San Francisco Mayor Forms Group To Shrink City Pensions
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking another stab at city pension reform by convening a new working group to find a way to reduce future pension costs.
Last week voters rejected Proposition B, a measure by Public Defender Jeff Adachi, to rein in pension costs that are growing by leaps and bounds. Mayoral spokesman Tony Winnicker said that the measure was too extreme for most voters, and now Newsom is bringing together labor unions and city officials to come up with reforms everyone can live with.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
"Everyone understands that it's in the interest of public employees, and that it's in the interest of tax payers and city services to come back together and take another step," said Winnicker.
Labor Council executive director Tim Poulsen will be part of the working group.
"We are always willing to sit down at the table and make sure that we save city services, and make sure that the economic health of the city is going to be taken care of," said Poulsen.
Noticeably omitted is Public Defender Adachi, who labor groups along with the mayor view as too divisive. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd who is included, feels that's a mistake.
"Jeff Adachi has become a very accurate and intelligent voice on this issue, and I think his is a voice that needs to be considered," said Elsbernd.
Adachi, meanwhile, is still focused on pension reform, and said he might return to the ballot with another proposal for voters.
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