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White House Capitol Hill Oceans Week Speakers

Capitol Hill Oceans Week

White House Capitol Hill Oceans Week Speakers

Brown Girl Surf exists not only to uplift and support ocean joy for our local communities, but to advocate for equitable access to the ocean and wave-riding for all. 

During the first week of June 2023, our Executive Director, Adriana, attended Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) in Washington, DC on behalf of Brown Girl Surf. 

“Capitol Hill Ocean Week is an annual conference attended by scientists, policymakers, scholars, businesses, and members of the public to address pressing science, conservation, and management issues. Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2023: “Ocean x Climate” will underscore the relationship between climate change and the world’s ocean, addressing the importance of understanding how climate change is negatively impacting the health of ocean ecosystems and the coastal communities that rely on them.”

Brown Girl Surf’s presence within this sphere of scientists, policymakers, non-profits, tribes, and community organizers is of the utmost importance in ensuring equitable access to ocean spaces beyond conservation and preservation. BGS is often, if not the only, organization within these conversations that is actively supporting individuals in getting in the water – and our communities’ perspectives bring invaluable insight to the table. Brown Girl Surf spoke on barriers our community faces in regularly accessing ocean recreation and the responsibility of the federal government to protect our rights to natural ocean spaces.

In addition to attending the CHOW conference, BGS was invited to attend the inaugural Ocean Justice Roundtable hosted by the White House. The Ocean Justice Roundtable was intended to

“highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy progress and historic investments to advance ocean conservation and climate action.” And give attendees the space to “discuss opportunities to integrate environmental justice into ocean-based climate solutions to pave an equitable path towards climate-resilient systems, resources, communities, and infrastructure.”

What are the barriers to realizing ocean justice?​

 What elements, activities, and components should an Ocean Justice Strategy include?

What injustices related to the ocean could the Federal government better address?

The above are some of the questions we addressed during the roundtable. Within these conversations Brown Girl Surf believes it’s imperative that ocean justice includes, and centers, increasing access to the ocean for communities who have been historically removed and/or excluded from the coasts. In California we are lucky to be protected by the California Coastal Act, a law that guarantees that beaches are public spaces for all. However, as we have seen in instances of mismanagement and privatization, this is not always the case. The CCC have thousands of backlogged instances of violations of the California Coastal Act, but are insufficiently funded to address them all. 

Brown Girl Surf believes that it is the federal government’s responsibility to fund and back state bodies like the California Coastal Commission (CCC) who protect the California Coastal Act and fight for coastal access.

California is only one of three states that have dedicated statewide equity funds, and our funding sources are victim to the volatile economy.  A national equity fund, like that being promoted by Nuesta Tierra and the Outdoor FUTURES project, would go a long way to ensure that our communities have continued access to nature.

Within the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, we see several commitments to “blue spaces” through conservation and marine protected areas – however, we see very few commitments that ensure equitable access to these spaces. As we know, access to ocean recreation and ocean spaces for people of color, especially Black and Indigenous people, can bring immeasurable health benefits and provide a place for healing and joy. Brown Girl Surf will continue to advocate for federal support of equitable ocean access and hold government administrations to their word.

While in DC, Brown Girl Surf was also invited to join Upwell: A Wave of Ocean Justice, hosted by Azul, Center for American Progress, and Urban Ocean Lab. The Upwell forum was an event meant to center the voices of those historically excluded from ocean justice conversations, namely Black, Indigenous, and voices of color. These equity focused symposiums give BGS the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and ideate with like-minded organizations across the sea of ocean justice centered entities. 

It’s also important to Brown Girl Surf that we continue to hear from our community directly. If you have not already shared some of your insights into community needs, barriers to access, and personal hopes for Brown Girl Surf, we invite you to take our survey! This survey will help inform how we show up to future conferences, advocacy discussions, and more and guarantee that community voices are always at the forefront of our work.

Brown Girl Surf continues to have high hopes for our future in a joyful, abundant, and inclusive surf culture and this work is intertwined with the work of so many other amazing ocean equity organizations.

Surf instructor Marlim lies on a surfboard demonstrating form to a group of participants on linda mar beach

Update: Explore the Coast cuts partially restored

Last you heard from us on the Explore the Coast grants budget cuts, legislatures had agreed to keep the item open, postponing the decision. This week we learned from California Coastal Conservancy staff that $1.6 million of the slated $2.6 million cut will be restored. Amidst state and project wide budget cuts this is a huge win for our communities! 

While we achieved the partial restoration of $1.6 million we will continue advocating for full restoration of the $2.6 million as this grant project funds countless opportunities for historically excluded communities to access the coast.

When we put out a call to our siblings in this work and allies supporting the work to uphold and increase beach access, we were met with an outstanding amount of involvement. Brown Girl Surf believes we were able to advocate for change because of our collective efforts – we continue to be affirmed in our power. 

We’d like to extend a special gratitude to Shelana deSilva, our Advocacy Consultant, for her continued guidance, motivation, and efforts. We share great appreciation for our funders who champion our ability to do this work. And we’d like to extend an ocean deep appreciation to all our sibling organizations who continue to uphold the morals and values that guide us – thank you for truly advocating for a beach and surf culture that is centered in access, inclusion, joy, and abundance!

surfers gather in bright rashguards together before entering the water

Pacifica Beach Equity APPROVAL – Press Release

New Beach Permitting System in the City of Pacifica Allows Non-Profit Groups to Access Linda Mar Beach for the First Time in 18 years

 

Sacramento, CA – May 12, 2023 – On May 11th, the California Coastal Commission unanimously voted to approve the passage of the City of Pacifica’s Coastal Development Permit (CDP), fully authorizing a reformed surf school permitting program at Linda Mar Beach.  

For nearly two decades, the City of Pacifica operated a surf camp permitting program which granted access only to the same four for-profit surf companies, in perpetuity.  Without a mechanism for the inclusion of additional groups, including non-profits who provide access for community members who have historically-faced barriers to coastal access, this system had proven to be discriminatory, exclusionary, and illegal.  

