Will San Diego County Survive Trump?
Supervisor Lawson-Remer plans to do better
Acting Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer gave a powerful and progressive State of the County address at the Natural History Museum to a packed house of invited guests on Wednesday evening.
It was hardly the kind of speech I’d expected, given the 2-2 ideological split on the Board of Supervisors, currently in limbo as far as change is concerned since the resignation of Nora Vargas. A total of three votes are required to pass any item considered by the board.
In an April 8 primary, South Bay voters selected Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to advance to a July run-off to fill the vacant First Supervisorial District seat.
An Aguirre win will give the board a more progressive lean. McCann winning will mean uncertainty, as his record suggests that he’s not always in sync with the board’s righties. However, we’re in the era of Dear Leader Trump, where people nominally known as Republicans are being forced to choose between being for or against the Project 2025/MAGA agenda.
Via Voice of San Diego:
“Even if Washington is abandoning its responsibilities, we – together – can still fulfill America’s promise – San Diego County’s promise,” Lawson-Remer said. “It’s our choice. We can wait. Or we can lead. San Diego County, let’s lead.”
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Although there are a host of issues facing County government, Lawson-Remer went after the threat of services immediately impacted in the wake of the Trump administration’s disembowelment of the Federal government.
The Trump administration is considering a more than 30% cut to the Health and Human Services budget, “as part of a sweeping reorganization that would eliminate dozens of programs,” according to Politico.
“Public health initiatives aimed at HIV/AIDS prevention would no longer exist. Major parts of the National Institutes of Health would be abolished. The Food and Drug Administration would cease routine inspections at food facilities. And funding for many of the administration’s priorities are on the chopping block, including federal programs focused on autism, chronic disease, drug abuse and mental health.”
I don’t know how pragmatically realistic Lawson-Remer’s vision might be, but going beyond the expected appeals to Congress route, she all-but-said *eff it,* “we’ll do it on our own.”
The headline in the daily paper framed her speech as an appeal for a tax increase to offset cuts. I’m sure that headline would jangle the bells of the lone anti-tax protester standing out in front of the building on Wednesday.
The acting Board Chair has plans (looking great on paper) to fill the void. Not only is the Trump administration planning for a severely diminished federal role in social services, they’re ready to ask congress to rescind current funding, as they’re losing in court battles freezing budgets.
It is a Big Deal when and if the County decides to start its own managed health care program, doubles down on its commitment increase behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment slots from 16,000 to 32,000 by 2030, creates a Consumer Financial Protection Division, tackles a decades long pollution problem at the border, and re-enforces its Immigrant Legal Defense Program.
But the biggest deal proposed at the gathering was a call for "immediate reform" of the county's reserve policy to deploy the $100 million currently held by the County over and above the nearly $700 million already reserved in accordance with normal accounting standards.
"With Washington slashing essential services, San Diego will step up — and put our reserves to work for the people they're meant to serve."
This issue has plagued progressives for more than a decade, anytime discussions about the county’s role are held. I, for one, kinda thought it was no longer the case, given the number of liberal leaning votes on the board during Nathan Fletcher’s term. But the money’s still sitting there (albeit diminished if it’s invested in the stock market).
At Axios San Diego, Andy Keatts noted:
Lawson-Remer's call for spending the county's reserves won a standing ovation from Mayor Todd Gloria, who, in his State of the City speech, criticized the county for not spending enough on homelessness.
I would be remiss in not saying Lawson-Remer understands the fundamental problem for democracy, namely wealth inequality, or, as I like to call it, the billionaire class. She gets it, but is dealing with what’s on her plate right now.
The chaos in Washington DC makes any policy projection uncertain; Congress could grow a spine, the Supreme Court could say ‘basta’, a (now-expected) recession would have far reaching effects on the human level, or Dear Leader might sprinkle the gold coins brought in by his tariffs for the masses.
Moreover, the impact of the administration’s foul attacks on San Diego’s second-largest employer (UCSD) could be enough to change the local political dynamic. After all, the insider gossip about the White House attack plan on higher education is that they’re hoping that one big-name institution will close up, leading to subservience by others.
One need look no further than Florida for doom and gloom possibilities, where Gov. DeSantis’ repositioning of Florida’s New School has cost the institution its credibility and led to a series of financial scandals, fueled by the grift that is to be expected from right wing blowhards.
As the New York Times, reporting on law firms that have struck deals with the administration, noted, there’s never a limit to how far Trump will go once he gets his foot in the door. Who knows? UCSD could become the center of the anti-science universe; Scripps could become the leader in disproving the dangers of climate change.
Think I’m being silly? Do I have to remind you that the Secretary of Education thought AI was called A1, as in the steak sauce? Or that Elon Musk’s status in the White House is such that at least three Pentagon officials have been exiled in the hunt for whomever leaked his effort to get briefing on war scenarios with China?
In the case of San Diego County, Supe Lawson-Remer is righteously taking the position that it should be a compassionate and effective front-line source for many government services. After all, that is what the State Constitution says it should be.
I really hope she’s right.
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A personal anecdote: Things have really changed in the decade since I attended a State of… speech at the Balboa Theater. For one, I have changed. I’m a “mute” (can’t communicate in person except with a white board), I’ve been through multiple surgeries/radiation and just don’t have the stamina I once had.
