L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and DWP CEO Janisse Quinones in front of the Palisades Recreation Center after the Palisades Fire.
Just like rats on a sinking ship, LADWP General Manager Janisse Quiones has joined L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ Communications Director Zach Seidl and former Fire Chief Christine Crowley from hopping off – or being pushed from the boat.
Quiones was hired for $750,000 in April 2024 for nearly twice as much as her predecessor and her salary came from DWP revenues.
In a statement today announcing Quiones departure, Bass said, “Janisse brought steady leadership and engineering expertise to LADWP during a critical period for our city. Her focus on resilience, reliability, and strengthening the workforce has helped position the Department for continued progress.”
Bass did not mention Quiones leadership during the Palisades Fire. DWP would be the party responsible for no water in the Santa Ynez Reservoir (or in Chautauqua), which caused low pressure and hydrant failure in the hills. About 7,000 structures burned during the fire and nearly 27,000 people were displaced.
“Serving the people of Los Angeles has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life,” Quiñones said. “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles for the trust placed in me to steward essential infrastructure that supports the health, safety, and economic vitality of our communities.”
Quinoes is moving back to Puerto Rico – before depositions will proceed for the Palisades Fire case, which Superior Court Judge Samantha Jessner has said could proceed.
Besides water, secondary fires started because DWP failed to cut electrical power during the wind storm on January 7. CTN in a March 2025 public records request to DWP asked how many poles went down during the fire (possibly sparking additional fires) and the ages of the poles.
That request was never filled, so CTN filed another public records request in December 2025, asking the same question.
On February 18, CTN sent a reminder to LADWP “I’m still waiting on electrical pole information–how many poles were lost in the fire and the ages of the poles –see my prior emails below. Re: R25-889 [EXTERNAL] R25-220.”
And CTN is still waiting.
Crowley is suing Mayor Bass, residents are still waiting to see the text messages between Seidel and Bass, a public relations firm helped make the fire after-action report a tad more positive, and 12 people died during the fire. . . no one has been held responsible.
