Opinion: Water, water: Everywhere new rules and new leaders

To the editor: I am completely dismayed that the State Water Resources Control Board would voluntarily relax conservation standards for water control.

( “Mandatory water cuts end for many,” Aug. 17)

Just when we Californians were getting used to the idea of sacrificing and conserving and had adapted to the changes, the board relaxes its mandates and hopes all good-minded citizens will conserve as before.

Can they be serious?

What planet are they from?

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. “A bit of relaxation is OK,” water board chair Felicia Marcus says?

Only when state officials treat water as the truly precious commodity it is, will they finally realize that it is a waste to throw it away watering our precious green lawns.

David A. Gordon, Laguna Niguel

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To the editor: Once again, the state of California is making a major mistake in water policy.

Five years ago, the drought was declared over.

Mother Nature notoriously did not listen.

Now the water board is relaxing mandatory restrictions in a majority of the state’s water districts.

Water supplies may be better in many water districts, but once again the drought is not over. And more people are moving to the state.

Californians need to replace our lawns with water-wise, environmentally friendly native plants — and learn to conserve water even more — before the taps again run dry.

Daniel Fink, Beverly Hills

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To the editor: It’s encouraging to learn that Mayor Eric Garcetti’s appointment to head the Los Angeles DWP, David Wright, is, in the mayor’s words, “…a proven customer service specialist…”

(“Mayor taps utility exec to lead DWP,” Aug. 17)

One hopes, accordingly, that Wright will devote a smidgeon of his $168.27-per-minute salaried time to determine why the West L.A. DWP office has been back-ordered for months on kitchen sink aerators, valued water-saving devices?

Or why it’s so hard to find direct telephone numbers for the DWP branch offices, requiring one to navigate the interminable automated system?

Hershl Hartman, Los Angeles

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So how long is the new DWP general manager going to last?

In 10 years, we’ve had 8 individuals fill the annual $350,000 position, according to your article.

How many of those previously let go are still collecting money from the city, either based on contract or pension?

Why is Marcie Edwards (the most recent departure, who Mayor Garcetti said would bring “real, lasting change” to the agency) still on the payroll in an “advisory role?”

The DWP has failed the citizens of Los Angeles for too many years. Playing “musical chairs” with the highest position within the organization also does nothing for morale and the work efficiency of the DWP employees.

Richard Whorton, Studio City

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