May 20, 2019 8:30 AM
by Delana Gbenekama
In recognition of National Public Works Week, we are featuring 11 standout Public Works employees you should know. These employees are also being honored this week as Public Works employees of the year.
Jazmene Moton, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary
| What does your job entail? |
| Meeting with families who have experienced a loss and need to arrange a funeral. I also sell cemetery property (e.g., plots, niches, crypts) for immediate and future use. |
| What do you like most about your job (favorite thing to work on)? |
| When a person loses a loved one, they are numb. They don’t know what to do, where to begin. Most families have never arranged a funeral, and it is rewarding to be able to guide someone through the process and for them to say in the end, "If I ever bury anyone else, I want you to be there to guide me." |
| What does Public Works mean to you? |
| We’re here to provide a service to the community, and to be able to do that without having to upsell services to people who have just lost someone feels good (as opposed to private industry). |
| How long have you been a Public Works employee? |
| 13 years |
| What do you wish people knew about your job? |
| The Woodlawn property is just beautiful! When you drive into the gates, it’s like you’re entering a whole new world. A lot of people exercise here, meditate. It’s not a creepy place at all. It’s extremely rewarding to help someone at a time like this. I wish more people in the city experienced Woodlawn, not just for funerals. Just to be able to find a place that’s untouched, so to speak, it’s gorgeous. There are trees, birds, an eternal meadow that has all native California plants, and it’s really peaceful. It also has a lot of history. Leo Carrillo and Abbot Kinney are buried here. |
| Anything else you’d like to add? |
|
A lot of times, we feel like our work goes unnoticed. I do appreciate the acknowledgment of our division.
|
Tzeyang Jao, Street and Fleet Services
| What does your job entail? |
| My job entails maintenance and repair of various vehicles and equipment from almost every City department ranging from refuse trucks and sweepers to light- and medium-duty pickup trucks, sedans and anything else I’m assigned. |
| What do you like most about your job (favorite thing to work on)? |
| The thing I like most is diagnosing, troubleshooting and making repairs. |
| What does Public Works mean to you? |
| Providing good customer service and satisfying the customer’s needs to make them happy. |
| How long have you been a Public Works employee? |
| 16 years |
| What do you wish people knew about your job? |
| My job as a Fleet Mechanic is very challenging. I have to be persistent to complete my assignments and return the vehicles to my customers when expected. |
| Anything else you’d like to add? |
| I enjoy working for the City of Santa Monica. |
Authored By
Delana Gbenekama
Equity and Communications Program Manager