Yesterday KQED's Joshua Johnson talked to Jeff Adachi, whose name might as well be Sauron to city workers, about what is fast becoming the hottest button issue of the decade: Pension reform.
Last year, Adachi, who is San Francisco's Public Defender, was the driving force behind Proposition B, an extremely contentious ballot measure that sought to require city workers to pay a greater share of their pension and health benefits. The proposition lost at the polls 58-42 percent.
Now, Adachi's back, threatening to put "Son of B" (or "Son of a B!" to San Francisco unions) on the ballot this November.
In the interview, Adachi outlined some of the provisions of his new initiative:
- City employees would have to pay 50% of their pension costs
- Employees would have to pay into a health care trust fund, perhap 2 to 5% of their salaries
- Receiving an pension "artificial spike" through a promotion just before retirement would be prohibited
- A cap would be put in for new employees' pensions, perhaps $85,000
Listen to the interview: