Oakland's MACRO Program to receive $1 Million in State Funding

Date: October 3, 2025

News from: Mayor's Office 

Oakland's MACRO Program to receive $1 Million in State Funding

The funding was secured through partnership between Mayor Lee, Assemblymember Bonta, and Senator Arreguín, and advances Mayor Lee’s comprehensive approach to public safety

OAKLAND – Oakland's Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) program will receive $1 million in state funding, reflecting Mayor Barbara Lee's ongoing efforts to prioritize and invest in comprehensive public safety initiatives that meet the diverse needs of Oakland residents. 

The funding is the result of a collaborative effort between Mayor Lee, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and State Senator Jesse Arreguín, who worked together to secure the investment at the state level. Senator Arreguín successfully championed the funding through the state budget process, also in partnership with Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire. 

MACRO is a pioneering initiative that dispatches trained, unarmed civilian responders to non-violent, non-emergency 911 calls where medical aid, mental health support, and social service connections are more appropriate than traditional law enforcement response. Launched as a pilot program in 2022, MACRO is operated by the Oakland Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services Division.  

The $1 million investment will allow Oakland to expand MACRO's reach, strengthen services for the city's most vulnerable residents, and build on the program's proven track record of connecting community members to care rather than enforcement.  

Since its citywide launch, MACRO has diverted hundreds of calls per month from police and fire response, reduced repeat 911 calls, and provided a trusted, visible presence in high-need communities. The program exemplifies Oakland's commitment to reimagining public safety through innovative, community-based solutions that reflect the city's values and respond to the real needs of its neighborhoods.   

Mayor Barbara Lee: "On behalf of the City of Oakland, I extend my deepest gratitude to Sen. Arreguín for his leadership in securing $1 million in state funding for the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) program. This investment represents far more than financial support as it is an affirmation of a community-centered approach to public safety that prioritizes care, compassion, and equity. MACRO provides an alternative response to non-violent crises by dispatching trained civilian responders to situations where medical aid, de-escalation, and social service connections are more appropriate than traditional enforcement. The additional funding he championed will allow Oakland to expand the reach of this vital program, strengthen services for our most vulnerable residents, and continue building trust between the community and those who serve it. This is a meaningful step toward reimagining public safety in a way that reflects Oakland's values and responds to the real needs of our neighborhoods."  

Sen. Jesse Arreguín: "MACRO is a proven success in improving mental health and public safety outcomes in Oakland. I am proud to have worked with Mayor Lee and Senate Pro Tem McGuire to secure this critical funding to keep MACRO going and to make Oakland safer."  

Assemblymember Mia Bonta: “I am proud to bring the values of Oaklanders to thehalls of power in Sacramento by supporting public safety priorities that are responsible, effective, and compassionate. MACRO has shown its ability to connect our most vulnerable neighbors with care and resources to address homelessness, substance use, and mental health crises, keeping our communities safer for everybody in the process. Securing this funding allows these evidence-based solutions to continue being funded and applied to some of the toughest challenges facing our state. I am grateful for the leadership and partnership of Mayor Lee, Senator Arreguín, and our community advocates who helped make this investment possible.” 

Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington: "We are deeply grateful to the State ofCalifornia for this $1 million investment in the MACRO program. The advocacy ofSenator Jesse Arreguin and Mayor Barbara Lee further underscores the importance of innovative community responder models like MACRO and affirms our state leaders' commitment to meeting people where they are with the right type of care, whether addressing behavioral health needs or improving overall quality of life. Community responder programs expand our ability to ensure every call receives themost appropriate response, easing the strain on traditional emergency services while strengthening trust with the communities we serve. With this support, Oakland is leading the way in redefining what first response can look like, one grounded in safety, compassion, and human connection."  

MACRO Program Manager Elliott Jones: "With the state's investment, MACRO can continue to strengthen partnerships and model how integrating care into first response transforms public safety, uplifting the entire community, especially for our most vulnerable residents."  

About MACRO  

The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) is a civilian crisis response program that provides an alternative to traditional law enforcement for non-violent, non-emergency situations. Operated by the Oakland Fire Department, MACRO teams respond to 911 calls involving mental health crises, substance use, homelessness, and other situations where trained specialists can provide care, de-escalation, and connections to social services.

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Mayor's Office Contact: 

Justin Phillips 

jbphillips@oaklandca.gov