SMART Pension Reform

By Brian O'Neill

I support SMART pension reform. Getting San José's fiscal house in order is my top priority, and this cannot be done without comprehensive reform to our costly pension system. However, I cannot support Measure B because, among many other things, it is fiscally irresponsible. The City has already spent a half million dollars in legal fees to test an unconstitutional measure through the court system and the meter is still running.

Because there are no legal grounds for some aspects of this measure, the City is essentially asking voters to violate our Federal and State Constitution by asking them to vote yes on Measure B. This is unacceptable.

First and foremost, voters elect their representatives to deal with issues like pension reform by working collaboratively with labor and community leaders, not by pushing these issues back to the voter as initiatives. If elected, I will work to perform the job I was elected to do instead of leaving these complex issues to the courts and the voters.

At a time when we have police substations and libraries sitting vacant, the City opted to turn down over $600 million dollars in savings over the next four years that were proposed by the labor groups. Political posturing at the cost of our core city services is not the answer. We need these savings now, not later.

Our city faces an unprecedented budget crisis and divisive political strife, but I believe San José has the potential to grow stronger than ever. San José's budget crisis has been drawn out by a lack of political will and foresight. Our elected representatives must work together and bring community, labor and business leaders to the table, as these decisions affect all of us. Fiscal sustainability can only be achieved through collaboration and compromise, not through political stalemate or by pushing issues like pension reform to the ballot box. I have negotiated labor contract concessions and budget concessions at the County level by collaborating and compromising with all stakeholders involved. It can be done. I have the experience to bridge the gap of difference and bring smart pension reform to the table.