To learn more about the landscape of surf permits in Pacifica and our collaborative work up until now, please visit the Advocacy page of our website.

In April 2022, this system was found to be in violation of requirements set by the Coastal Act, California’s landmark 1976 coastal protection law, and therefore suspended.  According to Coastal Commission staff, previous attempts at revision of the system, including those submitted by the Pacifica State Beach Task Force in 2021, “while well- intentioned… largely mimic its previous program,” and “actually create[d] additional obstacles and barriers for non-profit groups attempting to access the coast at Pacifica State Beach, representing a barrier to equitable access, and raising Coastal Act public access and environmental justice concerns.”

May 11th’s historic vote now allows for the City of Pacifica to resume management of surf camp operations at Linda Mar Beach, under specific conditions that guarantee a new, more equitable system.  This new system will include:

  • Equal number of participant spots between for-profit surf camp operators and non-profit organizations
  • Equal access to times, dates, and location of operation at the beach for for-profit surf camp operators and non-profit organizations
  • Reduced registration fees for non-profit groups
  • Simplified registration procedures
  • Expanded area of use, thus increasing the amount of potential participants of all group types
  • Collective agreement to adhere to community surf agreements to ensure all groups feel welcome and safe at the beach. Each registered group will have to abide by the community surfing agreement in order run programs at Pacifica State Beach
  • An annual review of the process to allow for changes to be made to adapt to any issues that may arise

Troy Bohanon, Surf Instructor of City Surf Project views the passage of the CDP as essential for communities today and in the future.  He states: “…the youth are tomorrow, our leaders of tomorrow, and they should be allowed to be at the beach just as much as anyone else, regardless of their monetary backgrounds, their personal racial backgrounds, and there’s nothing like breaking-down barriers in a line-up, and sharing waves with people that don’t look like you, or may not be from the same  neighborhoods or zip codes as you.  I personally believe that surfing is for everyone, and the beaches should be for everyone as well.” Organizations that create these safe spaces for youth to show up as themselves are essential in bridging the nature gap for many historically excluded communities.

Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager for the City of Pacifica, stated: “Development of this program began in 2020 by a collaborative group of stakeholders including city staff, the city’s Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission, non-profit surf camp providers, commercial surf camp providers in Pacifica, and others. A task force of these stakeholders worked tirelessly on this program to benefit all and balance critical safety, access, and operational factors. It should be celebrated by all involved in its development and upcoming implementation.”

Attitudes of the Commissioners were supportive and multiple Commissioners commented that this is not the first time they’ve heard of this “locals only” issue, and suggested staff work on model guidelines that could inform practices statewide. Sonia Diaz, Public Policy Manager for Outdoor Outreach, stated, “…in San Diego there exists a patchwork of permit processes across different land managers that create a system that favors commercial for-profit entities over nonprofits like ours.  For example, some of the permits have blackout dates on certain days of the week, especially on summer weekends (while for-profit schools don’t face those barriers). We often have to seek out less desirable places that are less restrictive. This really impacts the quality of our programs and the ability to bring more of our youth to enjoy the benefits of our coast.” 

The work being done in Pacifica is setting a precedent for the rest of California where many nonprofits and community organizations have faced similar permitting exclusion. Commissioner Effie Turnball-Sanders questioned if there is an opportunity in the future to do an environmental justice forum or convening to collect the stories and bring greater attention to these statewide inequalities. 

The motion to approve Pacifica’s CDP with the reformed surf school permitting system came from Commissioner and Santa Cruz County Supervisor Justin Cummings, and was seconded by Commissioner and Mayor of Imperial Beach, Paloma Aguirre. While the motion to approve the CDP puts the City of Pacifica on the right track, there is still room for growth. Commissioner Turnball-Sanders stated, “My concern is that if there is a Coastal Act violation, particularly as it relates to public access, I’m not sure this goes far enough.” Suggestions for continued repair included free-parking passes for non-profits and lower cost or no cost permit applications. These additions to a CDP have the potential to be applied throughout California to increase access for the several other organizations facing similar barriers.


After passage of the CDP, Adrianna Guerrero-Nardone, Executive Director of Brown Girl Surf remarked, “this is a historical moment for our organization and our community, and is something we’ve been waiting for a very long time.  The decision is validating and affirming that we belong, that we’ve always belonged.”

We hope, and anticipate, that the California Coastal Commission will further discuss the statewide impact of this decision. Whether it be with official guidance for local land managers, a California convening for beach equity, or beyond, we hope that the work for Pacifica State Beach equity sets the tone for the beach access and equity shifts to come.

For media inquiries, please contact: sutara@browngirlsurf.com

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Newest Beach Equity Recommendations

Access to oceans and coastal nature spaces as places of healing, joy, and freedom are paramount to the health and wellbeing of our communities. That is why it’s so important that the Brown Girl Surf community continues to work towards beach equity on all fronts. Below are two updates on recent advocacy work related to equity at the beach.

Last you heard from us, Linda Mar Beach was open to all members of the public, no permit required. Read last year’s update to catch up on the approval of the Community Access Partnership Program (CAPP), and to learn about the violation of equitable access guidelines set by the California Coastal Act that led to the suspension of the antiquated beach permitting system at Linda Mar.

Since then, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) has continued to make it clear that the CAPP recommendations, while a great first step, did not go far enough to prioritize equity and true access to the beach, as detailed in this SF Chronicle article. While compromises were made in creating the new CAPP, including prioritizing for-profit commercial surf schools over non-profit programs, Brown Girl Surf is thankful to the Commission and CCC staff for the many hours of hard work that got us to this point. We look forward to continuing to improve access at Linda Mar.

Excitingly, the Coastal Commission staff has just released their recommendations for a more equitable surf school permitting system, and are planning to vote on the issue at their next monthly meeting on Thursday, May 11th! We know that the outcome of this vote will set a precedent for the entire state. Many non-profit groups along the coast face similar challenges with outdated permitting systems that further the exclusion of groups that have historically lacked access to the coast. And this is why we need your support!  

