OAKLAND

The city of Oakland has announced its partnership with the 12 Million Calls Initiative, a nationwide effort led by the Policing Project at NYU School of Law to help communities expand access to specialized responders and connect 911 calls with the most appropriate response based on the needs of each person and situation.

For Oakland residents, joining the initiative does not immediately change how 911 calls are dispatched or alter operations for Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO), the city’s community responder program.

Instead, the partnership gives Oakland access to a national network of cities working to improve emergency response, along with opportunities to improve data transparency, learn from peer communities and identify where specialized response can be safely and effectively expanded.

“Our priority is delivering the right care at the right time,” Oakland fire Chief Damon Covington says. “By expanding specialized response options, we’re ensuring Oakland residents receive support tailored to their needs during moments of crisis.

“This approach strengthens our overall emergency response system by allowing each public safety professional—from law enforcement officers to firefighters, EMTs, and crisis responders—to focus on the situations they are best trained to address.”

Through the 12 Million Calls Initiative, Oakland gains access to a robust peer network of U.S. cities are working to improve emergency response outcomes. Member municipalities share operational data, policy frameworks, implementation strategies and lessons learned to help communities build and scale effective crisis response programs.

“When someone is experiencing a severe mental or behavioral health crisis, communities benefit from having multiple response options available,” said Scarlet Neath, director of the 12 Million Calls Initiative at the NYY School of Law Policing Project. “Licensed clinicians, peer specialists and crisis responders bring unique skills that can help stabilize situations, establish safety plans and connect people to ongoing support. Oakland is helping demonstrate what a modern emergency response system can look like.”

Oakland’s MACRO program has provided specialized emergency response since its launch in 2022. Housed within the Oakland Fire Department, MACRO deploys teams of community intervention specialists and Emergency Medical Technicians to respond to appropriate nonviolent, nonemergency 911 calls, including behavioral health crises, substance use incidents, wellness checks and nonemergent medical and community concerns.

In 2025, MACRO teams responded to more than 7,300 incidents citywide and successfully resolved 97% of eligible calls through its augmented response model. These results demonstrate the potential for specialized responders to address community needs while letting other emergency resources stay available for higher-priority incidents.

Through the 12 Million Calls Initiative, Oakland will build on this experience by learning from communities across the country that are developing and evaluating similar approaches. The partnership will help Oakland examine questions including how specialized calls are identified and dispatched, how programs measure outcomes and where additional opportunities may exist to connect residents with the most appropriate responder.

For more details online, visit bayareane.ws/MACRO and bayareane.ws/12millioncalls.

— city of Oakland

Halloween Fun event happening Oct. 25 in Montclair Village

Start getting excited to celebrate Halloween in Montclair Village! The annual Halloween Fun event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25 will make for a frightfully fun day. Little ones can pick up free, commemorative trick-or-treat bags and go door-to-door trick-or-treating at the local merchants’ shops and restaurants.

The event will feature games, arts and crafts, face painting, photo booth, the Oakland Firefighters Random Acts Parade Rig and more. Halloween Fun would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors, so a thank-you goes to Flair Travel, Pelago, Sliver, Supervisor Nate Miley, Oakland Recycles and the Montclair Village Association (MVA).

— MVA

PIEDMONT
Mayor’s State of the City address Oct. 15 at Community Hall

Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen will deliver Piedmont’s 2026 State of the City address on Oct. 15 at Community Hall. The evening is a chance to come together as a community and celebrate Piedmont — to reflect on recent accomplishments, learn about work underway now and take a frank look at the challenges ahead.

Andersen’s address will look across city government at the projects, priorities and challenges shaping the city’s work today. As she approaches the end of her term after nine years on the City Council, she’ll also reflect on how her perspective has changed after seeing firsthand what it takes to deliver the services, projects and programs residents rely on.

“After nine years on the City Council, I have a deep appreciation for what it takes to make this city work,” said Andersen. “We have much to celebrate, but we also have real challenges in front of us. I hope people will come spend the evening with us and leave with a stronger sense of where Piedmont stands today.”

For residents who want to better understand what the city is working on and where it’s headed, the event offers a chance to hear directly from the mayor and get a broader view of the work happening across town. A reception with light refreshments will follow the address, with an opportunity to connect with councilmembers, city staff and neighbors.

The Oct. 15 event will start at 5:30 p.m. in Piedmont Community Hall at 711 Highland Ave. Citizens planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP at piedmont.ca.gov/SOTC-RSVP.

— city of Piedmont 

Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame announces its Class of 2027

The Piedmont Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) has announces its Class of 2027 — Michael Hernandez (Class of 2012); Steve Humphries (Class of 1985); Missy Moore (Class of 1983); Doyle O’Regan (Coach); Nick Pacult (Class of 2017); Becky Richter (Class of 1980); Betsy Swan (Class of 1983) and Kaelli Thiel (Class of 2016).

The Class of 2027 inductees will be enshrined at 2 p.m. April 24 in Piedmont High School’s Alan Harvey Theater, followed by a reception at the Piedmont Community Church’s Guild Hall. Tickets will go on sale Dec. 15, and those interested can learn more about the inductees at pshof.org.

— PSHOF

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