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City Council Creates Civilian Teams to Respond to Mental Health Crises Instead of Police

“With MACRO, we’re developing a model unique to Oakland that improves community safety and save more lives while allowing OPD to focus on and improve response time to the most urgent calls for services such as homicides and gun violence,” said City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas.

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City Council President Nikki Forunato-Bas and Councilmember Sheng Thao both strongly backed the creation of MACRO, as an alternative program based in the Oakland Fire Department that will respond to many non-violent emergency calls without police. Photos courtesy City of Oakland

City Council President Nikki Forunato-Bas 

The Oakland City Council this week unanimously voted to kick off a program that uses teams of trained, unarmed civilian to de-escalate and resolve mental health crises and disorderly conduct complaints instead of sending police to those calls.

The program, Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO), will be operated by the Oakland Fire Dept. and will utilize outreach workers who are trained by experienced experts.

The 18-month pilot program is already funded for $1.85 million, but the city will need more money to extend the program.

“With MACRO, we’re developing a model unique to Oakland that improves community safety and save more lives while allowing OPD to focus on and improve response time to the most urgent calls for services such as homicides and gun violence,” said City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas.

“I am thrilled to see the MACRO program move forward under the jurisdiction of the Fire Department, (which) is already a first responder in medical emergencies,” said Councilmember Sheng Thao on Facebook.

The resolution to create the program was originally introduced by Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan on March 2. The resolution and ordinance passed Tuesday to expedite MACRO was introduced by Bas and Councilmember Dan Kalb.

A community group, the Anti Police Terror Project (APTP), hailed the council’s decision to establish MACRO.

“The creation of MACRO as a city program is a major step in beginning to reduce the risk of incarceration, violence or death for a person in crisis,” said the APTP media statement.

“This is not an Oakland problem, it’s a national problem,” said Cat Brooks, co-founder of APTP.

“The conversation started six years ago with APTP and culminated in the creation of the Defund Police Coalition….We can do this in four to six months, through the Fire Department. Labor (has) agreed to hire temporary workers trained by on-the-ground experts,” Brooks said.

The City Council has asked the City Administrator to return on April 20 with any legislation needed to fund a staff person to manage MACRO and to provide monthly progress reports.  According to some labor and community leaders, Mayor Libby Schaaf and her administration has been slow to implement the MACRO program.

“There are so many emergency calls that do not require a badge and a gun. Our neighbors will be safer and offered connections to resources and referrals, knowing that any solution will be the one they help to develop,” said Cathy Leonard of the Coalition for Police Accountability, in a media statement.

Leonard said that MACRO originated in the experiences of a program in Eugene, Ore., that has been operating for 30 years and responds to 20% of the city’s emergency calls.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 10 – 16, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 10 – 16, 2025

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Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

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Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.
Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors.  Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury.  One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together.  Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come.  Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”

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