In a speech filled with progressive talking points and big government expansion proposals, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Acting Chair Terra Lawson-Remer used her State of the County Address Wednesday to urge local officials to take on responsibilities typically handled at the federal level—including potentially forming a public bank to fund affordable housing.
Speaking from the San Diego Natural History Museum, Lawson-Remer painted a picture of government overreach dressed as leadership, stating that if Washington “walks away,” San Diego County will “step up.” In reality, her message was clear: more local taxes, more spending, and more bureaucracy.
Among her proposals were a county-run managed care health plan, loosening budgetary restrictions to increase spending, and a new transfer tax on high-value property sales—measures critics say could punish success and burden taxpayers. She suggested that this one-time transfer fee on the top 1% of property sales could help “break the stranglehold” of the housing crisis. But rather than address the root causes of housing inflation—excessive regulation and red tape—her plan doubles down on government control.
Lawson-Remer also praised the Immigrant Legal Defense Program and boasted about using taxpayer dollars to bolster support for illegal immigrants, a move that continues to frustrate law-abiding citizens concerned about border security and the fair allocation of resources. In line with the usual progressive playbook, she pushed for $10 million in public funds to match state or philanthropic grants for a clean-up effort tied to cross-border pollution from Mexico, calling it a “sewage crisis.”
Notably, the acting chair floated the idea of a public bank funded by county reserves, saying money “kept in the stock market” should instead be redirected to fund housing. Critics warn that this kind of risky financial experimentation with public funds could backfire spectacularly.
Although her remarks were warmly received by progressive allies and fellow Democrats—including Rep. Juan Vargas and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria—many conservatives are questioning the wisdom of using taxpayer money to prop up big government solutions when the county already struggles with affordability, homelessness, and crime.
The Board of Supervisors is currently split 2–2 between Democrats and Republicans, with a July runoff looming that could tip the balance. As San Diego voters weigh their options, Lawson-Remer’s speech signals what more Democrat-led governance could mean: less fiscal restraint, higher taxes, and an ever-growing government presence in residents’ daily lives.
While the acting chair framed her vision as bold and compassionate, to conservatives, it looked more like a blueprint for expanding dependency and draining local resources under the guise of progress.
