Embattled manager of California water agency defends record, says complaints are unfounded – The Los Angeles Times 8/28/24
The recent article in the Los Angeles Times reveals that Metropolitan Water District (MWD) General Manager Adel Hagekhalil has been denied due process following more than two months of administrative leave.Hagekhalil expressed his concerns during a public comment, stating that he has not been contacted in relation to the ongoing investigation into alleged employee harassment claims, nor has he been granted access to records necessary for his defense. He remarked, “Over 74 days ago, you unfairly placed me on leave, and as of today, I still have not been contacted about the investigation.”He further questioned the fairness and objectivity of the investigation process, noting that the allegations against him are “unfounded and frivolous” and are being used to undermine his position and influence the board’s decisions.
Krystal Moreno of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians stated, “We need more California water leaders like Adel, not less.”
California’s largest water district extends GM’s leave as harassment investigation continues – Politico 8/28/24
A Politico article further highlights that, during Hagekhalil’s tenure of over three years, he has focused on adapting to climate change through investment in local water supplies. His sidelining raises concerns about not only the MWD’s investigative procedures but also the future of the nation’s largest wholesale supplier of drinking water, which serves 19 million people across Southern California.In response to these issues, numerous environmental groups, Tribes, and supporters have called for a fair and transparent investigation and voiced their support for the General Manager.
Conner Everts of the Southern California Watershed Alliance commented, “You had a change agent that was bringing in a different culture that needed to change, and the result is he is sitting in the audience with his lawyer.”
NOTEBOOK FEATURE: We are still here: Partnering with tribes on the Delta – Maven’s Notebook 8/28/24
This article highlights the forced displacement of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, their ancestral homeland, which has been ongoing since the 1700s. The Delta holds profound spiritual and cultural significance for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. As such, it is crucial that Delta projects are developed in collaboration with those whose ancestral land is in question.Currently, the Delta Stewardship Council is working to restore tribal access to these ancestral lands and waters. Their efforts include integrating traditional knowledge into the management and restoration of the Delta, and advancing both tribal and environmental justice.
Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, stated: “We are river people, we are salmon people. The river fed us, clothed us, and kept us healthy. Everything we need to be who we are comes from the river.”