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The chief executive of Los Angeles’ Water and Power Bureau asked the Utilities board to spend roughly $700,000 on private security for her, citing the increased threats of Pallisard’s post-fire threat.
A five-member Water and Power Committee committee will decide Tuesday whether to approve CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones’ one-year private security agreement.
In the wake of the Palisades fire, DWP has been criticized for dropping water pressure on some fire hydrants and for waiting for repairs to be made at an estimated $130,000 in the Santay Nez Reservoir, which has been sitting in the air for nearly a year.
Quiñones, who took over as chief executive of the nation’s largest local utility in May, was increasingly personal online attacked, attacking a $750,000 salary and slandering her as “Dei Hire” of Puerto Rican roots.
At a meeting of the DWP committee last month, Kiñon worked on some of her background commentary, suggesting that her critics ignored her qualifications to fuel the agenda. She highlighted decades running emergency management for the US Coast Guard.
“In addition to 20 years, I have a degree in mechanical engineering that I graduated with honors, as well as a degree in mechanical engineering, which I have two graduate degrees,” she said. “And I just happen to want to get a tough job. This is a tough job.”
According to public records, Quiñones salaries coincides with top executives’ pay in the Omaha Public Power District and Sacramento Municipal Public Districts in Nebraska.
A DWP spokesperson said the utility had begun seeking private safety proposals to protect Kinyoung before the January 7 fire. Around that time, businesses all over the US began to boost security after the UnitedHealthCare chief executive was murdered outside a hotel in New York in December.
Vitriol for her intensification days after the wildfire exploded.
The utility added that “direct law enforcement intervention is needed,” and said it is “are subject to numerous threats” to Kinneen’s personal safety. The nature of these threats and police “intervention” is unknown. DWP officials did not elaborate, but a spokesperson said “all threats have been reported to LAPD.” The officer also refused to disclose details regarding the suspicious threat.
“We have not commented on potential threats or ongoing investigations,” said Jennifer Folksh, Director of LAPD Communications.
A spokesman for the LA County District Attorney said no lawsuit was presented to the office in relation to the threat to Kinneen. A spokesman for LA City Atty. Hydee Feldstein-Soto did not respond to whether a misdemeanor charge was filed.
Under the agreement pending before mayor-appointed DWP Commissioner, Kinneen will be protected from Pinkerton consulting and investigations, along with at least one designated armed security agent and driver.
DWP said the agreement allowing spending up to $703,577 was issued on a single source basis, while DWP received two other proposals that were much more expensive.
The company says it “provides security agents trained in personal safety, defense tactics, travel security and surveillance,” according to a memo on the contract. The company’s agents have military or surveillance backgrounds, including special forces.
Movement to private security partly reduces the burden on LAPD resources. Kinneen was first taken to protection from LA Airport Police after the Palisade fire broke out. She was then provided with details of the LAPD officer who also protected then fire chief Christine Crowley and LAPD chief Jim McDonnell.
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