anti-harassment

Board of Supervisors Meeting: May 19, 2020

Brennan’s remarks - Agenda Item 5

I’m Sabrina Brennan and I serve on the San Mateo County Harbor Commission. 

In 2017, a former Harbor District bookkeeper and I met with Supervisor Don Horsley at Pillar Point Harbor. The bookkeeper told Supervisor Horsley about the culture of sexual harassment and retaliation she experienced while working for the District. The bookkeeper resigned from the District because an investigation into her complaint was factually inaccurate, not independent, not impartial and not just.  

During the meeting I reported that I too had experienced sexual harassment, sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation. I provided a detailed account and I shared the pornographic photos Harbor Commissioner Tom Mattusch emailed me.

The photos are extremely demeaning to women. Tom Mattusch said he sent the photos because, “Sabrina is a lesbian”. Sadly, homophobia was a motivating factor contributing to his perverse behavior.

I asked Supervisor Horsley for his assistance. He declined to help.

I urge this board to set a positive example by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct and retaliatory behavior and urge cities and special districts to do the same.

In depth anti-harassment, anti-discrimination, and anti-retaliation education and unconscious bias training should be required for all elected and appointed representatives and government employees.

  • Current training lacks information about best practices for conducting independent investigations once a complaint is made.

All harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints should be investigated, and the findings should be transparent.

The complainant and complainee should be provided with copies of all investigation reports.  

A panel or a review board that includes both women and men should make recommendations about disciplinary action.

Thank you

ITEM 5 | Board of Supervisors Meeting | May 19, 2020