Community Matters

Initial Announcement of October 27 Town Hall Meeting for County BESS Ordinance, Watsonville City Council Chambers 5:30pm-7pm

Hour 1: Guests Renee Mello and Victor Gomez, representing Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS, proponents of Measure B for "Workforce Housing and Climate Protection Act of 2025", https://yesmeasureb.org/ and opponents of Measure C. https://nomeasurec.com/

Hour 2: Guest Elaine Johnson, Director of Housing Santa Cruz County, proponent of Workforce Housing Affordability Act of 2025, aka Measure C, and opponent of Measure B. https://www.housingsantacruzcounty.com/

These two measures are very similar yet have some critical differences. Listen in and learn more.  Here is the link to the County Election Dept. information, arguments and impartial analysis: 

Measure B: https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/Elections/November4,2025StatewideSpecialElection/LocalMeasures/MeasureB.aspx

Measure C: https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/Elections/November4,2025StatewideSpecialElection/LocalMeasures/MeasureC.aspx

Hour One and Hour Two:

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 around the world who are not screened for predatory history.  This is not illegal in the US.  Jess T. discusses her background as a child sex traffick victim, unraveling the complex web of child trafficking, and the work Rising Worldwide does to help victims safely escape and heal while also educating youth and adults to recognize the signs of trafficking grooming and recruitment via the "Safe and Sound" program in schools.

Barak's film October 28 is the first in a series of films to support Rising Worldwide: https://risingworldwide.org/

Link to 2025 County Civil Grand Jury Report: Human Trafficking in Santa Cruz County:

https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/County/GrandJury/GJ2025_final/2025-5_Human_Trafficking_Report.pdf

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/)

Kris Kirby: moving out of CA.... politics in Oregon, meeting Alex Skarlatos, who, with his two friends US Airman Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler, in 2015 thwarted a deadly attack on a high-speed train bound for Paris

Hour 2: Marta & Ilea Buliach, joined by Councilman Casey Clark,  discuss the Watsonville City Homelessness Strategic Plan (aka Homeless Action Plan) https://pajaronian.com/watsonville-city-council-passes-homelessness-act/  Why did City Staff censor the report?  Will the police enforce anything? Why are businesses suffering?

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://goblueshirtjustice.org/

Hour Two: Guest David Hurwitz discusses the upcoming October 8  "Meltdown at Moss Landing" event sponsored by the California Art & Science Institute (CASI) to provide information and discussion that is sorely missing in the Community because elected officials refuse to hold townhall meetings. https://casicalifornia.org/event/moss-landing-battery-plant-disaster-at-edens-gate/

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 Report: Human Trafficking in Santa Cruz County

https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/County/GrandJury/GJ2025_final/2025-5_Human_Trafficking_Report.pdf

https://www.arukahproject.org/about-us

Hour Two: Tonje, Lydia and Dylan talk about the work of the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group to help families rebuild their homes burned in the 2020 CZU Fire and 2023 Floods.  If you or someone you know needs help rebuilding, please contact the Group. Volunteers needed to donate time, materials or money. Call  831-204-0112 website:

https://www.sccltrg.org/

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Report re: CZU Fire Rebuild: https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/0/County/GrandJury/GJ2024_final/2024-6_CZU_Report_with_Responses.pdf

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 and recommendations for contacting local fire districts to establish fire codes that are "more additive" for firefighter and public safety than what is on record now with the County.

Hour Two: Cabrillo College President Dr. Matt Wetstein and PIO and Marketing Director Ms. Kristin Fabos discuss the 624-bed on-campus dormitory project shared with UCSC  that will break ground this month.  How will it be financed? How will  it be managed?  Who will live there?  What about environmental impacts?  Other critical topics, including future plans.

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:

https://www.theandycaldwellshow.com/

Discussion of Scott Smith and August 31 "Where the Poison Is" presentation at 1pm in Prunedale Grange.  Preliminary results of his sampling and analysis of dioxin and other contaminants in the Moss Landing Vistra Fire plume areas. https://neveragainmosslanding.org/breaking-elevated-dioxins-at-6-sites/

Hour Two: Discussion of AB 303 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis to restrict placement of battery energy storage systems (BESS) near hospitals, schools, subdivisions and sensitive environmental areas; AB  434 by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio to implement a moratorium on new lithium BESS until new State fire codes are approved.  Contacting Santa Cruz County Commission on the Environment to register concerns and ideas for solutions regarding grid-scale BESS projects in the County for inclusion in Commission's summary of recent public workshops on BESS. 

Discussion of importance of opposing AB 470 to save landline telephone service.

Discussion of upcoming programs...Cabrillo College CEO, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds CEO, Grand Jury report "Human Trafficking in Santa Cruz County" and guests from Arukah Project. 

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 County BESS Ordinance include to be effective at protecting public health and safety but not force BESS projects to dodge local jurisdictional oversight by going to the California Energy Commission because of local requirements??

Hour Two: Guests Felton Fire Chief Isaac Blum, and Board members Mr. Craig Winters and Mr. Jim Anderson discuss the recent Santa Cruz County LAFCO report on Felton Fire District Governance Options and deadline for action.  Felton Volunteers answer 900 calls/year for emergencies...how can the District continue financially and effectively?  The good news is that things are already improving!  Find out what is on the near horizon.

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 Two: Continued discussion of how the California Energy Commission process to review grid-scale BESS project applications works, citing the Compass BESS Project in the San Juan Capistrano area and the 270-day timeline.  Also discussed the Caballero BESS approved Nipomo (San Luis Obispo County), approved by Planning Commission and fire dept. because there was no County BESS Ordinance in place.  Is New Leaf Energy doing this now at the 90 Minto Road project in Watsonville?

Finally, a tribute to the hard work of many who tried so hard to save the eleven heritage trees at Lot 4 Farmer Market in Santa Cruz.  The City deforested the area yesterday.   The City Council also "gave WorkBench" what they wanted at the Clocktower Appeal August 12.