Key Recommendations from the CCC staff:

  • Permit system does not prioritize for-profits/commercial schools over non-profits/community-based organizations in terms of scheduling, location, number of spaces, and length of time allowed on beach
  • Permit system does not create additional administrative, financial, or logistical barriers for non-profits/community-based organizations 
  • All surf schools and organizations are required to sign and adhere to community agreements as part of the effort to create a more inclusive and welcoming surf culture

  Things BGS community can do:

  • Sign our petition, urging the Coastal Commissioners to approve Pacifica’s CDP application, which includes the Coastal Commission’s recommendations for a new, more equitable surf permitting system
  • Come with BGS to Sacramento! – We want our physical presence to be felt at the hearing, and would love to have you join us!  No speaking required, but let us know if you’d like to join us by filling out this google form before May 10th
    • You may also give a public comment at the hearing (in person or virtually)
    • Or provide written testimony directly to the California Coastal Commission before May 5th at 5pm
    • More instructions on how to get engaged via our google form

We strongly believe that the City of Pacifica will be on board with the Coastal Commission’s recommendations. Should the recommendations be accepted, the new system will go into effect at Linda Mar this summer.

Surf instructor Marlim lies on a surfboard demonstrating form to a group of participants on linda mar beach

Explore the Coast grant program at risk

The California Coastal Conservancy’s ability to support communities that have been systematically excluded from accessing the coast is at risk. This risk comes from the Governor’s California State Budget proposal for 2023, which seeks to cut $2.6 million in Explore the Coast grant funding – potentially impacting dozens of equity centered organizations. Brown Girl Surf believes that adequate and reliable funding for equity based coastal access work is integral to delivering culturally responsive, healing, and relevant beach programming. We will continue to speak up and organize against actions that threaten this work.

What is the issue?

  • Governor Newsom has proposed to revert $2.6 million from the Explore the Coast (ETC) program to the CA General Fund with no proposal for alternative funding or support to ETC
  • ETC funding cuts are proposed in attempt to fill $22.5 billion deficit in CA budget – revoking the $2.6 million allotted to ETC will have little to no impact on relieving the General Fund and doing so will perpetuate disconnection to nature

What is Explore the Coast? 

  • The State Coastal Conservancy’s Explore the Coast (ETC) grant program provides grants to public agencies, federally-recognized Tribes and Indigenous communities, and nonprofit organizations for programs that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore California’s spectacular coast and San Francisco Bay shoreline.
  • As one of a handful of equity-focused state grant programs, Explore the Coast (ETC) has granted more than $18 million to organizations, Tribes, and agencies who work directly with communities facing barriers to coastal access.
  • In addition to redressing harms such as inadequate access to nature, community disinvestment, and disproportionate climate impacts, the ETC program also educates and inspires the coastal stewards of our future.

What impact will cutting funding have?

  • These funds directly support programs like Brown Girl Surf and others who work to dismantle systemic barriers to coastal access. Restricting and removing this funding will limit the organizations that already receive financial support from ETC and impede other organizations from being allotted funding to continue programming that is essential to environmental and social justice along the California Coast
  • Since 2013, the Conservancy has awarded over $18.2 million in 296 separate Explore the Coast grants (updated October 2022).
  • The organizations impacted by this cut are working with a majority of communities who have been historically excluded from ocean joy and healing. This cut will further ostracize those with the least access. *ETC Priority Communities include but are not limited to lower-income individuals and households, people with disabilities, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, immigrant communities, and foster youth, among others.

Why are we advising against the budget cut?

  • Equitable access advocates need reliable, sustained sources of funding to continue connecting people to nature and breaking down barriers to access. The ETC program has always granted all of its appropriated funding, and losing such a significant portion of its funding now will stymie partnerships and momentum.
  • Equitable access to California’s beautiful coastline aligns with the Governor’s Outdoors4All Initiative, and the ETC program stands alone in its focus to bring systematically excluded communities to the coast and San Francisco Bay Shoreline to participate in joyful, educational stewardship activities and programs.
  • Given the climate disasters and ongoing inequities our youth and communities face, taking back committed funds from a program that connects thousands of systematically excluded community members to nature each year is unacceptable.

How can you support our efforts?

The Senate and Assembly Budget subcommittees will be discussing Explore the Coast cuts THIS WEEK, on both Wednesday March 1st and Thursday March 2nd. We understand that this information has a tight deadline so we are only inviting you to do what feels feasible. Every effort helps, here are a few ways to influence these discussions:

1. Call-in to provide public comment about ETC and the impact its had on your experience accessing the coast.  BGS will be listening in to both of the meetings, and can notify you when the public comment period is set to begin so you don’t have to wait on hold for too long.  We’re told it will start around 12:30pm both 3/1 and 3/2, but depending how long discussion goes, it could be a few hours on either side of this.

  • March 1, 2023 Public Comment Line:  877-692-8957 / Access Code:  131 54 47
  • March 2, 2023 Public Testimony: Phone Number: 877-226-8216  Access Code: 6785618

2. Submit written testimony in advance of the hearings.  Write your legislators and let them know how important the Explore the Coast program has been for you!

  • Senate Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy – sbud.committee@senate.ca.gov, cc’ing joanne.roy@sen.ca.gov and eunice.roh@sen.ca.gov
  • Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation – BudgetSub3@asm.ca.gov

3. Join BGS in calling offices of the Senate and Assembly Budget Chairs, Senator Skinner: (916) 651-4009 and Assemblymember Ting: (916) 319-2019 and the Governor: The Office of the Governor, Deputy Legislative Secretary, Hazel Miranda, who covers environmental issues at (916) 445-4341.

If you’re interested in engaging in any of these ways, please email us at advocacy@browngirlsurf.com so we can support you.

pacifica-resolution

Pacifica: 2022 Year End Update

Dear Pacifica Action Team and Ocean-loving Community,

First, on behalf of the BGS team, we hope that you and your loved ones are well and continue to stay safe amidst the pandemic. Quite some time has passed since you last heard from us! Earlier this year we made a giant leap forward on the path to  coastal access, equitable beach permitting, and surf equity.  The Community Access Partnership Permit (CAPP), was unanimously approved by the Pacifica City Council and the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. Our combined activism, including your letters of support and public comments, have made it possible for Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project to hold programs at Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica State Beach).

