Action on the pension front

I agree it's too bad the cops were left out. It's outrageous that these glorified traffic enforcers get 90pct of six figure salaries and retire for 25-30 years collecting from the system. You know they will work in the private sector or elsewhere because they are young and healthy when they retire at 50. Somebody please find a way to reform the cop pensions. And the firefighters too.

Unfortunately, imposing a two tier system is a negotiating stance, not an actual change in commitments for new hires - it can have no effect until 2012 when a companion labor contract expires. Meanwhile, intentions can and will change - one council member already revealed that imposing is just a stance in the process. The only way to assure that pensions for future hires do not dig us deeper in our deficit hole is to enact an ordinance that directs council to create the second tier, and requires voter approval of future commitments beyond 2.0 @ 60. That ordinance is the Menlo Park Pension Reform Initiative.