Saint Mark’s Area Civic Association (SMACA) Meeting
April 26, 2022 7:00pm
Basement of St. Mark’s Church
Minutes by Kendra Beaver, Secretary
Attendees (including speakers): 19
Police Report — Officer Mike Keaney
● Not many serious crimes lately
● March 30: Break-in attempt at 588 Adams St (suspect not found)
● April 3: Break-in attempt at 145 Wrentham St (suspect not found)
● Recent round up of gang members in Dot, Mattapan, Randolph, suburbs
○ Affiliated South Boston man arrested on 352 Centre St
Elected Officials & Representatives
● Danny Tobin-Rosman with Representative Dan Hunt
○ Rep Hunt focused on budget process now
● Lisa Searcy with Councilor Erin Murphy
○ City of Boston school scholarships; deadline of April 29
○ Love Your Block city grants are out
○ MA Homeowner Assistance Fund for homeowners struggling to pay their
mortgage
○ SuccessLink is still up online for youth summer jobs
○ Feel free to join Erin Murphy’s newsletter on her website (Kendra: Can you find
email or how one joins and add to minutes?0
● George Huhnh, Neighborhood Liaison from the Mayor’s Office
○ Big press conference 4/26 at MAHA announcing $106M in homeownership
investment for Boston residents over the next 3 years
○ SPARK Boston is recruiting for their council for young people to contribute to
government; deadline is May 13th
○ Mayor Wu coffee hour events — door prizes included!
■ May 31st at 9:30am - Garvey Park on Neponset Ave
■ June 22nd - Ronan Parkl
○ Love Your Block not happening this season; but if you’re still interested, email
[email protected] for assistance
○ Chief Arthur Jameson (Dorchester native) new chief of planning and might be
Director of BPDA, starting late May
Election of SMACA Officers
● Slate:
○ President: Michael Folan
1
○ VP: Laurie Martinelli & Doug Shaheen
○ Secretary: Kendra Beaver
○ Treasurer: Jim Rodenmacher
● Unanimous vote of SMACA members in approval!
SeneTech Phishing & Scams presentation by member Dale Senechal
● Phishing is another word for a scam
● Can come in the form of an email, call, text, etc.
● Examples: IRS, Sheriff’s Office Warrant, Invoice, Bank/Credit Card, Lottery, Estate
Liquidations
● Google is very secure and supports multi-factor authentication
● Suggestions:
○ Keep your codes & passwords private
○ Validate requests to transfer money
○ Beware of technology “fixes”
○ Use 2-factor authentication for account setup
○ Use different, complex passwords
Community Announcements & Discussion
● Ethel Haynes (abutter) regarding 1644 Dorchester Ave:
○ SMACA voted against the development last year, and for it this year… what
changed? She remains in opposition of the development
● Spread the SMACA flyers to your neighbors, or post it on a telephone poll, or bring it to
local businesses, etc.
● SMACA Dues are due for the year: $10 (cash, check, or PayPal online) for new term
starting in April
● ZBA hearing results
○ 19-21 Cheverus Rd: not approved
○ 609 Adams St: approved
○ 1813 Dorchester Ave: not approved
● Upcoming meetings/hearings:
○ Abutters meeting on April 20 re: 386 Ashmont St
○ ZBA hearing scheduled for 1644 Dorchester Ave on May 10th at 10:30
○ ZBA hearing for 1677 Dorchester Ave scheduled for May 24th
● Construction starting up soon:
○ 500 Talbot Ave
○ Corner of Wrentham & Dorchester Ave
● 26th Mother's Day Walk for Peace
○ Starts in Town Field at 8am on May 8th; goes to Madison Park; takes a left on
Columbus Ave > Seaver St > end in Town Field again.
Meeting adjourned around 8:20pm
