SF Department of Public Health (SFDPH)
SFDPH has an environmental health section that details a wide range of environmental health services. These include issuing permits for restaurants, caterers, farmers markets, licensed health care facilities, mobile food facilities, pop-ups, temporary food facilities, and massage businesses. Other services include noise regulation; hazardous material and waste regulation; body art facility inspections/regulations; healthy housing; rodents, mosquitoes and other insects; water, air, smoke; agriculture; lead prevention; and agriculture enforcements.
Another service that I found interesting is the Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability (PHES). This program applies innovative approaches to using health data and evidence to inform safe, sustainable and equitable planning and policy, in collaboration with local communities and government agencies. Many cities/counties are establishing equity offices to tackle health care and health disparities. I'm glad to see this program as part of SFDPH.
SF Environment
Services at the SF Environment is divided into energy, transportation, zero waste, toxics & health, buildings & environments, education & equity, and climate change. Again, I was drawn to the education & equity section. In the overview, it describes this service as embracing the concept of environmental justice, the fair and meaningful involvement of all people - regardless of race, ethnicity, income or education level - in environmental decision-making. I appreciate the word choice of meaningful involvement because diversity is not simply about adding people of color but how they can be involved in the process of decision-making. I'm glad to see that this program is providing curriculums to K-12 schools in SF.
That's really cool that San Francisco has an education and equity section. Given the large population and the diversity of the city, I'm really glad to see they are focusing on equity and that they are taking vulnerable populations into consideration.
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