In late 2024 Susan Gorin announced limited funds to create a Temporary Springs Plaza in the county owned parking lot, adjacent to what everyone calls “the Old Church Mouse Building” at the corner of Boyes Boulevard and Highway 12. In 22 years of living in the Springs I have been hearing about some kind of community space for the Springs and the Springs Specific Plan. Sort of an existential play like Waiting for Godot. There was that brief moment when Supervisor Gorin thought it would be a good idea for the county to partner with Ken Mattson to build a community plaza at this site, as he owned the two buildings at this site and the county owned the parking area around the buildings. As we all know this was not a very good plan, based on Mattson’s track record here in Sonoma and other municipalities. The supervisor thought him a “savvy developer”. Most of us and the Springs Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) did not share that opinion.
I thought a temporary spot for our community would be great in the interim, as we continue waiting for Godot. I volunteered to help, by trying to keep the area clean, as the county did not have funds for it. The MAC formed an ad hoc committee for implementation, Ron Wellander, a Sonoma City Council member volunteered to select and acquire trees and others volunteered to help out. We all realized that this was not the end all. That hopefully one day there would be a permanent community space, professionally planned and executed with ample funds provided for it.
Reaching out on social media a “cleaning crew” was formed: Me, Georgeann Quinn, Megie Marvel, Lisa Trembly (and the Springs Rotary), Hannah Aclufi and Judie Osborn-Shaw. Since January 2025 we have been taking turns each week to clean the area. With gloves, buckets, brooms we do our best to pick up trash and place it in the Recology receptacles the county has provided. From day one it has been a challenge. In the real world nothing is perfect. People throw trash on the ground, dump large objects, the un-housed camp on the sidewalks by the Mattson buildings, people do not read the signs and dump trash in recycling and compostable waste bins and vice versa and the area that is gated and locked between the two building was already full of trash. We have figured out some solutions amongst ourselves, and with the help of our new supervisor, Rebecca Hermosillo. The adjacent property owner secures the trash receptacles, unlocks and places them out on the proper day for pick up. The owner of the barber shop let me into the locked area between the buildings to remove the trash.
On social media there are those posting that this project and the presence of Homeless Action Sonoma (HAS) and Sonoma Overnight Support (SOS) is the cause of blight and social issues in our community. I have tried my best to document that these issues are much more complex and preceded the existence of a temporary plaza and charitable organizations to help those in need by many decades. It falls on deaf ears. I grew up poor, but 53 years ago there were programs that saved my life and the lives of many others. These programs no longer exist, as our society moves away from what is labeled as “socialism” in any form. It is easier to simply ask that those living on our streets be picked up and hauled away to somewhere we cannot see them.
But, let me ask our community this: Wouldn’t it be better to embrace this small space, volunteer to make it better, work with our elected officials to solve the problems before us and in doing so build pride in our community, as we continue to wait for Godot?
I do wish a photo of how the area looks today would have been used. I picked up all the stuff you see in this photo. The county assisted in working with one person who was bringing lots of stuff to the area. And I have done a dump run. It is clean now and has been for a few weeks. We look forward to the Farmers Markets starting on June 1, every Sunday. The cleaning crew will be doing our best to keep the area clean and we believe the market will build community pride and involvement.
I do think it was good for me to see what you’ve been dealing with by posting this photo. I appreciate all your hard work and dedication to the cause. Thank you, and thank you for this article updating us on the issue. Hopefully with the start of the Farmer’s Market things will improve.
Thank you Josette for this update. As a former member on the Springs MAC (2019-2021), a community leader of the Springs Community Alliance (2012-2019), and a representative on the Springs Redevelopment Advisory Committee (2006-2012) I was deeply involved in the planning for the Springs Community Plaza. Your article referred to Susan Gorin announcing “limited funds to create a Temporary Springs Plaza”. I wanted to bring to the community’s attention that the remaining funds from the Highway 12 Corridor Improvements Project – Phase II – Stage 2 (completed in 2015 and settled in 2017, I believe, was $2 million. Those funds were designated at the time for a plaza in the Springs. Since the money was part of a bond it could not be spend on other county projects. As of 2020 (before I moved out of the area), I confirmed with county budget personnel that at least $1.3 million was still in the county budget (TPW) as available and unspent.
I wanted to share this info as an avenue that should be pursued. Susan Gorin always downplayed the available funding for the Springs Plaza…just as she obstructed the efforts of the Springs Community for over a decade. I hope this helps in your efforts to finally bring a gathering place to the Springs.