Black Nominees for DWP Board

In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has been criticized in the media for our affirmative action record. This was especially true in your editorial “Closed Doors at the DWP?” (Aug. 14). The DWP stands by its affirmative action record and is committed to enhancing opportunities for minority and women employees and contractors.

Overall DWP minority and women representation is similar to city government as a whole and above that of other California utilities. Minorities account for 52% of the work force, while women account for 23.7% of employees, including 24% of professionals. In addition, the DWP’s new chief financial officer is a woman of African-American descent, which is certainly an example of the department’s “open doors” to senior management.

In the professionals category, minorities and women account for a combined 55% of DWP employees. In addition, minorities make up one-third of employees within the DWP’s officials-administrators category.

The Board of Water and Power Commissioners and DWP management have supported a continuing effort to recruit minority and women engineers at rates significantly higher than their representation within the available engineering graduate pools. In fact, engineering recruitment goals are set at two times the available graduate pool for minorities, and 87% of the DWP’s engineering scholarship program recipients are minorities and women.

The DWP’s commitment to affirmative action can be seen in its sponsorship of the oldest active affirmative action advisory council in the city; the 1991 appointment of a full-time equal employment opportunity coordinator; and establishment of the city’s only multicultural task force.

For minority and women contractors, the DWP has a goal of 15% for minority business enterprise (MBE) and 7% for women business enterprise (WBE). Currently, MBE contractors receive 11% of DWP contract dollars in the construction and personal services category, while WBE contractors receive 7% of these contract dollars.

DANIEL W. WATERS, DWP General Manager and Chief Engineer