Community Matters

April 18, 2025 Renee Flemming & Santa Cruz County Law Library; Coty Sifuentes-Winters & MidPen Eucalyptus Removals at Sierra Azul Preserve

First Hour: Santa Cruz County Law Librarian Ms. Renee Flemming describes what help and information are available to navigate various legal issues with or without an attorney, and how the Library was established in 1896 by a County Ordinance, and is funded and managed today.

Second Hour: Mr. Coty Sifuentes-Winters, Vegetation Ecologist and Project Manager for MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District describes the 2.5 acre project near Lexington Reservoir in the Sierra Azul Preserve to remove eucalyptus trees for fire hazard reduction and native habitat restoration. What was the CEQA process and who were the agencies that partnered with MidPen to fund and support the work?

April 11, 2025 First Hour interview with Ryan McCauley...MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District and wildflower hikes; Big developer now on Planning Comm.; Hour 2: Stop Lithium BESS event 4/14/25

First Hour: Ryan McCauley, MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District, discusses formation of the District in 1972, to acquire and protect 62,000 acres as 26 Preserves, most open to the public for hiking, funding second safe wildlife crossing under Hwy 17, and a pedestrian/equestrian overpass,  and improvement projects supporting further trail systems.  He shared the best wildflower hikes currently are in St. Joseph's Hill (Los Gatos) and Skyline Ridge (Hwy 35). 

Host separately discussed recent appointment of Jesse Nickell, former VP of Barry Swenson Builder, by District 2 County Supervisor DeSerpa to County Planning Commission (he doesn't even live in D2!).

Second Hour: Liza Schmidt, Survivor of Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire, discusses what happened during and after the disaster, lack of protocol for local medical agencies, and health problems since the disaster that officials are ignoring.  Nina Audino, STOP Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County, discusses upcoming Town Hall Meeting April 14 in Watsonville to provide residents information and action plans because local officials are silent and unresponsive in face of impending approval of new BESS Ordinance and three such facility locations (Paul Sweet Rd. near Dominican Hosp., Freedom Blvd. near Aptos High, and 90 Minto Road in Watsonville... in permitting process!

April 4, 2025 Interview with Neil Pearlberg "Off the Lip" discussion of Senator John Laird about Moss Landing Battery Fire issues, Santa Cruz's character; Sean Dougherty Greens Say NO to Lithium BESS

First Hour: Neil Pearlberg talks about what happened following his podcast with Senator John Laird about Moss Landing Battery Fire; importance of civil and  neutral "Off the Lip" public forums, convening a panel of experts to talk about lithium BESS alternatives, and wondering about why Downtown Santa Cruz is becoming full of high-rise buildings.

Second Hour: Sean Dougherty, Green Party Committee leader describes April 5 "Lithium Fires Rally!"  at London Nelson Center, Vistra's contributions to elected leaders (Dawn Addis returned hers!) and alternatives to lithium battery energy storage systems (BESS) that Santa Cruz County needs to consider with panel of experts.  Phillip Carranco, regulatory policy expert call-in.

March 28, 2025 First Hour: Bryan Shields discusses Nor Cal Carpenters Union and UCSC construction issues; Second hour: Kris Kirby ... Oregon Fire Map resistance; Nina Audino: STOP Lithium BESS in SC

First Hour: Bryan Shields describes value and importance of Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Women in Construction Career Day (4/25), problems with W.E. O'Niel Construction Co. and ADCO Drywall & Metal Framing subcontractors at UCSC Hagar Construction Project. Urged letters to UC Regents to require working closely with local construction unions to include language in project pre-applications to ensure proper prevailing wages are paid and the Community is well-served.

Second Hour: Kris Kirby discusses life in Grants Pass, Oregon since moving out of California, political activity there and transitioning from California.  Thinking of moving out?  Listen to what she has to say!

Also, Nina Audino discusses STOP Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County efforts and why the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors are refusing to hold town hall meetings with constituents before the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Ordinance that would approve three sites in the County for rezoning (90 Minto Road Watsonville, Freedom Blvd. Aptos, and Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz).  Urges education on the issues.

March 21, 2025 Assemblymember Dawn Addis re: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Moss Landing Fire (2nd hour)

First Hour: Local topics re: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects proposed in Santa Cruz County, County Board of Supervisor issues, Watsonville Gateway Project causing Redman-Hirahara House de-listing from National Historic Registry with the support of County Historic Resources Commissioner.

Second Hour: Assemblymember Dawn Addis describes Moss Landing Vistra Fire disaster response and problems, and the importance of AB 303 to return local control over permitting Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in communities throughout the State.

March 14, 2025 Ilyea Buliach, Marta Buliach and Catalina Torres discussing Watsonville City's Possible Fraudulent Actions re: Tiny Village

Watsonville City officials kept many City Councilmembers in the dark regarding Monterey County's $8million grant-funded plan to bus homeless to a low-barrier shelter in parking lot of a Watsonville neighborhood, allowing the Community Action Board to run it with no experience in doing so.  The neighbors united, and appealed.  Only two Council members, Ari Parker and Casey Clarke, felt staff's lack of transparency and honesty regarding the zoning problems mattered and should be addressed.  Why?

March 7, 2025 Hour One: Gillian Greensite: Workforce Housing Solutions Act Problems; Hour Two: Kris Kirby: Move Out of California

Hour One: Gillian Greensite discusses why Santa Cruz City's Workforce Housing Solutions Act initiative makes claims that local workers would have preference for affordable housing but the City of Santa Cruz cannot verify such a claim could be upheld because the Grand Jury "Housing for Whom?" investigative report showed the City fails to track who gets affordable housing now, and keeps no data as to how much is given to UCSC students.  The Oversight Committee would only have one member of the public, chosen by the City Council.

Hour Two: Kris Kirby sold her business and  moved out of California, leaving behind decades of connections to re-root in Grants Pass, Oregon.  What was that process like for her?  What would she do differently? How has she made new connections?  Any regrets??  Local elected officials there are willing to meet....and actively listen. 

Here, Santa Cruz County Supervisors continue to bury their heads in the sand on the Moss Landing Battery Fire...and refuse to hold town hall meetings about the battery storage projects planned for Santa Cruz County...grassroots activism is afoot.

February 28, 2025 Interviews: Fire Chiefs Wilson and Filson; Santa Cruz City Workforce Housing Solutions Act Initiative

Hour One: CalFire/Santa Cruz County Fire Chief Jed Wilson and Chief Sam Filson discuss emergency response in unincorporated areas, CSA 48, proposed reorganization, proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility for Watsonville, and lessons from LA Fires.

Hour Two: Elaine Johnson and Bruce Van Allen discuss Workforce Housing Solutions Act initiative in the City of Santa Cruz.  $96/parcel annually and a tiered property sale transfer tax for 20 years to fund affordable housing and prevent homelessness in the City.