to the editor: I would like to make a suggestion for hiring a new head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: look inside (“Head of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power resigns” March 4). Stop going out and getting the “most qualified” person to run the DWP.
I worked in the DWP for 34 years. When our CEO retired, a new one was chosen from the opposite system. If the outgoing CEO was from the water system, then the new one was chosen from the power system. This worked.
Each of these newly appointed CEOs rose early in their careers. They felt proud and committed to the functioning of the DWP with knowledge of the functioning of the department. They had a vested interest in the DWP continuing its long history of providing water and electricity to the people of Los Angeles. Sure, problems arose (what large utility doesn't have problems?), but previous in-house general managers were honest, hard-working, and proud of their employees.
Outsiders largely just want the prestige and big pay they are offered. Here today, not tomorrow. And most of these outsiders want to run the DWP like a company. This is not feasible. The DWP is governed by city bylaws, policies and regulations that private companies are not required to follow.
So if the city wants someone to properly represent the DWP, it should look inwards at its senior staff. For many of them, the DWP is home, where they plan to stay until they retire rather than seek greener pastures. It would be a disservice to them to think that they are incapable of performing the required functions.
Yolanda H. Lickson, Cypress
