SUPPORT Los Angeles City Charter Amendment 1 (Including Port Police in Fire & Police Pension Plan) - Charter Amendment 1 would authorize the Los Angeles City Council to place all new Port Police officers into the same retirement system as all new Los Angeles Police Department officers.  It would also give all current Port Police officers one year to decide whether they wish to remain in the present civilian pension system or transfer to the more favorable fire and police pension system. Though these pension system changes are expected to result in significant additional costs, those expenses would continue to be funded from revenues generated by the Port of Los Angeles, rather than from additional taxes or other levies.  The Progressive Jewish Alliance is concerned by the disparate and less favorable pension treatment to which law enforcement officers are subjected merely by virtue of the fact that they work at the Port of Los Angeles.  PJA is also troubled by the implications of various reports that our nation's ports are among the most vulnerable points of potential entry for weapons of mass destruction and other terrorist armaments.  PJA knows of no reason why those who are on the front lines of defending the security of Los Angeles' port facilities should not be treated in a manner similar to those who defend our businesses and homes.  Accordingly, PJA supports passage of Los Angeles City Charter Amendment 1.   

SUPPORT Los Angeles City Charter Amendment 2 (Reactivation of Retired Police Officers and Firefighters) - The principal provision of Charter Amendment 2 would allow the city's police and fire departments to reactivate certain categories of recently retired police officers and firefighters.  The Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments already permit those hired before 1980 to return to active duty; Charter Amendment 2 would extend the same right to those police officers and firefighters who were initially hired after 1980, thereby expanding L.A.'s ability to reactivate retirees who can improve service and bolster the ranks of those in the field.  The Progressive Jewish Alliance knows of no rational reason for discriminating among these public safety personnel in their right to return to active duty based exclusively upon their date of initial hire.  Moreover, this measure requires that pension benefits for these re-hired personnel will be suspended during the period of their reemployment.  Benefits for those police officers and firefighters who retire from reactivated duty will resume under the same terms as their original retirement plan.  Given that the city's current fiscal situation has not permitted the hiring of sufficient permanent employees, and in light of the November 2004 defeat of Measure A that would have increased the county-wide sales tax by one-half cent to augment the ranks of police and fire personnel, PJA believes that Charter Amendment 2 is a logical and economical proposal to help ensure public safety.  Therefore, PJA supports passage of Los Angeles City Charter Amendment 2.