What would be the courts reasoning?

U.S. Supreme Court won't intervene in San Diego pension case

The mayor of San Diego supposedly had his free assembly rights restricted when the California court over ruled the San Diego pension reform.

But the Mayor suffered no direct harm, except his wasted time and effort. The citizen's of San Diego lost their referendum rights, true, they they agreed to give them up with a state vote, and state rights over rule.

OK, I can buy that. Mayors still have free speech, the state, via legislation, has the right to over rule local referendum.

Lesson? Vote smarter at the state level. Note, that California Rule should also survive the, union still set their own wages in California.