The past year tested all of us.

Washington pulled back. Funding was cut. Programs people rely on were suddenly at risk. And for a moment, it would have been easy to feel like so much was out of our control.

But that’s not what San Diego did.

Instead, neighbors stepped up. Volunteers showed up. Community organizations leaned in. And together, we made a different choice - one rooted in care, fairness, and responsibility for one another.

That’s the energy I’m carrying with me into the new year.

Here’s what stepping up looked like in 2025:

When critical public health funding was suddenly paused, putting disease tracking and lab work at risk, San Diegans didn’t shrug and move on. We fought back — and protected the tools that keep families safe.

When a Federal shutdown and cuts to food assistance threatened to push hundreds of thousands of people closer to hunger, volunteers, food banks, and County teams worked side by side to keep food flowing to neighbors who needed it.

And when legal support for unaccompanied children navigating immigration court was revoked, our community refused to leave kids to face that system alone. With philanthropic partners, we expanded legal defense so those children had a lawyer and a fair day in court.

None of this happened because it was easy. It happened because people here believe that looking out for one another is part of who we are.

San Diego proved something important this year: Our strength doesn’t come from Washington. It comes from a community that refuses to look away when the stakes are high.

So as we step into 2026, I have one simple ask:

Keep stepping up.

The world may stay unpredictable. But if the last year taught us anything, it’s this — when pressure hits, San Diego chooses compassion, courage, and community.

That’s how we’ll keep building a stronger, more resilient county for every neighbor.