the ruling out of San Jose.McKenney also ruled that the city could use the words "To protect essential services" at the beginning of its ballot description, words a union attorney said would mislead voters.
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