Since COVID, I’ve been reticent about going into public events where I could expect to be engaged with other humans. I wasn’t afraid of the virus, it was just the awkwardness of having conversation. Since Trump decided to go full-bore fascist, I’ve been trying to get out more, to be seen as a concerned citizen. So…
Security was tight at the Museum of Natural History, and I wasn’t surprised, given the venom that’s regularly released at the humans we elected to take care of things in the county. The last time I was in person at a Supes County Board meeting (to receive an award), the anti-vaxx people couldn’t wait to disrupt the affair.
It was kind of cool being greeted by readers whom I’ve never met before and seeing friends from over the decades as I stood on the steps awaiting my turn to enter. I even had a prescient exchange with an old friend about the struggles his deaf adult son goes through in life.
I didn’t expect to get caught up in the security net, but there I was. I was there because I’d responded to an email invite and had a confirmation email on my phone. I had my name on the white board ready before I got to the front.
At the general public entrance: “I’m sorry, sir. This is an invitation only event and your name isn’t on the list.” At the media entrance, with a dash of snippiness: “I’m sorry, sir. This is an invitation only event and your name isn’t on the list. You need to go back to the front entrance ”
This was one of those times where it was beneficial that I can’t speak. It was also one of those times where I observed that when people saw my white board scrawls they discounted what I was trying to communicate.
I went back to the front entrance and sat on a bench beside the check in area, because a) I was upset b) I was winded (I’m no spring chicken) and c) I hoped to see someone in authority who knew me.
I didn’t expect to see two San Diego County Sheriffs coming to check out a security problem (me!). Fortunately, they weren’t spoiling for a fight. I offered to leave, but showed them the confirmation email on my phone just to prove I wasn’t crazy. They were amazing. Somebody from inside then appeared and told me I was on a VIP list –which had a different check in station.
Ooops! Shit happens, and there I was, on the receiving end of my own paranoia and the needs of the event organizers to keep things safe.
I’ll keep trying to be seen, because showing up matters when it comes to matters of state (or county in his case).
FYI– All four of the Congressional Republicans whose districts were targeted by the Sander/AOC rallies have announced that they won’t vote for the reconciliation bill that includes $880 million in cuts to Medicare. So, yeah, showing up matters.
Abundance: Big Tech’s Bid for the Democratic Party by Kate Willet at The New International
In his conversation on the Doomscroll podcast, Ezra Klein made his relationship with Big Tech clear: “I think there are too few visions of the future. I think of Marc Andreessen as my counterpart, the person that I am sparring with a little bit more.”1 Andreessen is a Trump-supporting venture capitalist who wrote the Techno-Optimist Manifesto: a call for a tech-driven, free market future. Klein’s Abundance—co-written with Derek Thompson—attempts to bring aspects of Andreessen’s vision to Democrats. Klein and Andreessen are both intensely pro-growth, true believers in the transformative power of innovation. Andreessen is a key figure on the Tech Right, Silicon Valley’s rising authoritarian and anarcho-capitalist wing. Klein is a liberal. Andreessen now advises on DOGE and is a patron of Curtis Yarvin, the self-styled philosopher advocating for “CEO Monarchs” to replace democratically elected leaders.2
Abundance isn’t just an airport book; it’s a press release for a collection of think tanks who are fighting to win “a battle for the future of the Democratic Party”–a future that Tech Right billionaires can get behind.3
This won’t be a review of Abundance—many good ones exist. Its policy ideas are standard center-left technocratic fare: some enacted under Biden, others proposed by Harris. Most would help modestly, though likely less than the authors claim.4 Instead, I want to focus on “the groups,” as Klein would say. He’s criticized “the groups” for their influence on Democratic politics, even blaming them for Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss.5 But his target seems to be certain groups: immigrant rights advocates, LGBT and environmental groups, the ACLU. Klein’s “Abundance Agenda” is just as group-driven: by Third Way neoliberals, and, more troublingly, Silicon Valley’s ascendant illiberal faction which would prefer to exit democracy altogether.
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Core Democratic groups are preparing to be targeted by the Trump administration by Steve Peoples at The Associated Press
No charges are known to have been filed against Indivisible or its leaders. But Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin says it’s critical that Democratic institutions work together to speak out against the threats posed by the Trump administration. His organization has been discussing contingency plans with attorneys and other activists in the event that he or other Indivisible leaders face criminal charges.
“They may try to come at us directly, or it’s as likely that their non-state actors are inspired by their lies and propaganda, and try to come at us individually,” Levin said. “And that is a risk in a moment where you’re facing anti-democratic threats like we are.”
“Our choice is, we can be quiet and hope that they won’t target us, or we can try to work as a mass opposition,” he continued. “If you’re not willing to do that, what are you doing here?”
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How Trump’s War on the Federal Government Will Stifle Black Progress by David A. Love at Contraband Camp.
Given their time-tested Southern Strategy, Republicans are experts at making their war on government a war on Black Americans. With the Southern Strategy, the GOP wooed racist Southern Democrats over to their party by channeling white resentment over Black civil rights gains and political empowerment. Republicans made hatred of government programs, welfare and taxes synonymous with Black people.
The evidence shows the targeting of Black federal employees is intentional, and it is no secret that “DEI” is the new n-word. For example, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a Heritage Foundation-funded group, compiled a watchlist of 57 mostly Black civil service workers involved in health equity work.
And if Black people can no longer turn to the federal government for employment, neither can they rely on corporate America. “Black workers are not being elevated into higher paying jobs in the larger economy such that they can ignore the cuts in the federal sector,” noted Fletcher. According to a study from the University of California at Berkeley's Labor Center, Black people in the public sector earned about 25% more than their private sector colleagues.
