Oakland is one step closer to reimagining our response to nonviolent emergencies & mental health crises via MACRO. But right now City Administrator Ed Reiskin and City Attorney Barbara Parker are getting in the way.
MACRO is on the agenda for the Oakland City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting this TUESDAY, September 14.
Join us to give public comment to tell the City Administration that MACRO must:
Include a community advisory committee
Be available 24/7
Pay workers a living wage
Work with existing grassroots organizations already doing the work
Register in advance here: bit.ly/macro0914. Or you can just click on the link in the event description when the meeting begins.
Public comment occurs at the beginning of the meeting, under Item 1, and each speaker is usually allotted 2 minutes to speak.
Here are some sample talking points and suggestions:
Introduce yourself: Name, group you’re a member of, and district you live in.
Introduce the coalition you’re part of.
It is not enough to demand MACRO NOW—We demand that the City of Oakland develop MACRO with a commitment to community accountability and expertise, 24/7 access and a living wage for workers.
In order to effectively meet the needs of ALL Oaklanders, MACRO must be available 24/7 so all Oakland residents can receive the assistance they need when facing a nonviolent emergency or mental health crisis.
The purpose of the MACRO recommendations is to reimagine our response to nonviolent emergencies such as mental health crises and other human experiences of Oakland residents that don't require a badge and a gun — NOT to recycle a broken system.
This will require the ACCOUNTABLE development and implementation of MACRO. It is not enough to just change the personnel. We must completely transform the way we both think about AND respond to the needs of Oakland residents facing non violent emergencies— especially for communities of color.
MACRO needs community oversight. We need it now and we're calling on Council to defend your vote against attacks by city attorney Barbara Parker and Libby Schaaf and create an oversight board that ensures this program works in an effective, transparent and transformational way that centers the expertise of the people of Oakland.
The MACRO resolution, passed with the leadership of Council Member Fife, President Fortunato-Bas & Vice Mayor Kaplan, included a community advisory board which was then passed by the City Council as a policy directive in the 2022-2024 budget. This body will partner with the Oakland Fire Department and community organizations like APTP (MH1), Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, and Urban Peace Movement to properly develop, vet and hold the program accountable.
This will ensure that MACRO is not just recycling broken policies but developing policies, practices and systems in alignment with the needs and expertise of Oakland residents. But the City Attorney, Barbara Parker, has now said there can be no advisory board because City staff cannot answer to the community.
There are dozens of advisory boards and commissions that work with City Council and City staff. Like other issues and policies that have passed, MACRO must ensure community oversight and full transparency. The administration cannot obstruct the people’s voice in MACRO.
We want to thank CM Fife for her leadership and Council President Fortunato Bas and Vice Mayor Kaplan for supporting. We're calling on the full City Council to support their efforts to help us identify the proper vehicle for the community to engage with the development of MACRO that does not violate the City Charter.
Black, Brown and Indigenous members of the Oakland community have experienced disproportionate harm due to our City’s insufficient response to nonviolent emergencies and mental health crises. The correct and accountable implementation of MACRO is an important step in providing the people of Oakland with a truly transformational and trusted service.
Include a personal story of why the ACCOUNTABLE implementation of MACRO is important to you and your community.
More details about the meeting here: https://oakland.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=883994...|&Search=
Thank you for taking action!