Community Matters
Community Matters features guest interviews to discuss topics of interest to the Santa Cruz Community. We aim to help people better understand important local issues and learn how to get involved to make a positive difference. Please listen and call in to join the discussions. Listen to Community Matters live every Friday from 2:00pm to 4:00 pm PT on https://santacruzvoice.com
Episodes
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 th...
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 Gra...
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,...
Hour One: Interview with Capitola Resident Tom Ginsburg: how the Bulb Ave. neighborhood has come together to present reasonable, fact-based discussions to the Capitola City Council as large, dense development projects are proposed (philosophy of BRIMBY...Be Respectful In My BackYard). The Capitola City Council's actions were responsive.
Hour Two: Interview with Nina Beety, local Resident and Researcher, discusses the harmful son...
Hour 1: News about release of Santa Cruz County's new rules for siting potentially flammable and explosive large battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in neighborhoods. Info from Nina Audion, leader of Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County.
Hour 2: Interview with Wendy Core, Michael Lovejoy, and Travis DeYoung from Vets 4 Vets. How local Veterans are helping one another to create a Community to overcome isolation, fami...
Hour One: Supervisor Glenn Church discusses importance of proposed BESS moratorium in Monterey County to enable careful drafting of BESS Ordinance; Nina Audino (Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County) discusses safety problems with current lithium BESS technology and what Santa Cruz County Draft BESS Ordinance could include to protect public safety.
Hour Two: Brian Roeder (Never Again Moss Landing) discusses his TRIM idea to monito...
Hour One and Hour Two:
Today, 36 years ago, the Loma Prieta Earthquake shook the land and souls of our area. Centered in Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos but reverberating into the Bay Area, it was a BIG event that many remember. I am honored to host Mr. Sandy Lydon, local historian, for the full two hours as my Guest, describing what happened that day and thereafter. For many years, he led groups into Nisene Marks State Park...Hour 1: Santa Cruz County Supervisors plan to vote on new County battery energy storage system (BESS) projects next month. Why is 3CE supporting dangerous lithium BESS projects in our area. Status of 90 Minto Rd. BESS project in permit process.
Hour 2: Barak Laub discusses his film " how he learned about foreign orphanages bringing in big money from tourism while taking kids away from their families, exposing kids to adults from ...
Hour 1: Program dedicated to Jondi Gumz, RIP Excellent Reporter.
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/obituaries/jolande-gumz-scotts-valley/
Updates re: BESS update in Santa Cruz County: Urgent action needed! Attend the October 8 Panel of expert discussion regarding the truth behind what happened at the Moss Landing Battery Fire (See CASI Monterey https://casicalifornia.org/event/moss-landing-battery-plant-disaster-at-edens-gate/)
Kr...
Hour One: Guest Scott Smith discusses the Moss Landing Battery Fire and the disturbing pattern of unacceptable response from agencies responsible for public safety and disaster response, urging people to work together to demand accountability and action. Preliminary soil samples align with the Never Again Moss Landing sampling data and Dr. Ivan Aielo of Moss Landing Marine Lab. Contact him at Blue Shirt Justice League: https://gobl...
Hour One: Leaders of Arukah Project talk about sex trafficking in Santa Cruz County, the need for prevention and training responders to recognize the signs of trafficking, and the challenge of being able to support increasing numbers of calls for help from victims wanting to escape and local agencies needing help with supporting human trafficking victims. Please participate in the October 4 Annual Fundraiser!
2025 Grand Jury Repo...
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 ...
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:
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...
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 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 ...
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 sel...
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.
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 f...Hour One: Discussion of recent public meetings by Never Again Moss Landing https://neveragainmosslanding.org/ and Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/ and why it is important to boycott 3CE by Opting OUT: https://3cenergy.org/billing/energy-choices/opt-out/
Hour Two: Interview with Ms. Sarah Christensen, CEO of Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) re: passenger r...
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