First, they took food off San Diegans’ plates. Now they’re sticking us with the bill.

That’s the strategy behind President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — and last week, we finally saw the price tag.

San Diego County released its first in-depth analysis of the local damage. And it’s devastating.

📉 More than $303 million a year in lost services and unfunded mandates
👩‍⚕️ Up to 400,000 people at risk of losing Medi-Cal
🥫 Food aid for over 100,000 residents on the chopping block
🧾 Not a single cent of help from the federal government

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about human lives — missed doctor’s appointments, empty lunchboxes, and families on the brink.

💸 Washington’s Dine-and-Dash

Washington gutted our safety nets — and left San Diegans holding the bag.

They’re cutting Medicaid and food assistance while expecting us to clean up the mess using local tax dollars.

They call it fiscal responsibility. We call it the most expensive dine-and-dash in history.

But Here’s What Gives Me Hope

We’re not taking this lying down.

📊 We demanded this fiscal report so that our region’s leaders could see the truth and plan ahead.

🛑 We’ve been sounding the alarm all year and just last week voted to create a first-of-its-kind resident alert system — so no one is blindsided when their benefits are threatened.

🛡️ We’re evaluating reforming our reserves policy, a move that would give us flexibility in the short term to shield core services like behavioral health, housing, and emergency food access.

🧭 We’re exploring long-term local solutions to safeguard care, food, and dignity here locally, regardless of who’s in the White House.

🙋‍♀️ What You Can Do

If you’re angry, you’re not alone. Here’s how you can help:

✔️ Support local food banks like Feeding San Diego and San Diego Hunger Coalition
✔️ Share your story if your family relies on Medi-Cal or CalFresh → [Submit a story]
✔️ Tell your Supervisor: You expect bold, responsible leadership in the face of these cuts → [Find your rep]

✔️ Stay tuned: A local revenue measure could be our best shot at long-term protection

We didn’t ask for this crisis. But we can decide how we respond. 

As I said in my State of the County Address, we can wait, or we can lead.

San Diego County - let’s lead.