Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. issues the following statement on the death of San Fernando Councilwoman Cindy Montañez:

“My great friend Cindy Montañez lived up to her name as a person who climbed mountains and helped others to as well. In our last conversation at her bedside, we talked about her love for nature and hiking, as well about tackling trails of public policy. In 2022, as we faced dire drought conditions, while supporting turf replacement incentives to conserve water, Cindy as a Councilmember in San Fernando spoke up for the trees. Since then, we at Metropolitan have been in the process of rolling out a program to protect the tree canopy to prevent heat island effects, as we conserve water by eliminating turf. Watching Cindy never giving up, accepting richly deserved accolades, but also literally issuing assignments to those of us she saw in the last year, we will continue to climb mountains because by the very nature of her actions to propel us, we can never forget her.

“On behalf of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, we are deeply grateful for Cindy Montañez's contributions and will carry her legacy forward. She will be remembered, and her work will continue to guide and inspire us all. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.”

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