Join us on Monday, October 21, at 9 AM to provide public comment at the Special Joint Meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors in support of Adel Hagekhalil's reinstatement.
The Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) will be voting on the reinstatement of Adel Hagekhalil (Adel) as the agency’s general manager (GM). Adel has initiated significant environmental reforms, like updated Bay Delta policies, the Climate Action Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W) and the Environmental Listening Sessions, which have given Tribes, Environmental Justice Communities, and conservationists a seat at the table. Tribal and EJ leaders have said that he is the first leader to give them a seat at the table and a true sense of collaboration. He has also addressed long-standing issues related to workplace abuse, providing support for employees who have historically faced mistreatment.
Unfortunately, Adel has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of harassment. He deserves a fair and transparent investigation, yet he currently lacks access to his emails and office to prepare his defense. Despite complaints from his attorneys, he has not been interviewed in the ongoing inquiry in nearly 120 days, yet a decision is expected to be made as soon as Monday. MWD plays a critical role in determining whether California will invest in a local and sustainable future. However, unaddressed workplace toxicity continues to plague the organization at all levels, and disrupt continuity and progress as MWD moves away from reliance on imported water.
Join us on Monday to call upon the MWD Board!
Instructions for Commenting
At 9:00am on Monday, October 21, call 1-833-548-0276 and enter Meeting ID: 815 2066 4276. After roll call, public comment will begin and you will be prompted by area code and the last three digits of your phone number; press *6 to unmute yourself. You have three minutes to speak.
If you're unable to join, please email dl-boardsupportteam@mwdh2o.com to ensure your comments are included in the board packet.
Talking Points to help inform your comment are linked here. Please remember to put them in your own words so as to not seem redundant.
We provide many links to articles in the RSVP page, but if you want to hear first-hand accounts from staff and supporters in public comments, listen here to the August and September meetings, right after roll call.
If you have questions, please contact Caty Wagner, Water Campaign Manager, at caty.wagner@sierraclub.org or call/text her at 203-988-3584.
Thank you for supporting water sustainability and effective leadership at MWD.
