By the time she returned in November, she discovered that her position in the finance department had been moved to administration beneath an engineer. Gone were her computer, her files, her staff. I was forced out. Today Eng is happily back in private industry, where she says budget hawks are rewarded, not thwarted. But in the last two decades, changing environmental laws and an increased public-awareness campaign have pushed the district to a broader mission.
Environmentalists often find themselves at odds with the district's direction.
In the meantime, a study conducted by the district last year of Santa Clara County residents ranked protecting the environment a greater concern than flood control. Board members and district engineers frequently chalk up results like this to public ignorance. Their response is to step up public information to remind the public that flood control and drought management are yearly cycles requiring constant maintenance and public money. The 17-point list concludes that immediate action should be taken to review district goals, past grievances, recent promotions and salaries. Eng thinks it will take more than tinkering to save the derelict ship.