In today’s Los Angeles Times Boiling Point newsletter, Sammy Roth explores troubling actions by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California as the board considers the potential ousting of General Manager Adel Hagekhalil on Monday.
Roth’s column highlights Hagekhalil’s efforts to shift the agency’s focus from increasingly unreliable water sources to more sustainable, local alternatives like water recycling. The article notes concerns from environmental groups, who fear that unfounded accusations and a lack of due process could signal a move back to outdated, infrastructure-heavy strategies– especially as discussions around the costly Delta Tunnel project gain traction.
The investigation reveals that many insiders believe the complaints against Hagekhalil may stem from internal power dynamics rather than genuine concerns about his management style. Roth cites interviews with over half a dozen individuals familiar with the investigations, all of whom assert that Hagekhalil likely has not mistreated his staff.
Roth questions the motivations behind these accusations, particularly noting that MWD’s chief financial officer, who alleged she had been “sidelined, bullied, harassed, and disrespected” by Hagekhalil, also serves as treasurer of the Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority, the agency set up to finance Newsom’s tunnel.
The outcome of the board’s decision on Hagekhalil’s future could have significant implications for the region’s water policy.
You can read more from Sammy Roth here.