Since then (Fall 2020), Brown Girl Surf has had over 20 surf programs at Pacifica State Beach, supporting a new generation of surfers who had previously been systematically excluded from accessing the beach on their wave-riding journeys.

brown girl surfers in colorful rashguards gather in the shallow water digging for bugs and playing in the sand
Brown Girl Surfers gather in the shallows at Pacifica State Beach

However!  We’ve known for some time that the City of Pacifica DOES NOT have the authority to regulate activities of surf camps/schools, and has been operating under an out-dated system that does not currently meet the California Coastal Act’s requirements on public access.  

Earlier this year, the Coastal Commission shared a letter to the City of Pacifica that stated: 

“The City does not have authority to operate the surf school program, or any other similar program, on Pacifica State Beach unless and until it is authorized by the Coastal Commission through a CDP, or other appropriate process allowed under the Coastal Act. Thus, if the City is continuing to implement such a program, please note that that would be a knowing and intentional violation of the Coastal Act to which enforcement consequences would apply, and the City needs to immediately cease such activities if they are ongoing. Importantly, absent an approved CDP, access to the beach and ocean is available to all without any restrictions, and we would encourage the City to inform all who ask, including surf school operators, that Pacifica State Beach is open to all members of the public.”


SO WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?… PACIFICA STATE BEACH IS OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC!  And although we have successfully pushed for the expansion of their outdated permitting system to include both Brown Girl Surf, City Surf Project, and other future nonprofits, we recognize that with our continued partnership, much larger, more equitable reform is possible and necessary. We’re currently working closely with the City of Pacifica Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Department, the California Coastal Commission and other California non-profit partners to create a system that is truly equitable for all, and will have some updates coming your way soon.  

What an exciting opportunity we have – to create a better permitting system that will allow for all people to feel like they belong, feel safe, and are welcome on the beach.  If you have any thoughts and ideas on the issue, we’d love to hear from you.  

Stay tuned as we continue the movement for surf equity! You can

bgs-ocean-forum-image

BGS Joins Ocean Justice Forum

Brown Girl Surf is excited to share about the launch of the Ocean Justice Forum! The Ocean Justice Forum is a coalition of 18 grassroots and national nonprofit organizations, including Brown Girl Surf, who are working towards advancing an ocean policy agenda that promotes the goals of economic, racial, climate, and environmental justice. 

Brown Girl Surf is proud of our role in ensuring that equitable access to the ocean remains a key policy priority for the Ocean Justice Forum. In California, the public’s access to the ocean is in theory protected by law, however we know that persistent inequities across race, including housing discrimination, intergenerational wealth gaps, and deficits in public transportation, as well as illegal and prohibitive coastal access and permitting systems, have created barriers for people of color to reside and/or engage with coastal areas.  

And this is just the case in California.  According to a new report by the Center for American Progress, only 10 percent of this country’s coastline is covered by strong legal protections that ensure equitable public access.  The other 90 percent is at the whim of private property owners and wealthy coastal developers. 

Access isn’t the only thing we’ve been fighting for, however.  We also know that Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) in coastal communities have been disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, including rising sea levels and intensifying storms, as well as by pollution, overfishing, and loss of habitat and biodiversity.  We have co-created the Ocean Justice policy platform so that systematically marginalized and harmed communities will no longer be deliberately left out of the decisions and actions that directly affect them and their relationship with the ocean. 

To learn more about the Ocean Justice Forum and what we’ve been up to: read our policy platform here. 
To learn more about our work for coastal access on the local level, click here.

pacifica-resolution

Resolution Summary: Surf Equity in Pacifica at Linda Mar Beach

UPDATE: A resolution has been made! Check out our “Resolution Summary” below to learn about the most recent success – the APPROVAL of the CAPP proposal.

While we can take a moment to rest, the journey is not over. Brown Girl Surf is continuing to work with the City of Pacifica, the California Coastal Commission, and our allies as the CAPP and all systems supporting it are implemented in Pacifica over the next year. We will continue to expand this path to equity for future groups and organizations wishing to share the ocean with their community.

What has been the resolution?

The Community Access Partnership Permit (CAPP) has been unanimously approved and passed by the Pacifica City Council, the Pacifica Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission, and the Surf Camp/School Policy Advisory Task Force. Furthermore, Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project have both been approved for a continuation of our pilot CAPP permits through 2022.

Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project see the approval of the CAPP program as one success along a path of many as we work towards equitable beach access for all. We will continue to work with the City of Pacifica to create an equitable Request for Proposal (RFP) process for future CAPP and commercial surf camp/school applicants and advise the City of Pacifica during the implementation of all systems, boards, and policies that will support and uphold the CAPP. In the meantime, BGS and City Surf Project will continue to operate on Linda Mar Beach under the second phase of our CAPP pilot program.

Additionally, the City of Pacifica has been in communication with the California Coastal Commission (CCC) and filed an application for a Coastal Development Plan. The City of Pacifica is currently awaiting approval of their application.

How did we get here?

  • August 17th, 2021 : Surf Camp Task Force members voted on attributes of the CAPP proposal and other components of a surf camp/school policy – The CAPP proposal is unanimously approved by the Task Force
  • October 12th, 2021 : A “Program Recommendations” document is created to share the Task Force’s recommendations to the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission regarding the CAPP proposal
  • October 27th, 2021 : Program Recommendations were presented to the PBRC by Mike Perez of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Department, Johnny Irwin of City Surf Project and Cliff Hodges of Adventure Out – The CAPP and Program Recommendations are unanimously approved by the PBRC
  • January 10th, 2022: The City of Pacifica held a public city council meeting in which council members had the opportunity to learn about the CAPP proposal and the Surf Task Force’s recommendations, and vote on its approval. At this meeting, community members and allies spoke during the public comment period or sent in letters of support, sharing their personal experiences at Linda Mar Beach.

