JUDGE: SAN JOSE CANNOT CUT EMPLOYEE PENSIONS: SAN JOSE (AP) — A judge has ruled that San Jose cannot implement voter-approved cuts to employee pensions, but can cut salaries to meet the savings expected from the reduced pensions.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Patricia Lucas released the ruling on Monday. It stems from a lawsuit over Measure B, which called for existing city employees to pay more into their pensions and retiree health care plans.

Voters approved it last year, but it was challenged by employee unions.

Lucas's ruling said the city could not make police officers, firefighters and other city employees pay 16 percent more toward their pension as required by Measure B. But it could cut their salaries to realize the savings expected from the pension reductions.

The San Jose Mercury News reports  that the ruling is expected to be appealed.

SF MAYOR PROPOSES PIERS 27-29 HOST AMERICA'S CUP : SAN FRANCISCO AP)  — In a strong sign that the America's Cup could return to San Francisco in 2017, Mayor Ed Lee has proposed to regatta organizers that Piers 27-29 serve as the main venue again and host the team bases.

Lee said in a letter to the America's Cup Event Authority that the city is making the proposal "with great enthusiasm, guided by the lessons learned and practical experience of the 34th America's Cup."

The city and the America's Cup Event Authority must still agree to a host city agreement for the 35th America's Cup.

Although the buildup to the 34th America's Cup was full of setbacks, Oracle Team USA staged one of the greatest comebacks in sports in September by winning eight straight races against Emirates Team New Zealand to retain the silver trophy.