Two Los Angeles City Department Heads Fired in Unexpected Shakeup
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia abruptly terminated teh general managers of the Department of Aging and the Department of economic and Workforce Advancement this week, sparking questions about the future of both agencies and a potential restructuring of city services. The firings, confirmed by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, occurred without prior notification to key members of the City Council.
the dismissals come amid ongoing debate over the efficiency of the two departments, with some city officials suggesting they could be streamlined under a single entity. The move raises concerns about potential disruption to critical city programs, especially as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games, a period officials say requires increased investment in workforce development and support for seniors.
According to Rodriguez, she learned of the terminations from sources outside of city government, not from the Mayor’s office or Controller Mejia directly. “I was not informed about this action that was proposed, or even after it took place,” Rodriguez told LAist. “I was informed by external city partners, not by anyone in the city.”
The Department of Aging confirmed that its former general manager,Laura Pacheco-Orozco,has been placed on administrative leave. The Department of Economic and Workforce Development has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The City Council retains the authority to approve any formal consolidation of the departments. Rodriguez cautioned against hasty decisions, stating the city needs “to take a closer look at whether consolidating the departments actually would make things better.” She expressed concern that the unexpected leadership changes represent a loss of institutional knowledge at a crucial time, emphasizing the need to “ramp up support for business and workforce development for the Olympics.”
The Mayor’s office has not yet issued a statement regarding the firings.
Anyone with information related to this story can reach journalist joel Rynning via Signal at jrynning.56.