“Equitable access to nature is absolutely critical always, but especially now as COVID further compounds the historic exclusion of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) from parks, open space, and coastal resources. All Californians rely on safe access to nature, now more than ever.

Nonprofit organizations and school-based programs with proven track records of bringing BIPOC folks to the ocean through culturally relevant, thoughtfully designed programs, are the best resource to ensure equitable community connection to nature” – Shelana DeSilva, BGS community member

These personal share outs emphasized the importance of a safe and inclusive surf culture, and a city’s role in upholding policies and practices that encourage and uplift that culture.

Ultimately, the City of Pacifica council members unanimously voted to create the CAPP program and integrate more equitable policies for surf camps/schools on Linda Mar Beach moving forward.

Acknowledgments

The work to achieve these successful policy shifts has not been quick, nor simple, but the support we’ve encountered and built along the way has been monumental. We’d like to thank Black Girls Surf for their call to action and to CSP who organized the 2020 Paddle out for Peace where Brown Girl Surf was able to share the inequitable policies of the very beach the paddle out was held at. Being able to publicly share the impacts of inequitable and exclusionary policy informed many and encouraged community members and allies to act, thus leading the City of Pacifica to create the Task Force.

We’d also like to acknowledge

  • City Surf Project once again, for always standing by our side, speaking up, and showing up
  • Outdoor Outreach for being thought partners in the work and creating the conceptual framework for the CAPP
  • California Surfrider and the San Mateo Chapter of Surfrider for their continual support and allyship
  • The City of Pacifica, the Pacifica Parks Beaches and Recreation Commission, and the Task Force on Surf Camp Policy for their dedication to equity
  • Our community partners at Parks Now Coalition who supported the development and creation of the CAPP
  • The California Coastal Commission and the California State Coastal Conservancy for the work they’ve done in creating and upholding equitable coastal policy
  • Our many community members and allies who showed up over the course of a year and a half to offer testimonials and public comment in support of the CAPP program. We appreciate you!

Looking Forward

As we continue to work towards creating equitable beach access, we want to emphasize the importance of supporting other groups who are also leading surf programs, and/or lessons to increase equity and inclusion in the line up.

Organizations lead by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and non-dominant culture groups that are working on the California coast to further beach access and provide surf programs/lessons include:

  • Native Like Water : Bay Area/Global
  • Queer Surf : Bay Area/SoCal
  • Black Surf Club Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz
  • Black Girls Surf: Santa Cruz/Global
  • The Wahine Project : Monterey
  • The Sea League : Santa Barbara
  • Color the Water : Los Angeles
  • Sofly Surf School : Los Angeles

If you are also doing work or have recommendations/suggestions of groups who are actively running programs/lessons please feel free to reach out to us.

“[the CAPP proposal] was a remarkable example of the power of people working across different perspectives to solve an important problem. I am deeply grateful to all who participated… I believe that the CAPP system and the adjustments to the existing Surf Permit system being recommended today are the best path forward for creating an equitable permitting system that is fair and keeps everyone safe. Brown Girl Surf and City Surf Project did this not just for our own access, but to make sure there was a system in place for other groups who are engaging folks who have been underrepresented in surfing… the policy recommended today is a HUGE step in the right direction and puts in place some really important systems to make this possible.” – Mira Manickam Shirley, Co-founder and former Executive Director of BGS, and a driving force behind this work

“Pacifica has taken the opportunity to lead the way on the California Coast for demonstrating a permit system that truly promotes equity in surfing.”

BGS staff lead a circle of participants and volunteers in our Humanifesto chant, folks stand with raised fists

Pacifica State Beach Access Campaign

DUE TO RESTRICTIVE AND EXCLUSIONARY PERMITTING PROCESSES, MANY NONPROFITS THAT SERVE UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ARE NOT ABLE TO OPERATE AT SEVERAL STATE BEACHES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. SINCE 2018, BGS HAS BEEN WORKING AT THE CITY AND STATE LEVEL TO INFLUENCE LAND MANAGERS TO CONSIDER EQUITABLE ACCESS IN PERMITTING SYSTEMS.

At Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar Beach) nonprofits and community organizations have historically been excluded from operating on Pacifica State Beach because of an outdated and restrictive permitting system. After the outpour of support gathered at the 2020 Pacifica Peace Paddle Out, the City of Pacifica formed a Surf Camp Special Task Force to discuss the creation of an equitable permitting system. Brown Girl Surf, along with City Surf, proposed the Community Access Permit Partnership (CAPP) to increase beach access for historically excluded communities.

Click here to view our CAPP Proposal.

Check out our “What’s Happening in Pacifica” summary below to learn about the waves of change that we and allies have made in Pacifica so far and why it is important to racial equity.

(last updated November 2021, please see Resolution Summary for the most recent updates on our work in Pacifica)

In our ongoing efforts towards decolonization Brown Girl Surf acknowledges that we are occupying unceded and stolen Lisjan Ohlone lands. The work we are doing in Pacifica is on the land of the Aramai tribe of the Raymaytush Ohlone peoples.

With this acknowledgment, we pay our respect to our Indigenous elders – past, present, and future – and hope to help heal colonial traumas and create a path for joy.

As we continue our work, we recognize that this land acknowledgment is merely the first step in our decolonization path and push ourselves to turn acknowledgment into action. To learn more about Indigenous healing and land rematriation please visit Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

What is “surf equity”?

Brown Girl Surf (BGS) defines surf equity as the inclusion of all peoples, regardless of background and/or identity, in the surfing community with the special emphasis on making sure those who have been historically excluded from accessing the coast, beaches, and surfing, have equitable access to these resources. Surf equity means that the communities who have had limited access to surfing – namely Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPoC) folks – due to systemic racism and other oppressive factors, are prioritized in a new system that breaks down the systemic barriers to surfing. Surf equity does not mean the exclusion of those who have historically monopolized beach access, but rather a creation of a community where there are no barriers for anyone to enjoy the ocean and its resources.

