Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Unit Is A Go

April 1, 2026

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-to-1 to establish a Consumer Fairness and Public Protection unit aimed at combating fraud and illegal business practices targeting vulnerable populations. This 20-person division will operate under the County Counsel's office and handle civil consumer protection cases, filling an enforcement gap left by state and local agencies that focus on different priorities. San Diego was previously the only California county with over 750,000 residents lacking such a unit, despite state law allowing it since 2021.

Who is affected

Working families
Seniors
Veterans
Small business owners
Renters
Residents of San Diego County
Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County (mentioned as already having similar units)

What action is being taken

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of the Consumer Fairness and Public Protection (CFPP) unit
The 20-person unit is being established within the County Counsel's office to work on civil consumer cases
The unit is being launched using settlement funds already secured from corporations that violated laws

Why it matters

This unit addresses a critical enforcement gap in consumer protection, as state agencies concentrate on the largest statewide cases while local prosecutors prioritize more serious crimes, leaving families vulnerable to evolving scams and unfair business practices. The measure is particularly significant given the dismantling of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under the Trump Administration, removing a key federal safeguard against fraud. It provides San Diego County with enforcement tools to protect vulnerable populations from illegal practices including scams, junk fees, denied insurance claims, and predatory financial schemes.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint