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Meet Chanée Franklin Minor, Oakland’s New ‘Rent Board’ Manager

Published

7 years ago

March 21, 2019

Chanée Franklin Minor was appointed the new manager for Oakland’s Rent Adjustment Program, often referred to as the “rent board,” about four months ago. She’s working to create a more efficient program that’s active in its enforcement of housing laws and ordinances. Photo by Zack Haber.

After growing up in Oakland, Chanée Franklin Minor graduated Cornell’s Law School and worked for the city of Berkeley but due to Oakland’s housing crisis, she’s decided to come back to work in her home town. It’s been about four months since Minor became the new program manager for Oakland’s Rent Adjustment Program (ORAP).

“The main reason I came back to Oakland was to help contribute to the fight against displacement and make sure Oakland is stable, particularly for folks who grew up here,” Minor said.

One of the most important aspects to housing stability, according to Minor, is rent stability. ORAP strives to help tenants understand their rights under the law when it comes to housing so that they aren’t given unlawful rent increases.

“When we’re in a housing crisis it’s super important for us to understand and make sure that people aren’t paying above what they lawfully should pay,” Minor says.

Minor also wants to help landlords to avoid potentially expensive unlawful situations. Some landlords find out too late that there’s a $100 a day fine for either cutting off a tenant’s lights or changing their locks. Minor thinks landlords wouldn’t make those choices if they’re aware of the fines beforehand.

In the last four months ORAP has already nearly doubled its drop-in hours where residents can ask questions and receive free help with navigating housing law issues. They’re available 27 hours a week now, including during lunch. She’s also launched a landlord/tenant mediation program and helped to clear up a mailing backlog which she estimates will decrease ORAP’s response time to residents by several months. In the past, it’s sometimes taken ORAP over a year to resolve tenant/landlord disputes but Minor is working to drastically reduce that wait.

Minor hopes to transform Oakland’s rent board from a passive model to an active model. As Oakland voters have increasingly passed ordinances to limit rent increases and evictions, she wants ORAP to actively seek out violations of ordinances instead of waiting for tenants to come to them.

She’s also worked to inform Oakland residents of the law and their rights so that less housing law violations occur. ORAP has already scheduled a workshop to inform landlords on the law and their rights for March 26 and now is planning a similar workshop for tenants in April.

“Information can help stop illegal evictions and rent increases,” Minor says.

Although the ORAP has changed a lot in the last four months, Minor thinks it will need more funding in order to effectively do work that will help people to stay housed: resolving landlord/tenant disputes in a timely manner, increasing outreach, and seeking out and enforcing violations of housing laws and ordinances.

ORAP is funded entirely by a yearly fee, which is split between tenants and landlords. That fee in Oakland has historically been low. It sits at 68$ now, about a quarter of Berkeley’s rent adjustment program fee, which is 250$. Minor is hoping that Oakland residents and the city will have enough trust in ORAP now to adequately fund it. She’s trying to increase the yearly fee to 101$. The city council will vote in early April on whether or not to approve the increase.

“I want people to know that we’re here, and we want to help people navigate their housing, one of the most important things in their lives,” Minor said. “We’re not new but we’re under new leadership that is trying to build an efficient and functional program.”

Zack Haber

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Oakland Post: Week of December 10 – 16, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 10 – 16, 2025

Published

8 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

1 week ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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#NNPA BlackPress

LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”