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San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi on his efforts to reduce the state’s ballooning deficit.
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Sure now let's move state -- let's go to California San Francisco it has a 6000000006.
Billion dollar law.
Unfunded pension liability.
That includes pension and health care benefits -- its book news that's just one city San Francisco six billion dollars.
Well that is public defender is Jeff -- dodging.
He is pushing a plan to help get San Francisco -- about hold Jeff welcome to the program good to see.
Morning Stuart.
You know gonna get -- plan through volumes that are as I understand it San Francisco refuses to do something about its pension plan and you're a Democrat.
You are trying to do something about pensions your fighting against the grain -- Any progress this is.
This is round two as you river for last year we put a measure on the ballot.
It did not pass we're back again with a much more comprehensive has pension reform plan is separate -- get this Stewart.
Within the next four years our pension costs are gonna double -- gonna go up about 400 million more than it is now.
And if we go do something we don't fix this problem we're not gonna have any money for basic services and you know if it if it's really creating a situation here in San Francisco where.
Our city is Huckabee who survived who were putting this on the ballot.
Again in November and this will require all public employees incentives go to contribute towards repentance and pay a fair share of the cost of their pension.
It seems to me that what's happening in San Francisco is very similar to what's happening in -- -- cities and states around the country that is.
The cost the amount of money you've got to pay -- -- -- retired people in pension and health benefits is so huge.
That you actually have to lay off.
Current welcomes it over the -- retired workers and that situation is getting was so I'm just a little confused with the numbers that you've used.
We said that San Francisco has a six billion dollar outstanding pension liability.
But you said it is gonna go -- on what 400 million every year for the next few years straighten me out all the numbers Jeff.
Right it's going up about a hundred million a year -- -- within next four years.
The cost is gonna go 400 million.
So what's happening is that whenever the current pension fund he loses money -- doesn't have enough money to pay its obligations that tax payers have to pony up.
And because is only so much money that's available.
I would will what's happening is that is cutting into all of the basic services and that's what I've got involved.
With this issue why is only one way.
A -- you're a Democrat.
And -- you're a Democrat right most Democrats is -- in California do not want to tackle the pension problem.
But you're Democrat on you getting any support from your fellow Democrats in in doing what you're trying to do.
It's very difficult why because.
A lot of the politicians.
You know they depend on the labor unions in senators -- city employee labor unions -- support.
So they're not willing.
If -- water -- support this even though we're seeing a lot of the programs that Democrats have supported over years being slashed in being cut.
It's moved slowly comes down to a question of priorities -- -- -- government doesn't exist for the purpose of just paying -- government exists to serve people.
In -- less we get a handful of this problem.
You know we're not going to have a government to run.
Well said Jeff -- actually right -- in San Francisco thank you very much -- we wanna follow this through and see how you do with that balance finished package.
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