Commission affirms Department of the Environment’s racial equity initiative

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment on March 14 unanimously adopted a resolution affirming the department’s Racial Equity Initiative, directing staff to develop a departmental racial equity action plan and to continue staff training and interdepartmental collaboration.

Staff presenters said the initiative will move the department from awareness to action by embedding a racial equity lens into program design, internal processes and budgeting. Wendy Goodfriend, Climate and Environmental Justice Program manager, and Shraddha Mehta of the Environmental Justice Program summarized the department’s history of work in frontline neighborhoods, including environmental-justice grants and energy programs that placed solar PV systems on low-income homes. Soko Made of the 0‑Waste team described the initiative’s framework—examining individual, institutional and structural racism—and cited city cohorts and best practices from Seattle, Portland and Madison.

Presenters gave examples used to shape the initiative: the Energy Watch program’s support to 33 small businesses that produced 31,124 kilowatt-hours of savings; website translations of sfrecycles.org into Chinese and Spanish to serve San Franciscans who speak languages other than English; and EJ grants that funded more than 100 photovoltaic systems in Bayview Hunters Point. Staff said the initiative will include an internal assessment, staff trainings, a racial equity action plan with measurable metrics, and participation in the citywide Government Alliance on Race and Equity cohort.

Commissioners asked how the work will be financed and sustained. Director Deborah Raffel said the approach is “an and not an or”: the department will both seek to expand environmental-justice budgeting and intentionally embed equity work across programs to leverage existing budgets. Commissioners also asked for more detail on interdepartmental relationships; staff noted that about 15 city departments participated in the cohort and that the Human Rights Commission led the cohort and continues to provide guidance.

Public commenters and city partners voiced broad support. Daniella Menendez, a former department volunteer, and Zoe Polk of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission described the initiative as a continuation of long-standing engagement with underserved communities. Tracy Zhu of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission said her agency will continue to partner in citywide efforts. After public comment, the commission voted by voice to adopt the resolution.

Next steps listed by staff include completing the departmental racial equity action plan, building metrics to track outcomes, continuing training for staff across program areas, and coordinating with the citywide cohort to share best practices. The commission did not set a separate deadline in the meeting for final delivery of the action plan; staff said they will return with updates and seek direction and support from the commission on implementation.

The resolution passed by voice vote; the meeting record does not list individual tallies for aye/no votes.