City Government

Two Days After Passing Moratorium, Council Stalls Rent Protection Vote

Published

9 years ago

April 8, 2016

Many of the speakers who lined up to speak at the Oakland City Council Tuesday night reminded the audience and council that passing a temporary moratorium on rent increases and evictions would only be a first step.

The City Council now has 90 days to come up with comprehensive legislation that will mitigate Oakland’s housing crisis and severely lessen the level of displacement that is pulling communities apart.

“The goal on everybody’s mind should be to get a handle on the city’s runaway evictions and displacement,” said James Vann of the Post Salon Community Assembly.

A necessary next step for the city is to set up a “feedback mechanism for how the community can participate in this process,” said Vann.

“While city staff is hammering out policies during the moratorium, there should be a stakeholder committee working with the city,” he said.

Council Votes Down Key Rent Protection Vote

One of the key measures being proposed is the Protect Oakland Tenants Initiative, which would limit rent increases to five percent per year and strengthen the existing Rent Board by adding more tenant representatives.

Increasing tenant representation on the Rent Board would more fairly reflect Oakland’s population, which is made up of 59 percent renters and 41 percent homeowners.

Speakers on Tuesday evening asked council members to put the measure on their April 19 meeting agenda in order to to directly place the tenant initiative on the November ballot – bypassing the need to collect signatures.

But at Thursday’s Rules and Legislation Committee meeting, council members voted instead to schedule the rent initiative for the Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee on May 24, which will decide whether it will go to the full council for a vote.

As a result of this change, the rent protection law is unlikely to come to the full council before June, which is the deadline for turning in signatures to go on the ballot.

For housing rights activists, rescheduling the decision goes against the urgency that was intended when the housing state of emergency was passed.

“It’s a disappointment. They have been presented with a strong measure from the grassroots, and the council is taking the long way around to listen to it,” said Camilo Zamora of Causa Justa: Just Cause, which sits on the Committee to Protect Oakland Renters.

“Council trusted Oakland residents to elect them but don’t trust (residents) when they present a measure (to the council),” said Zamora.

According to Vann, a tenants’ rights advocate, the city’s current landlord-written rent law is in large part responsible for the local housing and displacement crisis.

Funding to Enforce Existing Rent Protection Law

Meanwhile, some council members are pushing the city administration to release funding, which the council approved last year for the enforcement of the city’s Just Cause for Eviction law.

Without the funds, most tenants do not know their rights to protection against landlord abuse, illegal rent increases or unjust evictions.

“We need to be taking serious action to protect Oakland tenants, and if we do not educate the public about the laws and enforce them, many will continue to suffer needlessly,” said Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, who has been pushing for the City Administration to release the funds.

“Going to the legal system is not enough for tenants because it’s not set up to protect renters, especially (speakers) of other languages,” said Zamora. “Having a funded department within the city to be responsible for supporting its residents is extremely necessary.”

Voter Registration Drive

Looking to the November elections, Post publisher Paul Cobb is calling on churches, neighborhood organizations and individuals to participate in a city and countywide voter registration drive to register 10,000 people to vote over the next 90 days.

Cobb was appointed chair of the John George Democratic Club’s Voter Registration Committee and will be meeting with non-profit organizations and churches to help register tenants throughout the city.

“We need to have enough eligible voters on the ground to put sanctions to threaten the eviction of the city council members who do not pass legislation to protect Oakland’s tenants,” said Cobb.

“There is also a housing bond measure that people are trying to get on the November ballot for Alameda County that would create a source of funds that could remedy evictions and would be used as construction money for affordable housing,” he said.

The Post and the John George Democratic Club will be hosting an organizing event in the coming weeks for those interested in participating in the upcoming voter registration drive. For more information, contact the Post at (510) 287-8200.

Tackling State Costa-Hawkins Act

On the state level, one of the largest obstacles to tenant protections is California’s Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which exempts properties built after 1983 from local rent caps or Just Cause eviction protections.

In Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Councilmembers Kaplan and Dan Kalb agreed that the state law should be changed.

