The Politics of Public Health
As the city grows, Dr. Lueders argues that the municipal health officer's role must evolve beyond basic contagion management to include systemic urban sanitation.
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When asked what he thought of the change in the management of contagious diseases in the city, Dr. Lueders expressed himself as follows: 'I do not think that the law which places the management of contagious diseases in the hands of the county health officer was originally intended to apply to a city the size of Walla Walla. Some seem to think that after eliminating contagious diseases from the jurisdiction of the city health office there is nothing left for him to do. I disagree. Walla Walla is growing rapidly and in my opinion needs sanitation, hygiene, good drainage and a lot of other things to keep pace with the growth of the city. In other words, the office of health officer should be elevated rather than belittled, for it is the duty of this office to guard the public against everything which is likely to jeopardize the city's health.'
“Walla Walla is growing rapidly and in my opinion needs sanitation, hygiene, good drainage and a lot of other things to keep pace with the growth of the city.”
The tension between county-level authority and the unique needs of an urban center, particularly regarding public health, remains a recurring debate in Washington state governance.
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