It has been proven undoubtedly that access to nature, especially to the coast is crucial in mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Surf equity is important not only to right historical exclusion, but to provide a path forward for everyone to find joy and benefit from the ocean.

Who will benefit from surf equity?

EVERYONE! Equity means that all folks receive the support, care, and resources needed to reach their full joyous potential. BIPoC individuals, especially BIPoC women, girls, and gender-expansive folks currently need to be prioritized because of their historical oppression and exclusion from coastal resources. The prioritization of marginalized folks may look like, but not limited to:

  • Lowering monetary barriers to access
  • Creating more points of entry into surfing
  • Providing reparations
  • Providing additional resources such as affinity groups and organizations where folks can feel safe and supported
  • Inclusion in decision making, planning, and permitting processes and/or public apologies and admittance of harmful actions

Why focus on Pacifica?

Linda Mar Beach, also known as Pacifica State Beach, has been the focal point for Brown Girl Surf’s and City Surf Project’s (CSP), along with our allies’, fight for equitable beach access. For the last 17 years, Linda Mar Beach has had a permitting system for surf schools and camps that actively excluded folks from accessing coastal resources.

How have people been excluded?

  • Since 2004, there have only been 4 operating permits allocated for surf schools/camps operating on and at Linda Mar beach. The same 4 commercial surf camps/schools have held permits with no turnover or opportunities for new permit applicants. New businesses and/or nonprofits wanting to conduct surf camps on Linda Mar have not been able to apply and/or obtain permits; many have not even been able to start the permitting process as no new permit slots have opened since the creation of the initial 4.
    • Under Pacifica’s current surf camp permitting system, nonprofits like City Surf Project and Brown Girl Surf and new commercial programs such as Sea Surf Fun have never been allowed to legally operate a surf camp on Linda Mar Beach.
    • There is no numerical value that can be placed on the emotional and mental wellbeing that is impacted by exclusionary practices. However, to quantify the loss created by this inequity, this looks like about 10 Pacifica programs per season that serve 6-8 participants each, 2 seasons a year, plus youth summer camp programs, which serve approximately 8-10 youth per week.
  • Furthermore, a permitting system that actively excludes folks (especially those who do not own businesses or property in Pacifica) from accessing the beach goes against the California Coastal Act guidelines on equitable access. Pacifica is operating a permitting system that lacks compliance with the California Coastal Act.

How is Pacifica upholding an invalid permitting system?

Under the California Coastal Act, the City of Pacifica DOES NOT have the authority to regulate activities of surf camps/schools because it does not possess a Coastal Development Permit (CDP).

What does this mean for surf schools?

For the past 17 years, the City of Pacifica has been upholding an exclusionary permitting system that is null and void. This means that technically, any surf camps and organizations can hold programs on Linda Mar Beach outside of the city’s invalid permitting system.

How has the California Coastal Commission (CCC) responded?

The CCC has provided us with emails and other evidence that shows the City of Pacifica was made aware of the fact that they must apply for a CDP to legally regulate surf schools. There has been historical interaction between the CCC and the City of Pacifica regarding the need for a CDP, however the issue fell off the radar and wasn’t revisited until earlier this fall. Despite previous contact, the CDP application process was neither completed nor followed up on. Now, the CCC has once again shared with the City of Pacifica that they MUST apply for and be approved for a CDP to regulate activities like surf camps on Linda Mar Beach.

What are the attitudes in Pacifica?

Although we have seen significant progress, this process has not come without challenges and resistance to change. We are grateful for the majority of support we receive and allies who work alongside us. We want to acknowledge and share that our work has not come without opposition, negative attitudes, and reinforced racism through acts of localism. While these oppositional acts may be the attitudes of the few, these actions do not exist in a vacuum, nor will they simply disappear once BGS and other nonprofits are granted permits. Changing hearts and minds will continue to take time, work and community engagement. In speaking this truth, we hope to shift surf culture away from the exclusionary and resistant actions that perpetuate harm within our communities.

What progress has been made (outside of the discovery of an invalid system)?

Over the last 6 years, there have been several attempts made by City Surf Project and other organizations to apply for a surf school program, however, they have been rejected by the City of Pacifica. Finally, in 2020, after the Paddle Out for Love – Black Lives Matter paddle out, attention was directed towards Pacifica’s inequitable permit system through grassroots organizing and community engagement. Summary of activities include:

  1. Creation of Surf Camp/School Policy Advisory Task Force (STF), Dec. 2020 :
    • The STF was created after public action and support to ensure safety and equity for underrepresented groups by creating a permit program with equitable access for all.
    • Consisted of 9 members made up of – one representative from traditional surf camp/ school, one community access partner surf camp/ school, one representative from San Mateo County Chapter Surfrider Foundation, and three PB&R commissioners, and two at-large members representing the Pacifica Public.
    • The STF’s goal was to review potential new permitting systems and make a recommendation to the PB&R after several STF meetings
  2. Proposal of a Community Access Partnership Program (CAPP):
  3. BGS and City Surf Project created and proposed the CAPP permit system as a way for nonprofits to apply for permits to operate on Linda Mar beach and address the issue of equitable access for historically excluded and/or underrepresented groups
    • The CAPP lays out a clear framework for equitable access going forward and supports organizations that are committed to the principle of increasing access to surfing for underrepresented groups

The STF has met once a month for 2-3 hour meetings for the last 11 months to discuss the permitting system and review the CAPP proposal. STF members were presented with the CAPP proposal created by Mira Manickam Shirley, Co-founder and former Executive Director of BGS, and Johnny Irwin, Co-founder and Executive Director of CSP, and discussed the scope and logistics of a new, more inclusive system.

On October 27th, the Task Force recommendations on the CAPP were presented to the Parks Beaches & Recreation Commission (PBRC). The PBRC unanimously approved the recommendations set forth by the STF – we are now waiting for the PBRC to vote on the new permitting system, which includes the CAPP.

What’s next?

There has been unclear communication from the City of Pacifica on whether or not they will prioritize applying for a CDP before the end of the year in order to continue the work of ensuring surf equity.