“We have to close the loopholes in tenant protection laws which exempt newer buildings, and thus deprive thousands of tenants from protections,” said Kaplan. “One of the actions we must continue to work on is to end the state exemption for newer buildings from rent protections.”

“Closing the loophole for ‘just cause for eviction’ requires a vote on a ballot measure by the people of Oakland, and we should work to put this on the ballot during the next election cycle,” said Kaplan.

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Activism

Oak Temple Hill Hosts Interfaith Leaders from Across the Bay Area

Distinguished faith leaders Rev. Ken Chambers, executive director the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC); Michael Pappas, executive director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council; and Dr. Ejaz Naqzi, president of the Contra Costa County Interfaith Council addressed the group on key issues including homelessness, food insecurity, immigration, and meaningful opportunities to care for individuals and communities in need.

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Troy McCombs (from the state of Washington), Elder Mark Mortensen (from Irvine, CA), Michael Pappas, Rev. Ken Chambers, Dr. Ejaz Naqvi, Elder Sigfried Nauman (from the state of Washington), and Richard Kopf. Courtesy photo.

Special to the Post

Interfaith leaders from the Bay Area participated in a panel discussion at the annual meeting of communication leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held on Temple Hill in Oakland on May 31. Distinguished faith leaders Rev. Ken Chambers, executive director the Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC); Michael Pappas, executive director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council; and Dr. Ejaz Naqzi, president of the Contra Costa County Interfaith Council addressed the group on key issues including homelessness, food insecurity, immigration, and meaningful opportunities to care for individuals and communities in need.

Chambers, said he is thankful for the leadership and support of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints’ global ministry, which recently worked with the interfaith congregations of ICAC to help Yasjmine Oeveraas a homeless Norwegian mother and her family find shelter and access to government services.

Oeveraas told the story of how she was assisted by ICAC to the Oakland Post. “I’m a Norwegian citizen who escaped an abusive marriage with nowhere to go. We’ve been homeless in Florida since January 2024. Recently, we came to California for my son’s passport, but my plan to drive for Uber fell through, leaving us homeless again. Through 2-1-1, I was connected to Rev. Ken Chambers, pastor of the West Side Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County, and his car park program, which changed our lives. We spent about a week-and-a-half living in our car before being blessed with a trailer. After four years of uncertainty and 18 months of homelessness, this program has given us stability and hope again.

“Now, both my son and I have the opportunity to continue our education. I’m pursuing cyber analytics, something I couldn’t do while living in the car. My son can also complete his education, which is a huge relief. This program has given us the space to focus and regain our dignity. I am working harder than ever to reach my goals and give back to others in need.”

Richard Kopf, communication director for The Church of Jesus Christ in the Bay Area stated: “As followers of Jesus Christ, we embrace interfaith cooperation and are united in our efforts to show God’s love for all of his children.”

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Alameda County

Council Approves Budget to Invest in Core City Services, Save Fire Stations, Invest in Economic Development

I am most proud of our ability to fund these critical city services without the use of one-time fixes. We are still suffering the consequences of last year’s budget, where a majority of the Council, myself not included, chose to incorporate anticipated proceeds from the sale of the Coliseum to fund essential services. Since the sale has still not yet been completed, the lack of funds led to drastic cuts in city services, including the temporary closure of fire stations, staff layoffs, and the cancellations of many service contracts.

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

District 4 Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo courtesy City of Oakland.

By Janani Ramachandran, District 4 Oakland City Councilmember

On Wednesday, June 11, City Council took a bold step to prioritize investing in essential city services to get our beautiful Town back on track. As Chair of the Finance Committee, I am proud to have led a collaborative process, alongside Councilmembers Rowena Brown, Zac Unger, and Charlene Wang, to develop a set of amendments to the proposed FY 2025-2027 budget which passed successfully with a vote of 6 – 1. Despite facing a $265 million structural budget deficit, we were able to restore funding to ensure that all 25 fire stations remain open, fund 5 police academies, invest millions of dollars to combat illegal dumping and sideshow prevention, improve our permitting processes, fund a “business incentives” program to revitalize our commercial corridors, improve upon our homelessness prevention work, amplify the city’s anti-trafficking programs, re-instate our tree services division, staff up our Auditor’s office – all while preventing any layoffs of city staff, keeping our senior centers and after-school programs open, and crisis services like MACRO funded.

