Consider the scenario below. A toxic waste dump company wants to build a facility within a small, low-income community. The city council has to approve the placement for all new companies. The approval of the addition of this particular company will bring very little economic benefit to the community. None of the residents of the community attended the city council meeting when this company made its proposal, and the community residents were unaware of the proposal. Since no one in the community attended the city council meetings, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the toxic waste dump company says approval from the city council should be the only approval needed to move forward with building this facility.
Do you agree or disagree with the CEO? Consider the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local health departments in public health practice. What is one recommendation for what should have been done prior to the council meeting to ensure that the decision was fair and valid?