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Community Matters

communitymatters

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

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All Episodes

114:24

January 30, 2026 Interview with Mr. Drew Bohan, Cal....

Community Matters ·

2026/01/31

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: https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/Opt-In_Certification_Fact_Sheet_ada.pdf dashboard of

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114:37

Janury 23, 2026 Guest Interviews with Gillian...

Community Matters ·

2026/01/24

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 eliminate public hearings for 100% affordable housing projects could have far-reaching implications not just

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114:49

January 16, 2026 1st Hour: Nina Audino re: Santa Cruz...

Community Matters ·

2026/01/17

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

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115:41

January 9, 2026 Interview Gary Patton & Measure J;...

Community Matters ·

2026/01/10

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:

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63:46

December 19, 2025 Interviews [One hour only due to...

Community Matters ·

2025/12/27

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

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14:39

December 19, 2025 Interviews: Sara Beck & Friends of...

Community Matters ·

2025/12/20

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

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114:23

December 12, 2025 Interviews with Local Non-Profits...

Community Matters ·

2025/12/13

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

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115:06

December 5, 2025 Interview with Mr. Amin AbuAmara...

Community Matters ·

2025/12/06

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

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114:13

November 28, 2025 Interviews: Hour one: Amateur Radio...

Community Matters ·

2025/11/29

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

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113:32

November 21, 2025 Interview with Monterey County...

Community Matters ·

2025/11/22

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-churchPhillip Carranco, internationally-recognized regulatory policy expert with local

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115:00

November 14, 2025 Interview with Tom Ginsburg: 3720...

Community Matters ·

2025/11/15

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 sonar geophysical mapping work in the Monterey Bay Canyon that MBARI

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115:07

November 7, 2025 Hour 1: Discussion of Santa Cruz...

Community Matters ·

2025/11/08

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, family emergencies, housing and health needs where gaps exist among other

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114:29

October 31, 2025 Interviews re: BESS Issues with...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/31

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 monitor lithium battery abuse and degradation in real time, and support

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54:04

October 24, 2025 CORRECTED Interviews re: Santa Cruz...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/26

Here is the CORRECT audio recording of interviews explaining both sides of Measure B and Measure C to fund affordable housing in the City of Santa Cruz.Hour One: Renee Mello and Victor Gomez, representing the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS, sponsors of Measure B. Hour Two: Elaine Johnson, representing Housing Santa Cruz County, sponsor of Measure C.

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54:04

October 24, 2025 Interviews re: Santa Cruz City...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/24

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

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113:59

October 17, 2025 Interview of Sandy Lydon on the...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/18

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 to the Epicenter, bringing history to life while urging people to be

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115:39

October 10, 2025 Hour 1: Update re: BESS in Santa...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/10

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

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114:54

October 3, 2025 BESS Update for SC; Kris Kirby &...

Community Matters ·

2025/10/03

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

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114:09

September 26, 2025 Hour One: Scott Smith/ Blue Shirt...

Community Matters ·

2025/09/26

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

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114:37

Sept. 19, 2025 Interview Hour One: Arukah Project &...

Community Matters ·

2025/09/19

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

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