Our budget comes in response to the widespread and consistent calls from across Oakland’s diverse communities asking us to prioritize funding solutions to the issues that have most directly impacted our residents’ safety and quality of life. Our priorities are also inspired by our belief that Oakland is on the way not only to financial recovery, but also to global recognition. Oakland can attract and preserve businesses of all sizes with safer, cleaner streets. We can and will have more large-scale festivals that celebrate our culture, concerts that uplift our incredible local musicians, conferences that attract patrons from across the world, and award-winning restaurants that top national charts. We are on our way to rebuilding a thriving economy and having a cultural renaissance will create more jobs for Oaklanders while also generating more revenue for the City through sales and business taxes.

I am grateful for the close partnership with our new Mayor Barbara Lee, and know that she shares our values of ensuring we are prioritizing keeping Oakland’s residents safe, our streets clean, and our businesses prosperous in an open and fiscally responsible manner. I am also thankful to our City Administrator, Jestin Johnson, and former Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins’ efforts to produce the initial proposal that our Council budget team used as a starting point for our amendments, and for their shared commitment to transparency and ethical government. I am especially grateful for every resident that took the time to make their voice heard throughout this rigorous budget process. I have no doubt that we are on the verge of true change, and that together we will bring Oakland back to being the world-class city I know it can be.

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Activism

“We Are Better Than This”: Black Caucus Denounces L.A. County ICE Raids as Multiple Protests Erupt

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), a member of the CLBC and chair of the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation, urged protestors to show restraint and deescalate rising tensions. “Don’t take the bait. Remain peaceful. Peace is our power,” she posted on Facebook. McKinnor also blasted the feds for detaining David Huerta, a popular labor leader and president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who was documenting the raids.

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Assemblymember Tina Mckinnor (D-Inglewood), at the podium, is joined by a coalition of California lawmakers opposed to the ongoing ICE raids being conducted in communities across California. Courtesy of Asm. Tina Mckinnor’s office.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) last week condemned ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in California.

The caucus released the statement the same day multiple protests erupted in Los Angeles County, reacting to three ICE raids conducted in that area.

“For months w,e have watched the unsettling images of federal agents rampaging through our communities. We have stood in horror as masked, heavily armed men ransack neighborhoods under the color of law leaving terror and trauma in their wake,” read a June 6 statement released by the CLBC.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), a member of the CLBC and chair of the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation, urged protestors to show restraint and deescalate rising tensions.

“Don’t take the bait. Remain peaceful. Peace is our power,” she posted on Facebook.

McKinnor also blasted the feds for detaining David Huerta, a popular labor leader and president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who was documenting the raids.

“The actions by this federal government are un-American,” wrote McKinnor in a statement. “We demand is immediate release and an end to the terror being inflicted on communities across L.A. County by this administration.”

According to Yasmeen Pitts, a Homeland Security Investigations division spokesperson, 44 people have been detained in arrests related to the protests.

Pitts said ICE agents targeted three locations in central Los Angeles they accuse of harboring undocumented immigrants.

The Black Caucus statement called the violent arrest of community leaders leading protests against the raids “a tool in the authoritarian playbook.”

“No person or family, regardless of origin, deserves to be the target of the terror being inflicted across the country in this moment,” the statement continued.

On June 7, Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, posted on X, “federal agents arrested over a dozen agitators today who impeded agents in their ability to conduct law enforcement operations.”

“We will continue to arrest anyone who interferes with federal law enforcement,” he added.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass thanked local law enforcement for keeping the peace in the city.

This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County. Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning,” posted Bass on X.

“We’ve been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C. and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward. Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but let me be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable,” she added.

On June 9, the Trump administration said it will send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell the anti-ICE protests.

Newsom called the decision “deranged.”

“As the federal government conducts chaotic immigration sweeps across the country, the state is deploying additional CHP to maintain safety on Los Angeles highways to keep the peace,” wrote Newsom in a statement posted on X. “It’s not their job to assist in federal immigration enforcement. The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves.”