●      We and our allies would like a formal apology from the City of Pacifica acknowledging its role in upholding exclusionary systems and reinforcing systemic racism and oppression

  • We would like to start a conversation with the city after this apology about what reparations for the community might look and feel like.
    • We are inviting the City of Pacifica to embrace change through an equity lens.
  • BGS and CSP would like to see the City of Pacifica apply for and be granted a CDP that includes the CAPP proposal as a focus.
    • In order for equity to be ingrained into the future of Pacifica’s surf culture, we believe it must be part of policy foundation and action.
  • Once the CAPP system is created, we would like more priority to be given to CAPP schools when permits are approved
    • This may look like allocating more “spots” to CAPP schools than commercial surf schools

●      We expect surf equity to be continuously promoted when making surf camp policy and beach access decisions in the future.

One of our goals has always been to create a replicable system of surf equity for the entire state of California. In working with us and allies, the City of Pacifica has the opportunity to become an example of a city that worked to acknowledge outdated and exclusionary practices, and supported the creation of a more inclusive and joyful surf culture through an equitable lens.

What’s the “bigger picture”?

The work BGS, City Surf Project, and numerous allies have been doing:

  • Demonstrates how land managers and nonprofits can work together for equitable access solutions, and influence guidelines for equitable public access and permitting processes on State lands.
  • Increases understanding of how localism helps to enact and perpetuate structural racism. Ultimately, we hope to decrease localist attitudes and localist acts in towns like Bolinas and Pacifica (for example, maybe we will no longer see signs that say “Black Lives Matter” next to signs that say “If you are not from here, do not come here.”)
  • Aims to start Bay Area conversations about the connections between localism and structural racism and spur conversations about this topic in the global surf community.
  • We hope that localism will no longer exist in the California surf community and beyond.

How can you become involved?

At this moment, all we ask is that you SPREAD THE WORD, stay engaged and be ready for action! JOIN US in raising awareness and sharing with your communities what’s going on and how far we’ve come since the paddle in 2020 BE PROUD of yourselves for taking action, supporting the fight for equity, and continuing to learn and grow with us.

Stay tuned for the next Pacifica City Council meeting. We will follow up with ways that you can show up and be involved in this process, whether through public comment or letters of support.

We appreciate YOU and everyone for their continued energy, allyship, and love for the ocean!

Click here to view our resolution summary.

Surf Equity in Pacifica at Linda Mar Beach

(last updated November 2021, please see Resolution Summary for the most recent updates on our work in Pacifica)

In our ongoing efforts towards decolonization Brown Girl Surf acknowledges that we are occupying unceded and stolen Lisjan Ohlone lands. The work we are doing in Pacifica is on the land of the Aramai tribe of the Raymaytush Ohlone peoples.

With this acknowledgment, we pay our respect to our Indigenous elders – past, present, and future – and hope to help heal colonial traumas and create a path for joy.

As we continue our work, we recognize that this land acknowledgment is merely the first step in our decolonization path and push ourselves to turn acknowledgment into action. To learn more about Indigenous healing and land rematriation please visit Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

What is “surf equity”?

Brown Girl Surf (BGS) defines surf equity as the inclusion of all peoples, regardless of background and/or identity, in the surfing community with the special emphasis on making sure those who have been historically excluded from accessing the coast, beaches, and surfing, have equitable access to these resources. Surf equity means that the communities who have had limited access to surfing – namely Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPoC) folks – due to systemic racism and other oppressive factors, are prioritized in a new system that breaks down the systemic barriers to surfing. Surf equity does not mean the exclusion of those who have historically monopolized beach access, but rather a creation of a community where there are no barriers for anyone to enjoy the ocean and its resources.

It has been proven undoubtedly that access to nature, especially to the coast is crucial in mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Surf equity is important not only to right historical exclusion, but to provide a path forward for everyone to find joy and benefit from the ocean.

Who will benefit from surf equity?

EVERYONE! Equity means that all folks receive the support, care, and resources needed to reach their full joyous potential. BIPoC individuals, especially BIPoC women, girls, and gender-expansive folks currently need to be prioritized because of their historical oppression and exclusion from coastal resources. The prioritization of marginalized folks may look like, but not limited to:

  • Lowering monetary barriers to access
  • Creating more points of entry into surfing
  • Providing reparations
  • Providing additional resources such as affinity groups and organizations where folks can feel safe and supported
  • Inclusion in decision making, planning, and permitting processes and/or public apologies and admittance of harmful actions

Why focus on Pacifica?

Linda Mar Beach, also known as Pacifica State Beach, has been the focal point for Brown Girl Surf’s and City Surf Project’s (CSP), along with our allies’, fight for equitable beach access. For the last 17 years, Linda Mar Beach has had a permitting system for surf schools and camps that actively excluded folks from accessing coastal resources.

How have people been excluded?

  • Since 2004, there have only been 4 operating permits allocated for surf schools/camps operating on and at Linda Mar beach. The same 4 commercial surf camps/schools have held permits with no turnover or opportunities for new permit applicants. New businesses and/or nonprofits wanting to conduct surf camps on Linda Mar have not been able to apply and/or obtain permits; many have not even been able to start the permitting process as no new permit slots have opened since the creation of the initial 4.
    • Under Pacifica’s current surf camp permitting system, nonprofits like City Surf Project and Brown Girl Surf and new commercial programs such as Sea Surf Fun have never been allowed to legally operate a surf camp on Linda Mar Beach.
    • There is no numerical value that can be placed on the emotional and mental wellbeing that is impacted by exclusionary practices. However, to quantify the loss created by this inequity, this looks like about 10 Pacifica programs per season that serve 6-8 participants each, 2 seasons a year, plus youth summer camp programs, which serve approximately 8-10 youth per week.
  • Furthermore, a permitting system that actively excludes folks (especially those who do not own businesses or property in Pacifica) from accessing the beach goes against the California Coastal Act guidelines on equitable access. Pacifica is operating a permitting system that lacks compliance with the California Coastal Act.

How is Pacifica upholding an invalid permitting system?

