By Adam Swift
The February meeting of the Stonybrook Neighborhood Association on Monday focused on ICE activity in Jamaica Plain and what residents can do if ICE is spotted in the neighborhood.
Conversations revolved around organizing on the neighborhood level, as well as services provided by larger organizations such as JP Fights Back, BIJAN (Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network) and LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts.
One local resident and business owner highlighted the efforts that she and other local business owners have taken to alert residents to potential ICE and immigration actions in the area. She said there is an overlapping concern as small business owners and residents when they see increased ICE activity in the neighborhoods.
“Our current work has been twofold from the small business owner front,” the local business owner, who did not wish to be identified, said. “I can just say that we are independently organizing right now. The Stonybrook neighborhood falls outside of a main street catchment area, so the small business owners do not have the official support of the Main Street’s foundation.”
The business owner said that there are about six to eight Stonybrook area businesses that have friendly relationships and are sharing resources.
“We have gotten together to try to establish some best practices within our small community for workplace policies for an ICE presence,” she said. “We had a friend who is an attorney come in and help us understand a little bit of the context of workplace vs. on the street and a little bit of unofficial legal guidance on how to structure a workplace policy that protects our employees.”
The business owner said she and others are working on reaching out to other small and local businesses to help provide guidance.
The conversation also revolved around hyperlocal response teams that can go into action if ICE is spotted locally. The business owner noted that the main Jamaica Plain Facebook page is a good resource for those looking to organize and provide help to those at risk.
In addition, the JP Fights Back group is hosting trainings on Monday, Feb. 17 and Monday, Feb. 24 at the First Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m.
Another resident noted that people should have the LUCE hotline number of (617) 370-5023 programmed into their phones so they can alert them quickly if they see immigration enforcement activity.
In other business, SNA steering committee member Joy Silverstein provided a brief update on the condition of the landmarked property at 19 Kenton Road.
“The owners did reply to the subcommittee and basically said they are trying to keep that house maintained; it certainly doesn’t look it,” Silverstein said. “They say they try to maintain it and they tried to rent it out, but it was in poor condition.”
A letter from the property owner Joseph Federico stated that before disconnecting the utilities, they searched extensively for tenants for the two apartment units but were unable to rent them because of their poor condition. They added that the house itself is in stable condition and that they are weighing their plans for their options moving forward.
The building was granted landmark status by the city following an effort by local developer Federico to build a new three-story, eight-unit apartment building on the property.
“At least we got a reply, and we have been waiting for a long time,” said SNA steering committee member Carla-Lisa Caliga.