We Are the Life of the Party

You could be at a party. Or maybe an event for your kids. Or on social media. Or any place where you’re meeting new people.

Someone says, “Hi! It’s nice to meet you, what do you do?”

You say proudly, “I work for the County of San Diego!”

Maybe there’s a slightly blank look, maybe a pause. Then you might hear, “Oh, how do you like the mayor?” (Actually, that’s the one I always get.) Or, “Oh, uh, yeah, I, uh, don’t live in the county.”

(Ahem… throat clearing… awkward silence.)

I know. It’s not their fault. We can be confusing for outsiders.

They’re not talking geography. They’re talking services, government.

But we know — OF COURSE they live in the County! And we’re talking services. They just need someone to tell them about it!

The fact is it’s practically impossible to live in our region and not be protected and served by us. Just take any normal day as an example. If you get up and drive to work and stop to get gas, you’ll see a County seal on the pump. County inspectors are the ones who make sure that pump dispenses the full gallon you’re buying — no matter where you are, in a city or one of our beautiful unincorporated communities.

Maybe you stop at the store to pick up something to eat for lunch. Well, County inspectors are the ones who make sure the price scanners at the checkout counter are charging you accurately and that the deli is clean and safe.

Maybe you decide to head to a restaurant for lunch instead. That’s right. It’s the County that regularly inspects the 12,000-plus restaurants and food facilities countywide to make sure they’re meeting state health and sanitation guidelines and earning the “A” food grade they need to have. (Oh, and you can check those grades online before you head to the restaurant!)

Maybe it’s not a work day. You decide to head out to one of our world famous beaches. And it’s us again! The County monitors beach-water quality at the 80-plus beaches in our region and warns the public when there are pollution problems. (And, if you’re heading to a public pool, we inspect those to make sure they’re safe too!)

Maybe you just want to read a good book or magazine? Who needs Barnes and Noble? I think there are only like 12 of those countywide — we have 33 branch libraries! And you can browse their stacks right online!

But all of this is just a small slice of the services that we provide that serve almost everyone in our region.

We provide billions of dollars of health and social services for the region. We conduct all the elections — federal, state, local — held in San Diego County. Sheriff’s deputies not only patrol our unincorporated areas, they serve as law enforcement for nine of the 18 cities! (We also run the jails — in case that party gets a little rowdy! ☺)

We also manage probation services regionwide, prosecute crimes through the District Attorney’s Office and help people who cannot afford court representation to defend themselves through the Public Defender’s office.

We provide vector control for the entire region to make sure mosquitoes and other animals that transmit diseases to people are monitored and controlled. We also provide animal control services to the unincorporated areas and in six of the 18 cities.

In addition, the state recognizes us as the region’s disaster-response coordinator when large emergencies strike. We make sure that businesses, whether they’re in cities or the unincorporated areas, don’t pollute the air or mismanage hazardous waste.

We manage the program that protects foster kids throughout the region. We handle adoptions and child support.

And again, there’s so much more, it’s really hard to name it all: public health, disease surveillance, parks, even weddings!

So, the next time you hear that, “uhh, yeah, I don’t live in the County.”

Just remember, of course they do!

There doesn’t have to be any awkward pause. Just tell them the part about the gas stations, the stores, the beaches, the restaurants — all that stuff! And you can tell them we’re the government known by #StrongReserves, #AAABondRating and #BestEmployeesEver!

Heck, you’ll be the life of the party!