Under the California Coastal Act, the City of Pacifica DOES NOT have the authority to regulate activities of surf camps/schools because it does not possess a Coastal Development Permit (CDP).

What does this mean for surf schools?

For the past 17 years, the City of Pacifica has been upholding an exclusionary permitting system that is null and void. This means that technically, any surf camps and organizations can hold programs on Linda Mar Beach outside of the city’s invalid permitting system.

How has the California Coastal Commission (CCC) responded?

The CCC has provided us with emails and other evidence that shows the City of Pacifica was made aware of the fact that they must apply for a CDP to legally regulate surf schools. There has been historical interaction between the CCC and the City of Pacifica regarding the need for a CDP, however the issue fell off the radar and wasn’t revisited until earlier this fall. Despite previous contact, the CDP application process was neither completed nor followed up on. Now, the CCC has once again shared with the City of Pacifica that they MUST apply for and be approved for a CDP to regulate activities like surf camps on Linda Mar Beach.

What are the attitudes in Pacifica?

Although we have seen significant progress, this process has not come without challenges and resistance to change. We are grateful for the majority of support we receive and allies who work alongside us. We want to acknowledge and share that our work has not come without opposition, negative attitudes, and reinforced racism through acts of localism. While these oppositional acts may be the attitudes of the few, these actions do not exist in a vacuum, nor will they simply disappear once BGS and other nonprofits are granted permits. Changing hearts and minds will continue to take time, work and community engagement. In speaking this truth, we hope to shift surf culture away from the exclusionary and resistant actions that perpetuate harm within our communities.

What progress has been made (outside of the discovery of an invalid system)?

Over the last 6 years, there have been several attempts made by City Surf Project and other organizations to apply for a surf school program, however, they have been rejected by the City of Pacifica. Finally, in 2020, after the Paddle Out for Love – Black Lives Matter paddle out, attention was directed towards Pacifica’s inequitable permit system through grassroots organizing and community engagement. Summary of activities include:

  1. Creation of Surf Camp/School Policy Advisory Task Force (STF), Dec. 2020 :
    1. The STF was created after public action and support to ensure safety and equity for underrepresented groups by creating a permit program with equitable access for all.
    1. Consisted of 9 members made up of – one representative from traditional surf camp/ school, one community access partner surf camp/ school, one representative from San Mateo County Chapter Surfrider Foundation, and three PB&R commissioners, and two at-large members representing the Pacifica Public.
    1. The STF’s goal was to review potential new permitting systems and make a recommendation to the PB&R after several STF meetings
  2. Proposal of a Community Access Partnership Program (CAPP):
  1. BGS and City Surf Project created and proposed the CAPP permit system as a way for nonprofits to apply for permits to operate on Linda Mar beach and address the issue of equitable access for historically excluded and/or underrepresented groups
    1. The CAPP lays out a clear framework for equitable access going forward and supports organizations that are committed to the principle of increasing access to surfing for underrepresented groups

The STF has met once a month for 2-3 hour meetings for the last 11 months to discuss the permitting system and review the CAPP proposal. STF members were presented with the CAPP proposal created by Mira Manickam Shirley, Co-founder and former Executive Director of BGS, and Johnny Irwin, Co-founder and Executive Director of CSP, and discussed the scope and logistics of a new, more inclusive system.

On October 27th, the Task Force recommendations on the CAPP were presented to the Parks Beaches & Recreation Commission (PBRC). The PBRC unanimously approved the recommendations set forth by the STF – we are now waiting for the PBRC to vote on the new permitting system, which includes the CAPP.

What’s next?

There has been unclear communication from the City of Pacifica on whether or not they will prioritize applying for a CDP before the end of the year in order to continue the work of ensuring surf equity.

●      We and our allies would like a formal apology from the City of Pacifica acknowledging its role in upholding exclusionary systems and reinforcing systemic racism and oppression

  • We would like to start a conversation with the city after this apology about what reparations for the community might look and feel like.
    • We are inviting the City of Pacifica to embrace change through an equity lens.
  • BGS and CSP would like to see the City of Pacifica apply for and be granted a CDP that includes the CAPP proposal as a focus.
    • In order for equity to be ingrained into the future of Pacifica’s surf culture, we believe it must be part of policy foundation and action.
  • Once the CAPP system is created, we would like more priority to be given to CAPP schools when permits are approved
    • This may look like allocating more “spots” to CAPP schools than commercial surf schools

●      We expect surf equity to be continuously promoted when making surf camp policy and beach access decisions in the future.

One of our goals has always been to create a replicable system of surf equity for the entire state of California. In working with us and allies, the City of Pacifica has the opportunity to become an example of a city that worked to acknowledge outdated and exclusionary practices, and supported the creation of a more inclusive and joyful surf culture through an equitable lens.

What’s the “bigger picture”?

The work BGS, City Surf Project, and numerous allies have been doing:

  • Demonstrates how land managers and nonprofits can work together for equitable access solutions, and influence guidelines for equitable public access and permitting processes on State lands.
  • Increases understanding of how localism helps to enact and perpetuate structural racism. Ultimately, we hope to decrease localist attitudes and localist acts in towns like Bolinas and Pacifica (for example, maybe we will no longer see signs that say “Black Lives Matter” next to signs that say “If you are not from here, do not come here.”)
  • Aims to start Bay Area conversations about the connections between localism and structural racism and spur conversations about this topic in the global surf community.
  • We hope that localism will no longer exist in the California surf community and beyond.

How can you become involved?

At this moment, all we ask is that you SPREAD THE WORD, stay engaged and be ready for action! JOIN US in raising awareness and sharing with your communities what’s going on and how far we’ve come since the paddle in 2020 BE PROUD of yourselves for taking action, supporting the fight for equity, and continuing to learn and grow with us.

Stay tuned for the next Pacifica City Council meeting. We will follow up with ways that you can show up and be involved in this process, whether through public comment or letters of support.

We appreciate YOU and everyone for their continued energy, allyship, and love for the ocean!

With Gratitude and Stoke,
The Brown Girl Surf Crew & City Surf Project in unity with our allies

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