Community Matters

One year ago today, the Moss 300 lithium battery storage facility in Moss Landing erupted in massive toxic flames.  Dedicating this program to those who have come together to seek the truth about what happened and why.

Hour One: Nina Audino describes questions re: environmental analysis and regulatory holes in the Santa Cruz County Draft Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) rules Supervisors approved 1/13/2026, relying heavily on information conjured by 90 Minto Road developer.  No large-scale fire testing, no plume modelling,no seismic regulation.  No public comment???

Donate to legal fund necessary to protect agricultural land and challenge siting 90 Minto Road project next to densely-populated working-class neighborhoods: https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/

Hour Two: Scott Smith, Blue Shirt Justice League and Government Accountability Project leader, discusses the EPA cover-ups and lack of accountability to people harmed by major environmental disasters, such as East Palestine, Ohio,  Roseland, Louisiana, and Moss Landing, California. Joined by ASPECT whistleblower Dr. Robert Kroutil, discovery that EPA reported only a narrow and incomplete subset of chemicals detected in Roseland disaster between August 22–27, due to fundamental failures in data analysis and interpretation. These failures mark a pattern of ASPECT's negligent use after similar evidence in East Palestine which showed ASPECT being turned off over key waterways and only recording eight minutes of data.

https://whistleblower.org/press/epa-aspect-flyover-data-confirms-chemicals-found-by-independent-tester-after-smittys-supply-explosion/

 

https://goblueshirtjustice.org/

First Hour: Gary Patton discusses the 1978 Voter Referedum Measure J's importance in continuing to preserve agricultural lands, require 15% affordable housing in new subdivision projects, define the urban services line and require an annual County Growth Goal that reflects the County's fair share of the State's growth.  It can only be changed by the vote of the people...so how can the County Draft BESS Ordinance remove acres of farmland for utility grid battery energy storage use????

 

Second Hour: Three Guests who are local activists  speak out about public safety problems with the County BESS Ordinance:

Carol Bjorn:The importance of preserving agricultural land and demanding full EIR. Opt out of Central Coast Energy (3CE) because they support siting lithium BESS in our neighborhoods. https://3cenergy.org/billing/energy-choices/opt-out/

('Ban Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County' meets 1st & 3rd Mondays at Porter Library, Soquel, at 6:30pm)

Phillip Carranco: Local activist and internationally -known regulatory policy expert: The County used very little of his professionally-developed BESS Ordinance gifted to them, such as seismic safety requirements and enforcement with large fines.

Karell Reader, local farmer and activist with 'Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County' shares concerns that Planning Dept. is too vague on environmental review of the BESS Ordinance and the 90 Minto Road BESS Project in Watsonville...the two are mingled and confusing and the public may not have opportunities to weigh in with concerns 

SUPPORT THE ATTORNEY THIS GROUP HAS HIRED TO SAVE THE AG LANDS IN OUR COUNTY:

https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/

 

learn more about the County BESS Ordinance and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON JANUARY 13 AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING IN SCOTTS VALLEY (WHY AREN'T THEY DISCUSSING THIS IN WATSONVILLE, WHERE THEIR ACTIONS WILL HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS THERE!)

https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/UPC/GetInvolved/MajorProjectApplications/BatteryEnergyStorageSystemsOrdinance.aspx

1) Interview with Ms. Sarah Beck, Executive Director of Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries as a participant in the Santa Cruz Gives campaign:

 https://www.friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org/

 https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/friendsofsantacruzlibraries/

 

2) Interview with Ms. Loreal Weitzel, Executive Director of Arukah Project, a local non-profit organization providing support and immediate assistance for victims of human sex trafficking.  Your donations will help make the Hope House available for immediate safe shelter and medical attention when those ensnared in human trafficking call for help.

https://www.arukahproject.org/

The need exists now and is anticipated to spike as two large events (Superbowl and World Cup Series) occur in the next few weeks next door in Santa Clara County.

