Top Filipina commissioners honored at LA City Hall event 

LA Board of Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, LA Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) President Joan Ria Tagle, LA City Employees Asian American Association (LACEAA) President Annie Chao, and LA Dept. of Water and Power Board Commissioner Susana Reyes attend a celebration at City Hall on Monday. (AJPress/Christina M. Oriel)

LOS ANGELES — Two top-ranking Filipina American commissioners were honored during an event at Los Angeles City Hall on Monday, June 18.

The luncheon, organized by the LA City Employees Asian American Association (LACEAAA) and LA Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE), highlighted the recent appointments of Jessica Caloza to the city’s Board of Public Works and Susana Reyes to the Department of Water and Power’s board of commissioners.

Joan Ria Tagle, president of LAFACE, and Annie Chao of LACEAAA, said that this event was put together to recognize the Asian American representation in these top LA positions.

Both Caloza and Reyes are the first Filipinas to sit on either board.

“It’s hard to believe that with LAFACE and LACEAAA, we’re still hearing ‘first this, first that’ so that’s why it’s so important to come together and acknowledge when we have representation at the highest levels,” Caloza told attendees on Monday.

Caloza, who was the director of scheduling for Mayor Eric Garcetti, was nominated for the position in February and confirmed a month later.

In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of mentorship among Asian Americans and Filipino Americans “to make sure that more of us move up in these leadership positions.”

Reyes, a public service veteran for 32 years, was nominated by Garcetti in April to join the Board of Water and Power Commission and was confirmed by City Council in early June.

She previously served as the director of LA Department of Water and Power’s (DWP) Low-Income Customer Access, a position that helped ensure low-income ratepayers could access financial assistance, discounts, and rebates offered by the utility.

“I’m ready to embrace the tremendous responsibility that comes with it,” Reyes said. “We just don’t need more leaders, we need better leaders.”

LAFACE and LACEAA held a luncheon on Monday, June 17 to honor top Filipina Commissioners Jessica Caloza and Susana Reyes. The event was also attended by Councilmember Paul Koretz, Captain Donald Graham of the LA Police Department and Deputy Mayor for Budget & Innovation Miguel Sangalang. AJPress/Christina M. Oriel

In addition to her work at the DWP, Reyes was on Garcetti’s sustainability team and is the vice president of National Sierra Club Board of Directors.

“I’ve dedicated myself to the fight for clean air, clean water and clean energy, not just for the few, but for the disadvantaged who suffer the worst impacts in pollution. Today there is no doubt that we are in a climate crisis,” she said.

Also present at the luncheon on Monday were Councilmember Paul Koretz, Captain Donald Graham of the LA Police Department, Deputy Mayor for Budget & Innovation Miguel Sangalang, and LAFACE and LACEAAA members.