The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) program, launched in 2022, aims to provide a non-police response to quality-of-life issues and support individuals facing homelessness or behavioral health challenges. While the program saw increased activity and expansion in staffing, concerns have risen regarding its effectiveness. Residents and supporters highlight achievements, but many believe MACRO is not fully meeting its goals, including reducing police involvement in nonviolent incidents, indicating a pressing need for reform and improvement.
"2024 was a banner year for MACRO," Jones told the committee.
"The consistency we show to people not only builds trust, but it gets results," Hayes said.
But some Oakland residents who have championed MACRO from the start, as well as some who want to dissolve it, agreed on one thing: it's not working the way it should.
MACRO's goals are to reduce police and fire department call volumes and expenses, and lower the risk of police escalating a nonviolent situation into a violent or potentially lethal one.
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