Flurry Of Lawsuits In Aftermath of San Jose's Measure B Passage
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — Less than 24 hours after San Jose voters approved an overhaul of city employee pensions, unions representing police officers and firefighters filed suit.
On Wednesday, two lawsuits were filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Measure B, which was passed by an overwhelming majority on Tuesday.
The city has made a legal move of its own, asking a judge to make a quick ruling on the legality of the measure.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
If upheld, Measure B would require current workers pay up to 16 percent of their salaries to keep their benefits or be shifted to a more modest plan. New employees would receive less generous benefits.
Attorney Greg Adam who represents the Police Officer's Association said he also filed a temporary restraining order.
"The city was willing to put on the record that no part of Measure B will go into effect until further notice. Again that gives my client and its membership the certainty that the status quo will continue," he said.
Adam explained that gives them more time to bolster their legal argument, but admitted that works on both sides of the fence for when the judge weighs in.
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Meanwhile Mayor Chuck Reed said the city's suit in federal court supports the measure.
"It's an action to validate the ballot measure. This is direction that the City Council gave when we put it on the ballot because we wanted to get it into court and resolve legal issues quickly, so that's what we've done," Reed said.
He was hopeful the litigation would move quickly through federal court, noting things move comparatively slower in state courts due to budget cuts.
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