Community Matters

Mr. Michael Polkabla describes the initial County of Monterey and EPA responses to the January 16, 2025 Moss 300 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire, how he worked with the Community to organize the widespread surface sampling for heavy metals and helped publish the results on the Never Again Moss Landing website.  Watch for his forthcoming professional paper.  https://neveragainmosslanding....

Mr. Ed Mitchell discusses the problems with the Vistra Moss 300 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility that contributed to the fire disaster on January 16, 2025, why it is good news Vistra is now decommissioning the Moss 100 BESS facility, and his thoughts on the Santa Cruz County BESS Draft Ordinance. https://neveragainmosslanding.org/

Hour One: Meet the new President of Cabrillo College, Dr. Jenn Capps, joined by Marketing & Communications Director Ms. Kristin Fabos.  Dr. Capps guided the change at Humboldt University to become Cal Polytechnic Humboldt.  How does she envision Cabrillo College in the future?  I think you will like what you hear! https://www.cabrillo.edu/president/ Hour Two: Mr. Lee Butler, Planning Director...

Hour One: Mr. Bob Broussard, current Foreperson of the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury, describes the work of the Civil Grand Jury, the investigations that lead to improved local government and how people can volunteer to participate in the 2026-2027 Civil Grand Jury. https://www.santacruz.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil-grand-jury   Hour Two: Dr. Mijin Cha, UCSC Assistant Professor in Environmen...

Hour One: Dr. Xiaoliang Wang, Director of Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program at University of Nevada, Reno, is the principal investigator of projects to study lithium-ion battery fire emissions and suppression, vehicle tailpipe and non-tailpipe (brake, tire, and road wear) emissions, emissions from mining fleets, industrial stacks, and fugitive dust sources in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in...

Due to technical difficulties, today's program is very short, but includes updates on February 3 Monterey County Board of Supervisor actions re: Moss Landing BESS Fire Clean Up and anticipated March 17 Report to the Board, updates on Santa Cruz County's Draft BESS Ordinance and upcoming February 10 meeting in Watsonville as opportunity for public comments on BESS, and critical questions we need to...

Hour One: Mr. Drew Bohan, Executive Director of California Energy Commission (CEC), discusses the process for Opt-In Certification of large non-fossil fuel power facilities and energy storage systems that streamlines permitting process.  The CEC makes the decisions, not local land-use agencies, but does that mean local authorities are ignored and powerless???Listen in! AB 205 Opt-In Fact Sheet: ht...

2:06pm-3pm, Guest Gillian Greensite will discuss the impending action of Santa Cruz City Council to erase the public's involvement in large construction projects in a broad swath of town if there is affordable housing involved, and to make it easier for developers to chop down large heritage trees. Santa Cruz is facing a critical moment. Recent decisions by the city's planning commission to elimin...

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 appro...

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...

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 immedia...

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 begi...

  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://s...

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. H...

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, transpl...

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/distri...

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 Re...

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 Co...

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...

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...

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 fami...

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-batte...

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...

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 Annu...

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...