Wow.. super friendly and efficient service! I was really amazed at how happy and courteous everyone…read morewas! Did they all just get a raise today? I was here to get an extra birth certificate, and yeah you do have to wait a few minutes (10-15) but it's nothing like the DMV where you set up camp for a few days it seems! 1) Once through the double doors, meet with the friendly receptionist FIRST to get a form to fill out for the birth/death/marriage certificate or license you are trying to get. 2) Fill out the form, go back to the receptionist and give her your completed form. You'll then get a number. PRO TIP: Bring your own ID, and your own pen or pencil to fill out the form for a birth/death/marriage certificate! The tiny pencils here just barely get the job done. lol 3) Wait 5-10 minutes for your number to be called. 4) Go up to the window you are assigned and the clerks will get you what you need. On my way out, a different receptionist was just as friendly as the first one I met earlier! I'd never thought I'd say this, but Great job, Alameda County Clerks! Getting here: Super easy as it is just across the street from AC Transit bus lines. The Lake Merritt BART Station is just two blocks away. Street parking and a big county-run parking garage is next door too.

I'm pleasantly surprised with how easy it was so get a marriage license…read more We applied online, set up a zoom interview, and received our license in the mail with clear instructions on how to return. You're able to return it by mail but I wanted to hand it in so I can have the license right away. Parking can be a challenge but it's not too bad a block away from the building. The place is clean and organized. I came at around 930 on a Friday. Greeted quickly and handed a number. Sat for about ten minutes and had my license!

René C. Davidson, Alameda County Courthouse, Oakland…read more I came here for Jury Duty services. Make sure to come before 8:30am to find parking or if you plan on taking public transportation. Parking/ Transportation: You get reimbursed for taking public transportation, also $1 off the Arco Parking that is the circle parking lot, it's a block away. I believe you get $.15 for every mile driven. *Make sure you sign and return the form ASAP.* There's restrooms for jurors, vending machines located downstairs of the basement and water fountains to refill your water bottle. You may eat or drink at the waiting area. Once you are settled in, you will be required to watch a video about your jurors services. If there's a trial, the judge will come out and explain in more details. If you are selected, you will fill out a bunch of questionnaires about yourself, your views on stuff and so on.. Pay: You get paid the second day if you are required to return for jury duty services, you don't have to fill out any forms. If you work for the government, your pay is the same as your employer pay. Remember to bring your Jury Duty Summon postcard/badge, your ID, water and some snacks. You can be there for half a day or full day. :)

I was summoned for jury duty and then chosen as a member of the jury, so I was here for a few days…read morein a row. I honestly didn't have a bad experience at all. Parking is definitely a hassle. I got dropped off every morning, so that I didn't have to worry about parking. I do know that many people like the Alco park garage, but spots can fill up fast. When you first go in, there's security check. Nothing too crazy, but was told by a deputy to never bring metal forks in (if you were to pack your lunch), because security will stop you. I did pack my own lunch every day. If you needed a fork, you could go to the snack bar located lobby level. This was my first jury duty, so I didn't know what to expect. After security check, I went to a large room where I sat and wait. They played a video for us, and then had us fill out a questionnaire. The lawyers and judge then came down to speak to us a bit. You then have a chance to fill out a form in case of hardship, where the judge can excuse you. Everyone who is not filing for hardship goes upstairs to a courtroom and wait. A random number of people were then called to be questioned by both attorneys. This basically went on until both attorneys were okay with the panel. Now for my experience as a juror...it honestly wasn't that bad. I thought this was a great experience and very educational. My favorite part was definitely getting to know the rest of my fellow jurors. We had great conversations during breaks. Your experience is definitely depended on how you view being on jury duty. I hated missing work, but my fellow jurors made it fun. And the trial itself was nice to watch and take part of.

I came here for jury duty. I noticed that there weren't many recent reviews when I searched it here…read moreso wanted to add a review. On the online portal where you see jury reporting, it lists the parking garage. It is located on the corner of 7th and Jefferson. I highly suggest parking at the garage. It is $7 but $6 with validation. The garage does get full so get there early. I got there at 7:00 when it opened to ensure I always got a spot. Some of the staff also park here. I preferred to park here vs the street because adding money for the street parking is not ideal considering we may be in court when the time runs out and I saw people get tickets who parked on the street. The juror room was larger than other courthouses. The space is very well kept/clean and there's free WiFi for you to work in between etc. This is also where you get your parking ticket validated for the garage (you get $1 off when validated). Shoutout to Vicki for being so helpful! The food cart downstairs was also good and they had a good variety. Although many people don't like jury duty, I found the staff to be helpful and the space to be clean. It was easy to navigate as well. They made my jury duty experience positive.

Rude black woman who answers the phones. I explained my situation and tried to get clarification…read more She only replied with, "I already answered your question . . . No more stories." Then goes on in circles about how she doesn't need to hear everything, which took longer than just answering my question. Yeah, she's a total genius. This just shows how lowly educated these individuals are. I interacted with the judge/commissioner here and he was patient and was clear in all of his directions, as well as taking the time to make sure all individuals understood their rights. This just show you the difference an education makes. If this woman can't even do her job correctly in a place that's administering the law, she doesn't deserve employment here.

