Los Angeles Water and Power officials rake in fat salaries as fire hydrants run dry

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) officials raked in enormous taxpayer-funded paychecks before its fire hydrants ran dry in the fight against massive fires in the area, according to analysis by OpenTheBooks, a government transparency organization.

Eight of the top ten highest-paid city officials in Los Angeles work for the LADWP, according to OpenTheBooks’ analysis. The department saw “scores” of the fire hydrants in its purview run dry overnight as firefighters tried to...