LADWP chief Janisse Quiñones stepping all the way down to return to Puerto Rico

The CEO of Los Angeles’ Division of Water and Energy is stepping down from her function, the mayor’s workplace introduced Wednesday.

Janisse Quiñones can be leaving the $750,000 a yr job to return house to Puerto Rico, the place she’s going to tackle a management function on the island, “supporting the modernization and transformation” of its electrical grid, Mayor Karen Bass’ workplace stated.

“Janisse introduced regular management and engineering experience to LADWP throughout a crucial interval for our metropolis,” Bass stated.

“Her give attention to resilience, reliability, and strengthening the workforce has helped place the Division for continued progress. We thank her for her service to Los Angeles.”

The highest engineer got here into the function in 2024 and is leaving as a part of a “deliberate management transition.”

“Serving the folks of Los Angeles has been one of many best honors of my skilled life,” Quiñones stated.

“I’m deeply grateful to Mayor Karen Bass and the Metropolis of Los Angeles for the belief positioned in me to steward important infrastructure that helps the well being, security, and financial vitality of our communities.

“Los Angeles is a metropolis outlined by innovation, variety, and resilience. It has been a privilege to serve a neighborhood that frequently rises to fulfill its challenges.”

Quiñones got here underneath fireplace final yr and was blamed for the poor dealing with of the response to the Los Angeles fires, particularly for leaving reservoirs empty and never addressing practically 400 fireplace hydrants that wanted restore.

Greater than 1,300 Los Angeles fireplace hydrants wanted upkeep or restore—some flagged practically a yr earlier than the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires—elevating questions on whether or not damaged hydrants impacted firefighting efforts, in line with a KCAL Information investigation.

Moreover, Quiñones oversaw the shutdown and emptying of a reservoir within the Pacific Palisades throughout brushfire season, the Each day Mail reported. This reportedly resulted in firefighters working out of water quicker.

She earns a whopping wage of $750,000 — twice as a lot as her predecessor, Martin Adams — making her town’s highest-paid worker, much more than Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who earns round $300,000.

Town’s Division of Water and Energy is the most important municipal utility in the USA, offering water and electrical energy to 4 million folks, together with greater than 681,000 water clients and 1.4 million electrical clients.

Previous to main LADWP, Quiñones served as Senior Vice President of Electrical Operations at Pacific Gasoline and Electrical Firm.

Quiñones was born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and attended the College of Puerto Rico–Mayagüez Campus, the place she earned a bachelor’s diploma in mechanical engineering.

She is now homebound, the place she’s going to oversee her island’s electrical grid, which stays in deep disaster—tormented by power outages, a 33% vitality shortfall, growing older oil-fired crops, practically $9 billion in debt, and residents enduring way more blackouts than wherever on the U.S. mainland practically a decade after Hurricane Maria.

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