Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health

Inequality and Discrimination in Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health

Recently, it was brought to my attention that two communities facing similar environmental stressors were treated very differently by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH). In Maywood, the Southeast community suffered as a toxic magnesium explosion terrorized the neighborhood. In Porter Ranch, the suburban community was afflicted by a gas leak. Though both regions were exposed to extreme environmental hazards, the DPH gave significantly more attention to the latter community, creating a large disparity between the assistance each community was provided.