“Eighteen more men voted to become a city than voted to not become a city,” Swift said. So they hold another election in September, and more people voted to become part of the city of Oakland, to disincorporate Piedmont than voted to stay a city,” Swift said. But it seems like some Piedmont residents feel judged for being able to live that way. And Piedmont residents pay hefty taxes to support their schools and their city services but they pay that money to the city of Piedmont. Olivia Allen-Price: But it sounds like Piedmont residents weren’t super keen on this idea of becoming a part of Oakland.