Nice little courthouse by the water. Friendly staff, easy security. It looks aged in the hallways…read morebut the court rooms are nice, renovated and modern.

I'm up at 2 am with a morning full of clients ahead of me because some jerk religiously chooses to…read morerage to some crazy belly dancing music 5-7 nights a week and I suffer. Welp, just called the APD Non-emergency line and they had someone out here near immediately to shut them up. I work hard, I work often so I need my beauty rest. So thank you APD!

Disappointed and frustrated with APD's inaction and unhelpfulness with a crazy-making situation…read morewith a toxic neighbor. I have an upstairs neighbor who has been causing a relentless noise disturbance in my home, using some vibrating sound machine every day and at nearly all hours. Attempts to discuss the issue with the neighbor directly and respectfully have only resulted in her spitefully ramping up the noise assault. It has made for a truly unbearable living situation. My property management company has been useless (see previous review of Drysdale Property Management), so I reached out to APD for help. I called and reported the situation, and an officer called me back a short time later. I explained the situation in detail, stressed the seriousness of matter, and pleaded for any assistance they could provide to put a stop to this. The officer told me he would talk to the neighbor and Drysdale and get back to me. Then... nothing. Not another word about the matter. I called and left a voicemail for the officer asking for a follow-up, and still got nothing. Meanwhile the noise assault continues, and I have been pretty much displaced from my home, as I literally cannot be in my apartment when this noise machine is running, which is all waking hours of every day. The neighbor turns the machine on first thing in the morning and leaves for the day, leaving the noise on, and not turning it off until nighttime. When I called APD for help, it was for a reason. If the situation wasn't serious, or could be handled any other way, I wouldn't be calling. So treat it seriously. APD should have visited my residence, listened to the noise for themselves, then made in-person contact with the offending neighbor and put the neighbor on notice that the noise harassment is unacceptable and needs to stop. A phone call is not an appropriate response in a situation like this. A visit from the police sends a message. A phone call much less so. I still have no idea if the APD even talked to the neighbor, as there has been zero follow-up. This isn't the first time I've noticed passiveness from the APD, especially in recent years. Slow response times (if they respond at all), phone calls instead of in-person visits, and a hands-off approach seem to have become more the rule than the exception, and I'm not the only one in town who has noticed this. I know police departments across the country have experienced major public blow-back for excessive force in the past, but the solution is not going in the extreme opposite direction, and just not intervening in situations that deserve to be handled seriously and promptly. I will give the officer I spoke with credit for advising me how to go about addressing this through the legal system, but I still expected more of an assertive response from the APD themselves. I expected help. This is what we pay taxes for. The only time I see APD reliably showing up these days is in the South Shore shopping center, apprehending shoplifters. Because when it comes to a business' bottom line being affected, they're on it, but when it comes to a crazy neighbor making your life a living hell, you're on your own, and good luck dealing with the clown show known as civil court. Unacceptable.

It's a nice building n the exterior that's well maintained…read more There are two towers to this building identified as North & South towers. From the landscape, the rotunda inside to the skywalk 13 floors up it's a beautiful building at face value. There is no public access to most of the building including the skywalk...unless you sneak up somehow. The views from the skywalk are seemingly endless and go from views of San Francisco( the bridge included), through Oakland/ Alameda and the surrounding cities. Most either work in the building or have official business with a federal agency. There is a cafe/cafeteria on the 5th floor of the North tower in addition to a nice outdoor wrap around patio with views. There is a second outdoor space in the other tower as well. The IRS, Coast Guard, Va, Social Security, TIGTA, and the federal court are a few things located in these buildings. The highest traffic tends to be for the IRS walk in office. It's one of the nicest buildings in the downtown area and i'd somehow to get a chance to get inside the rotunda offers the best pictures.

Located just a few steps from Bart 12th street station, the building is named after former…read morecongressman and mayor of Oakland, Ronald V. Dellums. This is a beautiful establishment with two 17-story towers connected by sky bridge located at the 13th and 14th levels. I asked the security guard at the plaza across the street if the building is accessible to the public. He said he doesn't know but flagged down two gentlemen who according to him were federal employees. He asked them and said yes, it's okay to enter the building. I entered the lobby but tough luck, there's officers by the entrance who will stop you right away. I was told that you'll only be allowed if you have an appointment for a hearing. What do you mean? I have to be involved in a lawsuit or be part of a jury before I'm allowed? Just kidding but I do wish I had the chance to see what's inside the buildings and more so, to be able to walk that connecting bridge. Oh well, at least I tried.

Went to drop off my ballot at the Alameda County Courthouse drop box. The Registrar of Voters set…read moreup a couple of drive up ballot drop off stations at 13th St. and Fallon. They were ready, PPP and tongs. No doubt they anticipate a rush but also given the FAKE ballot boxes put up by the GOP motherfuckers, this is added security. Nicely done. Give them credit for doing an excellent job and protecting democracy.

The Registrar of Voters has got the right message for a government entity: they train their…read moretemporary election workers that the objective is for the voters to have a positive experience! Obviously also, the Registrar insists upon an honest election conducted within the laws allowing all qualified voters to cast their secret ballot, and also the Registrar seeks to give the taxpayers value for their money. In increasingly many ways, the Registrar puts advancing technology to work delivering cost effective services.