To the editor: I wish to make a suggestion for hiring a brand new head of the Los Angeles Division of Water and Energy: Look inside (“Head of L.A.’s Department of Water and Power resigns,” March 4). Cease going exterior to get the “most certified” individual to run the DWP.
I labored on the DWP for 34 years. When our basic supervisor retired, a brand new one was picked from the alternative system. If the outgoing basic supervisor was from the water system, then the brand new one was picked from the ability system. This labored.
Every of those newly appointed basic managers labored their method up from the start of their careers. They took delight and have been dedicated to the operating of the DWP with the information of the workings of the division. They’d vested pursuits in having the DWP proceed its lengthy historical past of supplying water and electrical energy to the folks of Los Angeles. Positive, there have been issues that got here up (what giant utility doesn’t have issues?), however previous in-house basic managers have been trustworthy, hard-working and happy with their workers.
Outsiders largely solely need the status and the big wage that’s provided to them. Right here at present, gone tomorrow. And most of those outsiders wish to run the DWP like a enterprise. This isn’t possible. The DWP is ruled by the town constitution, insurance policies and rules that non-public companies don’t have to abide by.
So, if the town needs somebody to suitably characterize the DWP, it ought to look inward to its high-level workers. For a lot of of them, the DWP is their house, the place they plan on staying till they retire relatively than in search of out greener pastures. It will be a disservice to them to assume they’re incapable of performing the duties required.
Yolanda H. Lickson, Cypress