Hour One:

Friends of the Santa Cruz Library - Sarah Beck, Executive Director

     https://www.friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org/

     https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/friendsofsantacruzlibraries/

Arukah Project - Loreal Weitzel, Executive Director

 https://www.arukahproject.org/

  Help fund the HOPE House to provide a safe place for human trafficking survivors to go, escape violence, and begin to restore their lives.

 

Second Hour experienced an area-wide power failure that stopped an interview with Dawn Berreras of Second Harvest Food Bank due to the Santa Cruz Voice studio equipment going offline.

     https://www.thefoodbank.org/

     https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/secondharvest/

Unfortunately, we were unable to interview Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes - Ashley Bridges, Director

     https://pvloavesandfishes.org/

     https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/pvloavesandfishes/

 

2:05pm - Ms. Rosalina Nunez, Supervising Attorney for Senior Legal Services describes helping elderly navigate legal issues, including senior benefits, landlord / tenant issues, advanced care directives, and elder abuse.  Your donation can help provide free legal service  to anyone over 60 years and a resident of Santa Cruz or San Benito County who would otherwise not be helped.

      https://seniorlegal.org/

      https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/seniorlegal/

 

2:35pm- Consider other local non-profits also doing great work in the Community:

Rising Worldwide: Donate to help prevent child trafficking and to support trafficked survivors: https://risingworldwide.org/

Arukah Project: Helping survivors of human trafficking to escape and heal:

https://www.arukahproject.org/

Santa Cruz VISTA Center: Helping blind and visually-impaired people in our Community:

https://vistacenter.org/

 

  

 

3:05pm - Ms. Carmen Herra Mansir, Executive Director, describes how El Pajaro Community Development Corporation helps local Latina women begin and develop their small businesses and farms. You can donate to their in-house lending program and help provide the much-needed funding to help launch a new business and independence.

      https://elpajarocdc.org/

      https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/elpajarocdc/

       

 

3:35pm - Mr. Luis Mejia - Interim Executive Director, Jacobs Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services describes the work to help over 125 families in Santa Cruz County who have children battling cancer.  Your donation will help provide food, transportation to medical appointments and family counseling to ease the stress of the diagnosis and treatments.

      https://www.jacobsheart.org/

      Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services

Hour One: Discussion of  Rising Worldwide event and human trafficking in Santa Cruz County; update on Santa Cruz County BESS rules, and what the County Board of Supervisors have on consent agenda upcoming.

2:30pm Guest Mr. Amin AbuAmara, Director of Capital Improvement Projects for Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) discusses status of Highway One and Rail Trail projects.

Hour Two: Mr. Jon Kennedy, one of three private well representatives on the Santa Cruz Midcounty Groundwater Agency (MGA) discusses the state of the area's groundwater and what private well owners need to know.  Upcoming meeting 12/11/2025 at Capitola Library at 6pm. https://www.midcountygroundwater.org/

Hour One: Roberta Roberts and Pete Johnson describe how Amateur Radio helped over 100 Search & Rescue volunteers in challenging terrain, interacting with volunteers from many agencies from throughout California.  

Hour Two: Update on Monterey and Santa Cruz County large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, new rules and Supervisor actions.  Also, update from Kris Kirby, transplanted from Santa Cruz County to Grants Pass, Oregon...visiting Washington, D.C, and running for County Election Clerk!

Hour One: Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church discusses why Board's decision to reject a moratorium on large battery energy storage system (BESS) projects will help move the County to develop the rules to regulate where they are allowed and safety requirements for how they operate. Contact him with thoughts on BESS issues: https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/board-of-supervisors/district-2-glenn-church

Phillip Carranco, internationally-recognized regulatory policy expert with local connections, discusses the Draft BESS Ordinance document he wrote, based on the California Governor's Business Office BESS Ordinance template, to assist local jurisdictions such as Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

Hour Two: Continued discussion with Phillip Carranco re: the importance of strong regulation, what happens when a BESS developer goes to the State Energy Commission (CEC) instead of local jurisdictions for licensing and operation permits, and how can people weigh in to make a difference?  

Karell Reader, an organic apple farmer in Santa Cruz County, joins the conversation with questions about agricultural zoning, public safety, and how to effectively approach decision-makers to strengthen BESS rules for benefit of the people  and environment.