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The LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has apologized for delays in rebuilding after last year's fires but continues to face criticism for its mismanagement and disregard for local concerns. Specifically, the department is under scrutiny for leaving a reservoir empty before the fire and allegedly causing another fire afterward. LADWP also used eminent domain to seize land for a power substation despite community opposition, then occupied it without proper permits or environmental assessments during reconstruction efforts post-fire. Critics argue that the utility's actions show poor governance and suggest a need for significant reform beyond mere apologies.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently issued an apology for delays in rebuilding after a devastating fire but has faced ongoing scrutiny for its poor management. In 2021, the department allowed the Santa Ynez reservoir to sit empty before a major fire, which was exacerbated by the LADWP's failure to maintain water supply and prevent secondary fires. The former CEO, Janisse Quiñones, left LA to head a power company in Puerto Rico after receiving a leadership award despite these issues. Now, residents are suing the LADWP for various failures including maintenance and permitting irregularities. Despite this scrutiny, the department continues problematic practices like disruptive construction work without regard for community needs or safety. The situation highlights broader governance problems within the LADWP that extend beyond just operational inefficiencies.
Written for “LADWP Management Criticism” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.75, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 75520: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-10-13
The LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has finally apologized.
asserted
Department → apologize → Water
Well, at least that’s something.
asserted
that → ’ → ?
The LADWP infamously let the Santa Ynez reservoir sit empty atop Pacific Palisades for months before the fire struck.
asserted
fire → let → months
Its CEO at the time, Janisse Quiñones, prioritized wokeness over water.
asserted
CEO → prioritize → water
After the fire, astonishingly, she won a leadership award — then promptly left town to take over the power company in Puerto Rico.
asserted
she → win → Rico
(Haven’t the people of Puerto Rico suffered enough?)
asserted
people → suffer → Rico
LADWP now faces several lawsuits by the residents of Pacific Palisades — for failing to maintain the water supply in the reservoir, and for allegedly allowing a secondary fire to ignite, among other claims.
uncertain
fire → face → claims
You’d think a utility facing that kind of scrutiny would clean up its act.
asserted
utility → think → act
LADWP has been using the temporary absence of the Palisades community to do what it wants, whenever it wants.
Digging trenches, putting up ugly steel poles, laying cables that create new hazards — you name it.
asserted
you → use → it
In his apology, LADWP Interim General Manager Dave Hanson said that he was committed to providing better service — thanks to the LADWP’s new “one-stop shop” in the Marquez Knolls area, the Palisades Inspections and Permitting Support Center (PIPSC).
asserted
he → say → area
LADWP seized it through eminent domain in the early 1970s to build a power substation, but the community opposed it, because of the elementary school next door.
asserted
community → seize → school
After the fire, LADWP moved onto the site with trucks.
asserted
LADWP → move → trucks
Without telling the community, without permits, without an environmental impact statement, the LADWP moved mountains of dirt onto the site, set up offices in trailers, and paved it over with asphalt.
asserted
LADWP → tell → asphalt
The community was told that the new site was “temporary.”
asserted
site → tell → ?
Residents report that the facility is as useless as it is ugly.
asserted
it → report → ?
When they go there, no one seems to be able to answer questions about anything.
asserted
one → go → anything
Meanwhile, up in Sacramento, LADWP managed to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a law, SB 1153, shielding the utility from liability for water shortages during wildfires.
asserted
LADWP → manage → wildfires
And just this week, LADWP told Pacific Palisades residents to conserve water, because of two ruptured water mains.
asserted
LADWP → tell → mains
The LADWP is badly run.
asserted
LADWP → run → ?
It needs a serious overhaul.
asserted
It → need → overhaul
An apology is long overdue — and it’s not enough.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
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