THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT MET THIS WEEK

A weekly newsletter by and for Metropolitan employees
June 15, 2020
Transforming
Bags to Riches
Did you know those Metropolitan tote bags that might be around the house can be used to do more than carry groceries or supplies? Just ask retiree Gladys Lopez who’s used some in the 550 masks she's made and donated to these hospitals: Huntington Memorial, Henry Mayo, Northridge Hospital, LA County and the Ellison Institute at USC. She is also now partnering with a program that is sending masks to New York.
 
See the masks here .
 
When asked how she came up with the idea to use the bags as filters, Gladys explained, “I watched a couple of tutorials and downloaded a template. I like using tote bags because they’re not porous and still allow easy breathing – it acts as a filter and an extra layer of protection.” For Gladys, it’s a labor of love, especially since she has relatives who are frontline healthcare workers.
 
In the first week of lockdown, the masks were made by hand due to a broken sewing machine. The machine has since been replaced and now Gladys averages 10-13 masks a day. She jokes that her kitchen looks like a factory with fabric everywhere.
 
Many of these masks are made possible due to her close connection with current employees. External Affairs’ Rossana Escuadro-Dailey donated bags she’s collected over the years and Sandy Tran , Metropolitan’s Occupational Safety and Health Specialist donated elastic. “I’ve gotten pretty resourceful and can use anything from clothes to sheets to curtains,” Gladys says. The masks cost her no money - only a little time and heaps of compassion.
Get to Know the
Ethics Office
After nearly a year in his post, Ethics Officer Abel Salinas has a firm hold on how Metropolitan employees view the Ethics Office and is working to re-shape some misconceptions while fostering a more open approach.
 
“I want this to be a world-class ethics office that not only brings accountability and transparency to the organization but one that is trusted and can help solve issues and problems,” he said.
 
To move that vision forward, Abel and his staff of four have been engaging with more employees. That started with the Ethics Survey last fall and will continue with the upcoming “Meet Your Ethics Office” webinar three-part series , which kicks off this Thursday, June 18.
 
“I want to de-mystify the Ethics Office,” Abel said. “We have very talented staff and they’re eager to meet people and tell them about the program. This shouldn’t be something employees are learning about for the first time because they have an issue, or when they’re filing a complaint.”
 
Abel came to Metropolitan after 11 years as a Special Agent in Charge, leading investigations for the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General. However, Metropolitan’s Ethics Office goes well beyond investigations.
 
“I also want to focus on education, training and advice to help prevent violations in the first place. It will prevent many problems if employees know to come to us for advice in navigating potential conflicts of interest or other issues. That’s why we’re doing more outreach.”
Linking Science to Water Policy and Practice
“Every day, I learn something new from incredible scientists. That includes members of our Metropolitan team as well as others from public resources agencies and universities,” says Lynda Smith , a principal resource specialist, who works on the Bay-Delta Initiatives in Sacramento. “These experts tackle enormously challenging issues and develop working solutions.”
 
Lynda , a UCLA graduate and environmental scientist, admits her job is hard to describe. She takes technical information on Delta water quality and other issues and develops it into effective management actions and science studies. That information is essential to address the needs of the Delta, its ecosystem and a reliable water supply for Southern California.
 
Lynda explains, “With incredible coordination and endless meetings, we consider how policy implications impact the operations of running a world-class water agency.” Linking science to management actions and regulatory policy is learned over the long-term, and she’s thankful for guidance from former Met colleagues.
 
Lynda has worked at Met for 30 years, and she has advanced degrees in biology and environmental science with an emphasis on the nexus of science and policy.
 
The water talk also continues at home. Her husband, Brent Walthall, is the assistant general manager of the Kern County Water Agency. The two like to escape Sacramento’s withering hot summers with Bay Area weekend trips and visits to Lake Tahoe for relaxation and hiking. 
New hires, transfers, promotions & retirements are posted here each month.
NEXT ISSUE: JULY 6
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