Office of Urban Policy

 

On February 11th, 2004, Bill Clinton signed Executive Order #12898, the Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.  The intent of this order was to ensure that each “Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.”

This came after numerous studies were released showing the negative effect of air and water pollution were more concentrated in minority communities. Unfortunately, Clinton never fully implemented the order, and Bush ignored it all together, to put it kindly.  As a result, we are still seeing a disproportionately high case of adverse effects due to environmental causes in the minority populations.  An example would be this publications ongoing research into Bisphenol-A and phthalates.

However, it looks as though the Obama administration is going to deliver on the promise made back in 1994.  Not only are his appointments to the EPA, Health and Human Services, White House Council of Environmental Quality, the assistant to the president on Energy and Climate Change, and HUD a significant notice that they are changing the direction of this country, but more compelling is the creation of the Office of Urban Policy.

The office is intended to better coordinate federal efforts to help America’s cities.   As we all know, Obama started his career as “community organizer”. As a result, he understands at the local level is really where you can impact change and that local government can play a vital role as we try to jump start our economy.  

It also seems that this will have a positive impact on the environment.  Adolfo Carrion, the appointee in charge of the OUP, has been a champion of affordable, energy efficient, green quality sustainable housing for low income family.

Add this all together and you have a team that is not only fighting for the environment, but fighting for the people that are the most at risk when something goes wrong in the environment.

The American Prospect has further information.