Community Matters

Sept. 5, 2025 Interviews: Hour One: Dori Rose Inda, CEO of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds; Hour 2: Dr. Matt Wetstein and Ms. Kristin Fabos, Cabrillo College

Hour One: New CEO of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Ms. Dori Rose Inda, discusses her background at Salud para la Gente and social work, and now in her new role as CEO of the Fairgrounds.  What will be new for the County Fair...opening next week!

Followed by a separate discussion by Host Becky re: Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire site clean up, developments in Santa Cruz County re: BESS Ordinance and the 90 Minto Road BESS project and recommendations for contacting local fire districts to establish fire codes that are "more additive" for firefighter and public safety than what is on record now with the County.

Hour Two: Cabrillo College President Dr. Matt Wetstein and PIO and Marketing Director Ms. Kristin Fabos discuss the 624-bed on-campus dormitory project shared with UCSC  that will break ground this month.  How will it be financed? How will  it be managed?  Who will live there?  What about environmental impacts?  Other critical topics, including future plans.

August 29, 2025 Hour One Interview with Andy Caldwell "Voice of Reason" Host re: Nipomo BESS; Discussion of Scott Smith Presenting Dioxin Test Results at Moss Landing Battery Fire Area

Hour One: Interview with Andy Caldwell, COLAB in Santa Barbara County re: Caballero Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) approved by fire chief and planning commission because there was no ordinance in place. https://santamariatimes.com/opinion/guest/what-blows-up-in-nipomo-doesn-t-stay-in-nipomo-andy-caldwell/article_53f44592-e3fb-11ef-8f10-d39447ade7d9.html

learn more about Andy Caldwell here:

https://www.theandycaldwellshow.com/

Discussion of Scott Smith and August 31 "Where the Poison Is" presentation at 1pm in Prunedale Grange.  Preliminary results of his sampling and analysis of dioxin and other contaminants in the Moss Landing Vistra Fire plume areas. https://neveragainmosslanding.org/breaking-elevated-dioxins-at-6-sites/

Hour Two: Discussion of AB 303 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis to restrict placement of battery energy storage systems (BESS) near hospitals, schools, subdivisions and sensitive environmental areas; AB  434 by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio to implement a moratorium on new lithium BESS until new State fire codes are approved.  Contacting Santa Cruz County Commission on the Environment to register concerns and ideas for solutions regarding grid-scale BESS projects in the County for inclusion in Commission's summary of recent public workshops on BESS. 

Discussion of importance of opposing AB 470 to save landline telephone service.

Discussion of upcoming programs...Cabrillo College CEO, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds CEO, Grand Jury report "Human Trafficking in Santa Cruz County" and guests from Arukah Project. 

 

August 22, 2025 Hour One: Interview with Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church re: Moss Landing Vistra Fire ; Hour Two: Felton Fire District Chief Blum and Board: the Fire District's Futurerict

Hour One: Summary of Santa Cruz County Supervisor Actions re: grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects and draft ordinance, and Commission on the Environment Final BESS Workshop.

Second District Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church discusses the current progress to clean up the Moss Landing 300 Vistra Battery Fire site, regulation updates and action to provide information to the public.  What should the Monterey County BESS Ordinance include to be effective at protecting public health and safety but not force BESS projects to dodge local jurisdictional oversight by going to the California Energy Commission because of local requirements??

 

Hour Two: Guests Felton Fire Chief Isaac Blum, and Board members Mr. Craig Winters and Mr. Jim Anderson discuss the recent Santa Cruz County LAFCO report on Felton Fire District Governance Options and deadline for action.  Felton Volunteers answer 900 calls/year for emergencies...how can the District continue financially and effectively?  The good news is that things are already improving!  Find out what is on the near horizon.

 

 

August 15, 2025 Interview with Dr. Michael Hogan (Ca Arts & Sciences Institute) re: Oct. 8 Impacts of Lithium BESS Event; Mr. John Hassar: Invinity non-lithium BESS

Hour One: Dr. Michael Hogan describes the October 8 CASI event to provide an impartial expert panel discussion to educate the public on the impacts of lithium BESS on health,  soils and the integration within the electrical grid. https://casicalifornia.org/

Mr. John Hasar, representing Invinity discusses non-lithium flow battery technology and how it is being implemented in California. https://invinity.com/vanadium-flow-batteries/

Hour Two: Continued discussion of how the California Energy Commission process to review grid-scale BESS project applications works, citing the Compass BESS Project in the San Juan Capistrano area and the 270-day timeline.  Also discussed the Caballero BESS approved Nipomo (San Luis Obispo County), approved by Planning Commission and fire dept. because there was no County BESS Ordinance in place.  Is New Leaf Energy doing this now at the 90 Minto Road project in Watsonville?

Finally, a tribute to the hard work of many who tried so hard to save the eleven heritage trees at Lot 4 Farmer Market in Santa Cruz.  The City deforested the area yesterday.   The City Council also "gave WorkBench" what they wanted at the Clocktower Appeal August 12.

August 8, 2025 Interview with Ed Mitchell, Lead Ivestigator for Never Again Moss Landing

HOur One: Ed Mitchel outlines lessons learned from the Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire Disaster and offers suggestions for actions that County residents need to take as permitting of the 90 Minto Road Lithium Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) moves forward with permitting...to insist our public safety is protected!

 

Hour Two: Discussion of today's Felton Fire District Board meeting deliberation regarding the LAFCO deadline to take action by October 6. 2025.  Other issues that happened at the 8/5/2025 Board of Supervisors meeting re: delisting the Redman-HIrahara Farmstead from the National Historic Registry; what is HUMBL doing with our private information in the County's experimental blockchain digital wallet?

August 1, 2025 Hour One: Interview with Roxanne and David re: RTC Demands to Mobile Home Park Residents in Capitola to Move; Second Hour: Felton Fire Dept. Issues; Lithium BESS Updates

Hour One: Guests Roxanne and David discuss the update on the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission's (RTC) demand of Castle Estates and Blue & Gold Star Mobile Home owners whose homes, according to the RTC, encroach into the rail corridor and must be moved...or else.

Hour Two: Brief discussion of LAFCO's Report on Felton Fire Protection District's problems, and October 6, 2025 deadline to take action or face LAFCO's selected solution. https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Felton-FPD-Gov-Options-Rpt-7-25-25.pdf

Also, a discussion by the host of updates on lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) actions and the County's Commission on the Environment BESS Workshop held July 25.

 

 

July 18, 2025 Full Interview with Regional Transportation Commission CEO Sarah Christensen re: Highway One and Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Projects

This is the complete interview for both hours, with Hour One devoted to RTC Sarah Christensen.

Hour Two: Discussion of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) issues.

July 25, 2025 Hour One: Discussion of State Fire Marshal BESS Fire Safety Symposium; Hour Two: Continued BESS Discussion & Rail Trail Info

Hour One: What were the takeaways of the July 24, 2025 State Fire Marshal Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Safety Symposium?  Fire Officials can be driving the local BESS Ordinance for public and firefighter safety.  Questionable claims by EPA of inability to calibrate equipment at Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire.

Fire Safety Symposium:

https://www.youtube.com/live/Q1yZFtaykiA

 

Hour Two: More BESS discussion; RTC plans for rail and trail?  A plea for help to save Redman-Hirahara Farmstead as Brd. of Sups plan to delist from National Historic Registry.