On Sept 5, 2018, Surf Equity won the fight for inclusion, the fight for a multi-heat division and the fight for equal prize money across all World Surf League global events. In an email referring to Surf Equity’s advocacy work, Governor Newsom said: “I applaud the courage of the athletes and activist who fought for this victory, and I am hopeful that this will inspire the next generation — of daring athletes and activists with the audacity to challenge the status quo.” New York Times Magazine | Sunday, Feb 7, 2019
On Friday, a women's division was included in the Jack’s Pro for the first time ever.
In 2019, I sent numerous letters and made phone calls to the City of Huntington Beach, Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission regarding a pattern of gender discrimination in pervious competitions.
It's great to see past practices corrected!
We just won the fight for Equal Pay in professional surfing.
Gender-based discrimination in pro surfing first caught my attention in 1999 when Jeff Clark founded the Mavericks big wave surf competition in Half Moon Bay. The event was named, “Men Who Ride Mountains.” Now it’s two decades later, and women athletes have still not had an opportunity to compete in the Mavericks surf contest, however that will change when the next event is held.
Let me provide a little background: Women big wave surfers ride 25-to 68-foot waves at the most dangerous spots on earth. The largest wave ever surfed by a woman is the height of a 7-story building.
In 2015, I asked the California Coastal Commission to require that women be allowed to compete in the Mavericks surf contest. My request was supported in a 7-4 vote.
That success got the attention of professional big wave surfers Bianca Valenti, Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly, and Andrea Moller. Together we formed the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing with founding counsel Karen Tynan.
In 2016, Paige Alms made history as the first Women’s Big Wave Champion at Pe’ahi, Hawaii. The WSL paid Alms $15,000 in prize money and they paid the men’s division winner $25,000. What do you think of that?
A year ago, in Oct 2017, Alms successfully defended her title and again was paid 40% less money than a man.
Last summer, San Francisco big wave surfer Bianca Valenti made history as the first Women’s Big Wave Champion in Latin America at the Puerto Escondido Cup. The WSL paid Valenti 75% less than her male counterpart surfing the same wave on the same day.
Six month ago, the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing met with the World Surf League in Redwood City and presented a proposal for equal prize money. We told the WSL to end gender-based discrimination. CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said NO, and threatened to cancel the entire Mavericks surf competition rather than pay women equally.
What did we do? Back down? Accept less? Hell NO! We stood our ground and went back to the Coastal Commission and demanded equal pay and equal access at Mavericks. We also got help from Betty Yee and Gavin Newsom and the California State Lands Commission staff.
Here’s what happened next: In Sept, the WSL announced global equal prize money for every WSL event, including the Mavericks Challenge, which may be held next month depending on surf conditions.
Four women surfers, an activist, a lawyer and our supporters stood together, united in our demand for equality and pay equity.
And here we are today: State legislators have taken an interest in the precedent our work has set and they are pursuing a gender equity in sports bill. Please stay tuned because we need your help educating state lawmakers about why they must pass legislation that requires equal pay!
On March 21, 2018, the board majority denied the Harbor District an opportunity to comply with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) before the upcoming 2018 election. Staff recommendations and legal advice was ignored and a vote to “Do Nothing” was approved. Board President Virginia Chang-Kiraly, Commissioner Tom Mattusch, and Commissioner Robert Bernardo expressed doubts about whether racially polarized voting exists in San Mateo County.
In an effort to comply with state law Harbor Commissioners Sabrina Brennan and Edmundo Larenas requested that the CVRA be placed on the March 21, 2018 agenda. Both commissioners worked collaboratively with Harbor District staff and attorney Kimon Manolius to draft Resolution 18-04-A. Counsel’s review of the resolution was cut short because Chang-Kiraly contacted Manolius and demanded that he “stop working with Brennan and Larenas.”
The Harbor District is a countywide agency funded by countywide property tax. Its five-member elected board does not adequately represent all areas of the county and hasn’t for decades. The board’s decision to “do nothing” delays the District’s ability to serve marginalized communities.
—Edmundo Larenas, SMC Harbor Commissioner
Candidates of a protected class elected to an agency’s governing board do not negate a finding that racially polarized voting exists for that class. Under the CVRA, a class members’ successful campaign is not the only factor considered when determining the existence of racially polarized voting.
—Sabrina Brennan, SMC Harbor Commissioner
March 21, 2018, Meeting Video
Item 12: First Motion
Item 12: Second Motion
On February 27, 2018, Commissioners Edmundo Larenas and Sabrina Brennan called for district based elections to save millions in property tax funds currently being wasted on a countywide at-large election system. The Harbor District paid the County $752,490 for printing and mailing ballots for the Nov 2017 countywide at-large election. Switching to district elections would improve accountability; increase citizen participation including marginalized communities, and lower taxpayer costs by decreasing the cost of printing and mailing ballots.
Half Moon Bay Review – July 12, 2010
Resident suggests new format for harbor elections
According to Brennan, lowering the cost would not only relieve the burden on taxpayers but also encourage more qualified candidates to run for board positions.
"I'm concerned about the fact that for people who want to run, like myself … it costs a lot of money," she said, citing it would cost $7,000 for a candidate to place an optional statement onto the voter pamphlet.
Local agencies that have switched to district based as a result of CVRA challenges:
Due to the significant costs of defending against CVRA lawsuits, the vast majority of local agencies approved voluntarily transitions to district elections.
Examples of settlements:
SAN MATEO COUNTY— Harbor Commissioners Larenas and Brennan are calling for district elections to save millions in property tax funds currently being wasted on a countywide at-large election system. The Harbor District paid the County $752,490 for the Nov 2017 countywide at-large election. Switching to district elections would improve accountability; increase citizen participation including marginalized communities and lower taxpayer costs.
It is time to change the Harbor District’s election system to the much more equitable District Elections.
—Edmundo Larenas, SMC Harbor Commissioner
The current countywide at-large system for electing Harbor Commissioners prevents voters from holding incumbents accountable. In Feb 2018, Commissioner Tom Mattusch admitted to sexual misconduct. A countywide recall initiative would require a staggering number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. The at-large system blocks the path for removing a commissioner. District elections empower voters to take action when the public trust is violated.
—Sabrina Brennan, SMC Harbor Commissioner
At-large elections have been abandoned by many local agencies because they favor candidates with deep pockets and politically connected incumbents, making it prohibitive for lower-income people and people of color to run successful campaigns. In 2009, the benefits of district elections were supported by the SMC Civil Grand Jury, which issued a formal recommendation to the County Board of Supervisors in favor of district elections. In Nov 2012, the voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure to dismantle the at-large elections system for county supervisors. In Oct 2017, the Menlo Park City Council adopted a resolution declaring the intent to transition to district-based elections.
In 2010, Sabrina Brennan first proposed district elections as a way to reduce election costs.
Half Moon Bay Review – July 12, 2010
Resident suggests new format for harbor elections
According to Brennan, lowering the cost would not only relieve the burden on taxpayers but also encourage more qualified candidates to run for board positions.
"I'm concerned about the fact that for people who want to run, like myself … it costs a lot of money," she said, citing it would cost $7,000 for a candidate to place an optional statement onto the voter pamphlet.
It’s time to eliminate at-large elections and comply with the California Voting Rights Act.
Local agencies that have switched to district as a result of CVRA challenges:
Due to the significant costs of defending against CVRA lawsuits, the vast majority of local agencies approved voluntarily transitions to district elections.
Examples of settlements:
Bringing SMC Harbor District government closer to home would increase countywide awareness about the following: