Chief Deputy City Engineer Deborah Weintraub, the first woman and the first architect to serve in that capacity, retired in early 2026. She retires with 25 years of City service.
A reception was held in her honor Jan. 8. A presentation was hosted by the Board of Public Works Dec. 19.
“I am filled with many memories of fun, dynamic and intense moments, which were overwhelmingly about collaboration and dialog with my BoE colleagues,” she wrote. “The myriad projects and organizational initiatives that I have been privileged to work on with many of you have been very rewarding.”
Interim City Engineer Alfred Mata listed many of Deborah’s credits. “The entire City of Los Angeles has benefited from Deborah arriving to work here 25 years ago,” he said. “She has an undergraduate degree from Princeton. She has a Master’s degree in architecture from Berkeley. She has experience working at various architectural firms in New York City, including her own practice. And she’s also worked at the Canadian Consulate here in Los Angeles and as an architect with Southern California Edison before coming here to the City.
“She started with the City as a Principal Architect overseeing our Architectural Division before being promoted to Deputy City Engineer and soon after she has been serving as a Chief Deputy City Engineer for the past 17 years. During that time, Deborah has guided hundreds of projects influenced by her passion for thoughtful and sustainable design. Among the many projects she has worked on, she has also led the LA River Revitalization Master Planning and was the principal author of the City’s first green building policy.
“After she retires, she can travel all around the City and see many of the projects she has overseen, including the river projects, neighborhood city halls, community centers, libraries, fire stations, bridges, zoo exhibits, numerous parks, gymnasiums, pools, rec centers, and even retaining walls. She definitely has her fingerprints across the entire City.
“I’ve also had the pleasure of working with Deborah on the executive team for many years now. During this time, I had a close-up view to appreciate all that she does for the Bureau and the City. She sets a great example for all of us that work at the Bureau of Engineering. She has worked hard to make the Bureau the best it can be, and we will all benefit from that for years to come.”
Most recently, Weintraub also worked on the expansion of the City-owned Convention Center and the Sixth Street Viaduct replacement project.
Weintraub closed by saying, “Thank you, Commissioners. I leave here with a heavy heart, but I look forward to the next steps. Thank you so much.”
Congratulations on a noteworthy City career, Deborah. The Club honors and thanks you for your dedicated service.