FILIPINA American public service veteran Susana Reyes has a new title: commissioner of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works.
Reyes, previously the vice president of the city’s Board of Water and Power Commissioners, was unanimously confirmed by the City Council to her new board position on Wednesday, April 27.
“It’s gratifying to know that people trust and believe in my leadership and public service. I stand on the shoulders of other leaders who moved the needle on equity, justice, and sustainability,” Reyes said in a social media post.
Prior to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, Reyes served as the director of the LA Department of Water and Power’s Low-Income Customer Access program, which provides low-income ratepayers with financial assistance, discounts and rebates.
Reyes also served on LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s sustainability team as a senior sustainability analyst, where she helped oversee the implementation of Los Angeles’ first Sustainable City pLAn and helped secure a $1.7 million grant for the City from the California Air and Resources Board to help launch BlueLA, an EV car sharing pilot program in low-income communities. Reyes is an active member of the Sierra Club, elected to the organization’s first-ever all-female Executive Committee in 2017.
“Susana is a selfless public servant who has spent her career building a more resilient and fair Los Angeles,” said Garcetti said in a statement following her nomination in April. “Her strong commitment to equity, environmental justice, and public safety will make her a powerful addition to the Board of Public Works.”
In addition to being a public servant for over 32 years, Reyes is the founder and CEO of AgilEngines LLC, an advocacy and consulting firm focused on community outreach and civic engagement strategies, according to the LA Mayor’s Office.
Reyes becomes the third Filipino American — and second Filipina — to serve on the city’s Board of Public Works, following Jessica Caloza and Joel Jacinto.
The LA Board of Public Works is a five-member executive team responsible for the administration of the city’s Department of Public Works, overseeing and managing more than 5,000 employees within the Department’s five bureaus: Bureau of Contract Administration, Bureau of Engineering, Bureau of Sanitation, Bureau of Street Lighting, and the Bureau of Street Services. n
