There are a couple of assumptions guiding much of the civic conversation about public employee pension reform: first, that organized labor would fight any reform tooth and nail; and second, that labor's strong presence in Los Angeles would doom such measures to defeat.

I'm starting to doubt both of those assumptions, having talked at length to former Mayor Richard Riordan about some of his ideas for dramatically altering city pensions.

Riordan is gearing up to put a pension reform proposal before L.A. voters. Although he and others are still debating the details of such a measure, it could include provisions such as demanding increased contributions from city employees and freezing — or even reducing — salaries if the city's share becomes unsupportable.

Read more at the LA Times