Janisse Quiñones shares responsibility for “dry” hydrants during the Palisades Fire.
Even as L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and ex-LADF Fire Chief Kristen Crowley are blamed for their lack of preparation in preventing one of the nation’s largest disasters where 12 people died, 6,662 structures destroyed and 890 structures damaged, blame also needs to go to the head of the DWP Janisse Quiñones.
Today at the informal gathering of the Hive one of the people asked about the head of the DWP. Later, in the day a person wanted to know who in DWP authorized the cutting of a large number of trees in Pacific Palisades after the fire.
The answer to both questions is Janisse Quiñones who is the CEO and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). She was recommended by Mayor Karen Bass to lead the department. Her annual salary is $750,000.
Quiñones’ background and priorities:
- Previously worked as a senior vice president of electric operations at Pacific Gas & Electric
- Views her role through an “equity lens” to provide social justice
- Has been working to assess the company’s talent, identify gaps, and determine priorities
- Has been connecting with employees and stakeholders
At the end of January, Palisades resident Sayad Kushani addressed the DWP Board of Commissioners calling into question Quiñones’ leadership and preparation for the Palisades Fire.
The Palisades Fire is the direct result of utility and key resources heads being made political appointments rather than experienced and qualified heads coming up through the ranks and actually knowing what they are doing.
LA, DC, when will we learn?
Hindsight is always 29/20. LA has ALWAYS had droughts and Santa Ana winds. NO one could have predicted this holocaust.
However, when I evacuated, around 4pm on January 7, everything was on fire and there was not a fire truck to be seen. Anywhere. No sirens to be heard. The town had just been left to burn.
Seven weeks since the fires, and the water still is not drinkable. And have they fixed the reservoir cover yet, or are they going to wait until next fire season for that?
DEI hires- wake up California- LA in particular- Rick should have won. The limousine liberals have ruined everything