The resistance takes shape—but it will come with a price tag.

Sara Rubin here, reflecting on how a “new normal” has taken shape. A seemingly bottomless well of attacks on democratic norms and policies and programs that are meant to protect our country’s most vulnerable people, so that the United States of America can provide a certain standard of living, continue daily or even hourly.

Since President Donald Trump was sworn into his second term in January, we at the Weekly have been covering what the resistance looks and sounds like. In a majority-blue county represented by two Democratic members of Congress in a majority-blue state, it’s been no surprise to me that local leaders are consistently voicing opposition to the Trump administration’s policies. (One recent example: Local leaders supporting Prop. 50, a pro-Democrat gerrymandering plan to counter the Texas model, and a plan that received support from the County Board of Supervisors.)

For months, a lot of the response was in the form of talk more than action. One notable exception was the County Board of Supervisors’ swift plans to do outreach for the immigrant community starting back in January.

In recent weeks, they’ve been more surgical and strategic in their response as specific programs come under attack. While SNAP was in limbo during the federal government shutdown, the supervisors authorized a $150,000 grant to the Food Bank for Monterey County. With Medi-Cal changes creating confusion, the supervisors called for a $250,000 outreach plan to make sure people who qualify continue to enroll in government-subsidized insurance plans. 

Of course, those things come with price tags—they are more than talking points. 

Today, the Board of Supervisors continued with this trend of responding to challenges coming down from the federal level. Supervisor Wendy Root Askew asked the board to consider adopting a resolution that would “affirm the County of Monterey’s opposition to offshore drilling and seabed mining, as well as consider joining and financially contributing to the Local Governments [Outer Continental Shelf] Coordination Program to ensure the local government perspective is not diminished in federal decision making.” 

It’s a direct response to plans from the Trump administration that, if approved, would see the County of Monterey team up with other jurisdictions in coastal California to coordinate and share an estimated $250,000 cost. 

In addition, Supervisor Luis Alejo today asked the board to consider reviving what was an innovative county-level program, known as Esperanza Care, to provide health insurance for residents who do not qualify for Medi-Cal because of their immigration status. The $2.5 million program previously provided insurance for up to 4,500 people, but was suspended in 2024 because it was no longer needed—the state had stepped in. But with a Medi-Cal cliff approaching due to federal legislation, about 27,000 local residents are expected to lose coverage next year.

It’s not yet clear what the price tag would be, but for now, the Board of Supervisors is committing to the price of fighting back. The county is facing its own budget crunch, and at some point will need to ask hard questions about how much it can fund the resistance.