Sunday Reads: Female surfers fighting for equality; has Santa Cruz lost its edge?
Backlash over contest reignites discussion about gender equality in surfing
Basic fairness: In 2019, California lawmakers passed a law that required any contest held on state land to have equal payouts regardless of gender. But in October, the O’Neill Freak Show competition initially advertised a payout of $10,000 for the male winner but $1,000 for the female one. Though this was made equal when the contest actually occurred, it sparked a conversation whether the industry is doing enough. Lookout’s Liza Monroy and Mark Conley have more on the issue here.
Cabrillo vice president charged with embezzlement: What happens next?
Next steps: On Thursday, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced it had charged Paul De La Cerda with two felony counts related to his time at East Los Angeles College. Specifically, prosecutors accused him of overbilling the college about $1,600 for trips he took as part of that job. The next meeting of the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees is scheduled for Monday evening. Though unclear whether the issue will be discussed, the closed session agenda includes an item for employee discipline or termination. Read more on the story here.
Is Santa Cruz still weird, or have we lost our edge?
WALLACE BAINE: The 1987 movie “The Lost Boys” didn’t use the name “Santa Cruz” as the city in the center of the action, but it really showcased the counterculture charm and weirdness of the place at the time. Lookout’s Wallace Baine wonders whether that ethos still holds. Read more about his thoughts here.
Best of the week (ICYMI) ...
➤ EATERS DIGEST: Crabs are here, and Sante Adairius welcomes a new brewer (Lily Belli)
➤ Is Santa Cruz’s reported vaccine rate inaccurately low? It just might be because of this UCSC-related quirk (Dan Evans & Hillary Ojeda)
➤ Checking in on Santa Cruz’s ‘oversized vehicle ordinance’ 30 days later (Grace Stetson)
➤ Santa Cruz County COVID-19 update: Infections, hospitalizations, deaths and demographic data (Lookout Staff Report)
