By Khalida Sarwari and Saul Sugarman
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed today spoke out against opponents of two pension reform measures on the November ballot, namely police and firefighters unions, accusing them of deceiving residents.
Reed made his remarks at a news conference this afternoon at the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce in San Jose, where he also addressed a controversy over campaign signs that erupted in San Jose Saturday morning.
Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio was caught taking down signs that urged residents to vote against Measure V.
The measure would change the mandatory arbitration process for police and fire department employee disputes and is mainly opposed by police and firefighters, who claim it will make it easier to lay off firefighters and police officers and to close neighborhood fire stations.
On Saturday, Oliverio was confronted by “No on Measure V” lobbyist Tom Saggau and eight off-duty firemen who blocked his car and wouldn’t allow him to leave after he took down four “No on V” signs. He said he had seen “an incredible number” of the signs in San Jose while driving to an opening of a community center.
The incident ended in a parking lot at Lincoln and Brace avenues, where Oliverio gave the signs to officers responding to the altercation.
Reed is among the supporters of Measure V who claim that the measure would rein in the power of outside arbitrators, essentially limiting increases in pension plans for police and firefighters.
At the news conference today, Reed said the signs were illegal because they were placed on public property and that Oliverio was right to take them down. He cited a municipal code allowing volunteers to remove illegal election signs on behalf of the city.
“Their political consultant’s attempt to falsely arrest a council member for removing illegal signs is an effort to further intimidate the public and add to the public’s fear,” he said.
Saggau insisted the signs were taken from private property and that Oliverio violated the law.
“What he did was akin to a juvenile delinquent pulling a prank at a high school,” Saggau said. “It’s unbecoming of a council member.”
On Sunday, the “No on Measure V” campaign announced a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone who steals or defaces “No on Measure V” campaign property, Saggau said.
“We’re hoping that it works as a deterrent to this council member and anyone else that breaks the law and squelches free speech,” Saggau said.