Page 30 - Sonoma County Gazette MARCH 2020

I finally got to see the Call of the Valley, the film by Julie Morrison about Sonoma’s history. What fun to go to Sebastiani Theater (look for the next special showing) and see your friends up on the big screen.
Hotel and Housing Proposed For Springs Gateway!
Stories of the town’s founding fathers’ were told, from Vallejo, and Sebastiani grand-pere, and renowned authors, Jack London and M.F.K. Fisher, and many more vintners and farmers whose names I cannot remember.
Local hotelier Norman Krug under the title of Springs Investors Group (SIG) has submitted plans to the County for building a 120-room hotel and 71 rental units on the 5.79 acres formerly planned as a swim recreation area by the Sonoma Health and Recreation Association. Mr. Krug owns the Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn and is an El Verano resident.
What luck they all had, those pioneers, to find a spot here in the Valley back in the 19th century when land was cheap.
The location, on Verano Between Mobile Home Park and FAHA... is now the site of the Sonoma Little League stadium. The Little League is scheduled to move to Maxwell Park under a Master Plan for redevelopment. Mr. Krug is contributing $100,000 to that effort.
Not that it was always easy. There was a long drought. Later, prohibition shuttered the wineries. Some left, but those who stayed were resilient. They switched from grapes to prunes and apples. They opened stores. They made it through. Their descendants are in the film. Some of them own this town.
Hotel first, housing to follow...
So it goes, the perennial question, why are the rich, rich, and
the poor, poor? The rich like to say they worked hard and went to church
on Sunday, while the poor made “poor choices,” got drunk, and generally screwed up. And there may be some truth to that. But for many, it’s bad luck, a tough landlord or boss, or a history of trauma.
The plan is to build the hotel and then assist the affordable housing specialists at MidPen Housing in construction of 71 units plus a manager’s dwelling. There will be a mix of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments in a three- story walkup structure. The proposal calls for 33 one-bedroom apartments, 20 two-bedroom apartments, and 18 three-bedroom apartments. There will be 97 parking spaces.
Homelessness is now a global problem, and Sonoma is no longer immune. On February 1, a teenage girl was accosted by a homeless man along the trail near the ballpark, the Police Department, and The Haven, our small homeless shelter. She fought him off, but the incident caused an uproar. It seems that anger at the presence of the homeless near the town’s youth athletic field has been simmering ever since overnight parking for homeless has been allowed.
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Mayor Logan called a special community meeting. Some 300 locals attended – the most I’ve ever seen at the Sonoma City Council – many of whom spoke. A tall white-haired man warned that if they provided too many services – with more taxpayer money – more homeless would come to our town.
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And the Field of Dreams presumably would become the Field of Nightmares.
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The speaker made another point. Referring to the mess that seems to follow the homeless, he warned the council to remember the importance of “self- respect.”
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‘Course I wonder, if you “ain’t got a pot to piss in,” what’s a self-respecting person to do? Life on the streets withholds the most ordinary of comforts.
In late January the SCA announced the election of new leadership. Former Chair, Rich Lee, and Vice Chair Ellen Conlon stepped down after years of super service to the Springs community. Conlon has assumed additional duties with the Public Advisory Team working on recommendations for redevelopment at the Sonoma Development Center.
Needles, condoms, trash, and some heckling of passers-by were cited more than once and can’t be ignored, but how many needles and how much trash?
Shall we sweep these people aside, never mind the real causes of homelessness: the cost of housing, low wages, and inadequate mental health services?
SCA Board. (L-R) AnnMarie Miller, , Jennifer Gray Thompson, Veronica Napoles, Bill Hoban.
Despite their frustration, the community seemed to be trying to handle the problem in a balanced way. At the regular City Council meeting Feb. 20, the Council agreed to form a new sub-committee, enhance security, and begin the search for a better location for the shelter.
The new officers are Ann Marie Miller, Treasurer, Jennifer Gray Thompson as Vice Chair, Chair Veronica Napoles, a local artist, and Bill Hoban, Secretary. Chairperson Napoles serves on the Sonoma Cultural and Fine Arts Commission. Thompson is Executive Director of the Rebuild Northbay Foundation. Treasurer Miller is General Manager of Herb Lamb Vineyards. Bill Hoban is a retired photographer and managing editor of the Sonoma IT.
But a new discovery by planning director Dave Storer threw a wrench into the discussion. The Haven has been exceeding the limits of its 2003 use permit limiting its hours from 4 PM until 9 AM. Councilmember Madolyn Agrimonti was “disgusted”, according to the IT, that regulations were ignored, and councilmember Amy Harrington was similarly concerned, but suggested the possibility of writing a new use permit, potentially a long, entangled process, obstructed by those who just want the homeless “to just go somewhere else.”
Welcome Springs residents! Join us! The next SCA meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at La Luz’ Booker Hall, 17560 Greger Street. The SCA website is springscommunityalliance.org.
But where? Building a bigger shelter will take time. Haven director Kathy King refused to reduce daytime services meanwhile. Rousting the shelter over a dated use permit is not the way to go, as Fred Allebach pointed out.
Can we find another way to re-create the halcyon Valley of yore?
Beginning last month (2/28) with a showing of “Ice and Fire,” the Springs Hall in partnership with “Transition Sonoma Valley” will present a series
of film nights focusing on environmental issues and their impact on our community. Speakers will be present from time to time to discuss the movie.
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Springs Community Alliance Elects New Leader
Movies At The Springs Hall
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The doors will open at 6 p.m. (Fridays). There is a suggested donation of $10. Light snacks and drinks will be available. For more information contact
Seth Dolinsky, Executive Director, Springs Community Hall, 18627 Sonoma Highway, springshall.com.
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30 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 3/20