Community Matters

February 21, 2025 Moss Landing Battery Fire Update; Controversial Story of Watsonville City and Ceiba College Prep Charter School

Hour One: Initial difficulty with technology precluded Assemblymember Addis interview but discussion with Mr. Phillip Carranco, Regulation Policy Expert Phillip Carranco re: need for County Urgency Ordinance and lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) moratorium until Technical Advisory Committee can convene so that Ordinance is not bought and paid for by the battery industry.

Hour Two: Watsonville activist Mr. Ilea Buliach describes the shadowy actions of the City of Watsonville to establish a covert school called Ceiba, with City Councilmembers acting as school board directors, and enabling the City to qualify for State Education funding to purchase 20-30 acres of industrial area to redevelop.  Litigation filed will shed light on unscrupulous actions by City officials (Santa Cruz County Superior Court Case 23CV00800)

February 14, 2025 Santa Cruz City Downtown Expansion Plan; Battery Energy Fire Contamination Talk by Prof. Aiello,

Hour One: Santa Cruz City's Biggest Expansion Plans and Environmental Comment; Review of Feb. 14 Presentation at UCSC by Moss Landing Marine Lab Prof. Ivano Aiello showing significantly elevated levels of nickel, cobalt and manganese in soil samples of Hester Slough after the Moss Landing Vistra battery fire at Moss 300.

Hour Two: Continued conversation with listeners about the Moss Landing Fire, local response, implications on ag; three BESS projects planned for Santa Cruz County?  Citizen action alert to stop lithium-ion BESS.

January 31, 2025 Moss Landing BESS Discussion; Interview re: Thinking of Leaving CA?

Hour One: Interview with Tonya Rivera, "Never Again Moss Landing" about the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire and grassroots action.

Hour Two: Interview with Kris Kirby and discussion about moving out of California...what to consider and how to do it.

Updates on Battery Energy Fire and Seahawk Project; Santa Cruz City Downtown Plan Expansion

Hour One: Update on "Never Again Moss Landing" group actions re: Moss Landing Vistra Fire, update on proposed Seahawk Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project at 90 Minto Road in Watsonville, update on Santa Cruz County Fire Dept. Advisory Group formation.

Hour Two:Rick Longinotti and Frank Barron discuss Santa Cruz City Downtown Expansion Plan Draft EIR inadequacies re: analysis of water, unlimited building height, affordable housing, traffic and how to make effective comments.

 

 

January 24, 2025 Interviews re: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Moss Landing Fire

First Hour: Barry Branin with Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation and fight against a BESS in Morro Bay.

Second Hour: Phillip Carranco, Regulation Policy Expert and how local government can make more restrictive regulations for BESS projects in Santa Cruz County and at Moss Landing.

Second Repair of January 17 Program

Hopefully, this version is clear and complete!

12/27/2024 Moving Out of California?

Guests Kristen Colishaw and Kris Kirby,  longtime Santa Cruz County residents,  both moved out of California in 2024.  Both are fourth or fifth generation Californians.  Why did they leave?  Neither has regrets..find out why. 

November 29, 2024 Interview with Mr. Daniel Ferguson, Monterey County Veteran of the Year

Interview with Mr. Daniel Ferguson, 2024 Monterey County Veteran of the Year, about his experiences as a teacher at Soledad State Prison, and his public service in the County. Second hour with other political issues in Santa Cruz County.