OAKLAND, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland Fire Department leadership, and leaders of the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) to highlight the critical and innovative work being done by the MACRO pilot program. The program launched on April 9th and is the first program of its kind in Oakland where skilled members of the community play a direct role in response to non-emergency calls. The MACRO team members provide community-based interventions and assistance in navigating quality of life referral services throughout the city and county. In less than one month, MACRO has already saved the lives of community members, begun building connections throughout the city of Oakland, and is lessening the burden of 911 calls.

“The work being done by the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) is nothing short of life-saving,” said Senator Padilla. “Through this program, Oakland will become a leader in the movement to prioritize the mental health and safety of vulnerable individuals in our communities. I am proud to have secured funding to support the implementation of MACRO and several other locally developed programs to support mental health and improve public safety in the Bay Area and across the state.”

“Oakland thanks Senator Padilla for securing nearly $800,000 to fund our innovative MACRO pilot program, which is becoming a statewide model for compassionate response to calls for service,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. “Our community demanded and created MACRO, and thanks to support from our state and federal partners, Oakland is forging a new path to respond to the specific needs of our most vulnerable residents.”

“The MACRO program is truly a collaborative community effort come to fruition,” said MACRO Program Manager Elliott Jones. “The community asked the city to reimagine public safety in the form of a compassionate community response model, and we are working diligently to deliver that with the MACRO program. It’s clear there is a significant need throughout our city and while we’re only focused on two geographic areas during this pilot we are absolutely aware and proud to try to reach those that are most in need of help.”

Senator Padilla helped secure $734,000 to support the implementation and training of the MACRO pilot program as part of the bipartisan FY 2022 appropriations package signed by President Biden last month. In addition to supporting MACRO, Padilla secured more than 5.5 million dollars in federal funding for community crisis response service programs to support mental health and improve public safety in the Bay Area and across the state.

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