Cohousing-L Mailing List: Governance, safety, and responding to ICE: a caution about Common House “policy”

[Pare Gerou (paregerou]

I’ve been thinking about the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis
this week by an ICE agent.

With that in mind, I want to gently revisit the conversations a few months
ago about adopting a community “policy” (by consensus or sociocracy) about
how to handle interactions with ICE or other state/federal actors in the
common house. The well meaning policy we discussed earlier was designed to
reflect the community's dissatisfaction with ICE and deportation programs
and to protect any neighbors.

I mentioned at the time that my concern isn’t the values behind these
policies—I understand the intent. It’s that cohousing consensus or
sociocratic *policy-making is often the wrong tool to govern behavior for a
fast-moving, high-risk external power dynamic with federal or state
officials*. It can create a false sense of control and understanding, lock
a group into rigidity, and unintentionally increase legal or safety risk.

I’ve seen communities do better by focusing on values statements and
preparedness instead: agreed principles, member education, a clear safety
plan, a designated response team and representative, and a relationship
with competent legal counsel.  However, once the knock on the door of the
Common House arrives, or perhaps at your own house, you need the
flexibility to respond wisely and flexibly in real time rather than relying
on a consensus policy that everyone feels bound to in the moment.

Sharing this with humility, and in the spirit of keeping each other safer
and more effective. As someone who spent time representing people who were
facing deportation, I did not believe at the time that the person bringing
the Common House policy to the floor understood the gravity of what can go
wrong.

Perhaps this moment provides an opportunity to reflect on what can go
wrong.  We don't know what went through Renee Good's mind, and it is not
the same situation as a Common House policy, but the best way to keep your
entire community safe is not to create a policy where neighbors feel
emboldened not to open the door of the Common House for federal enforcement
officials- no matter how illegal or wrong you feel their actions might be.
This will not protect your neighbor. Fight these actions another day and
another way.

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