The Office of Vital Statistics is not where anyone wants to spend her free time. But if your baby…read moreis born in Berkeley and you want a birth certificate, this is where you come to get it. I am happy to report that my trip here was painless. I encountered no line just after 09:00 on a Thursday morning. I was pleased to discover that they take credit cards (in addition to cash and check). I am also happy to report that the staff here are knowledgeable and nice. After submitting my paperwork in the morning, I had my daughter's birth certificate later that afternoon. (If you arrive before 11:00, you can pick up your birth certificate that same afternoon between 14:00 and 16:00.)

For an office that issues government documents, it could be a whole lot worse. I had lamented that…read moreI had forgotten to bring my things to do while waiting, but turns out that they weren't necessary. I walked in around 10am on a Monday morning to put in a request for Jenbert Jr.'s birth certificate and walked out around 10:15. Then, had to go back in the afternoon to pick it up, but there's no wait for that. The hardest part is finding the parking.

If you make an appointment online and you arrive on time with the correct documents, you should…read morehave no issues! I made an early morning appointment (around 8:30am). I didn't even have to sit in the waiting area because they took me right in. Although I heard you could do your TWIC and TSA Precheck enrollments at the same time, I made two separate appointments 30 mins apart just to cover all of my bases. They were able to complete both appointments in one sitting. I received my TWIC and TSA Precheck in the mail about 2 weeks later! I had a fantastic experience, and felt like I needed to share after seeing the bad reviews on this Yelp page.

Absolutely horrible, avoid…read more I signed up for TSA Pre Check here way back in October and it is now January and it still has not been processed. This place does not seem very well-run or organized either.

This office reflects the interest to the Veterans First and takes care of us through thick and thin…read moreand explains everything to us in easy speak. These men and women that work in this office are courteous understanding and have a passion for Veterans and helping them out. I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran. I have the pleasure of having Bill Reed as my service officer and he knows my story because we had the same job in the military, which we laugh about often. No need explaining what I was doing to him. This office connects Veterans with solving problems and issues that they're having with their health there benefits anything that has to do with their time in the military and after. This incredible group of men and women are highly trained and highly skilled at solving our problems. I put all my faith and interest in these people, and I would absolutely recommend this office to anyone in the area that's a veteran that needs help.

Very helpful for veterans info including forms for CDL. Etc…read moreGood folks there. I went twice and was pleased each visit.

This is a pretty good city. There is plenty of shopping here and places to do stuff as well. But…read morejust like anywhere else traffic will buggy down during busy times.

This is specifically a 5 star rating for Cristina Cisneros with the department of housing and…read morecommunity services. Cristina is the housing administrative secretary located at the senior center. In 2024 concord enacted their "Residential Tenant Protection Program" municipal code 19.40 Their portal was down, the requirements to register changed, and the system was overloaded. Over 9000 rentals in concord were affected. I am not only a Renter & Tenant myself, but I also own rentals as a landlord and manage property. We love our tenants and the blue collar landlords that we work with- but hate these new regulations. Cristina was very knowledgeable in helping us navigate setting up the portal and registering multiple properties. Her insight, knowledge and expertise was a tremendous help!!! She gave us her personal card and email so we can follow up with questions (which I will be Sharing with tenants and landlord both) Her honestly, advice and resources were a breath of fresh air considering how difficult it has been trying to navigate and interpret the new law. Unfortunately, I think the additional red tape will cause rental prices to increase in concord, and in the long run will damage the free market. That being said- it's nice to know we have someone who is a neutral 3rd party we can go to for advice. Special thanks to Cristina Cisneros. I'm sure the city never checks yelp but hopefully this will help other landlords and tenants.

To my surprise, the court house is easy to navigate, employees are very nice and helpful, from…read moresecurity to window service. Easy peasy and quick service. Bravo to the employees !!

I remember every little thing As if it happened only…read moreyesterday... I was barely 19, this court was where I first served on a jury. It was such a messed up experience. This is the story. After deliberation the Jury Foreman asked for a vote. It was 11 to 1 for a guilty verdict. I was the lone hold out. The defendant was charged with assault on a police officer and possession of marijuana. On the main charge, assault on a police officer, the jury quickly and unanimously agreed the defendant was Not Guilty. The police officer's story was ludicrous. Instead of an assault on a police officer, there was convincing evidence that in responding to a domestic disturbance call the police had beat the living shit out of the defendant, and then tried to cover it up by arresting the defendant on a phony assault charge. When the defendant was arrested he had a tiny roach (the marijuana equivalent of a cigarette butt) in his pocket. The Judge instructed us that if we found that the defendant was in possession of marijuana we should find him guilty. In deliberation I agreed that the defendant was in possession of marijuana, but questioned whether such a minute amount merited (what at that time would have been) a misdemeanor conviction. I asked my fellow jurors, Are we really going to saddle this guy with a record for a roach? The Jury Foreman was a cigarette smoker. I come from a family of smokers, so I knew a little about them. When smokers run out of cigarettes, they get desperate. They call it having a "nicotine fit." When push comes to shove, I've seen smokers pull one of their cigarette butts out of their ashtray and light it up just for a quick hit of nicotine. I pointed out that if the roach was a cigarette butt, it wasn't even enough to quiet a nicotine fit. It wasn't a useable amount. The Jury Foreman looked at me with disgust. "What this comes down to," he said, "is some of us use marijuana and some of us don't." (Ouch) Clearly he was irritated by my analogy, and suspicious of anyone defending a doper. Various jurors weighed in, but no one saw it my way. I could not disagree that the guy was in possession, but I felt I wouldn't be able to live with myself for convicting him for a such a tiny amount. After several 11 to 1 votes, I persuaded the Jury Foreman to ask the Judge whether or not it mattered that it wasn't actually a useable quantity of marijuana. He wrote the question down and handed it to our bailiff. A short time later the Judge called the jury back to the court room. I don't recall exactly how he said it, but he announced that the Jury Foreman had made a request for an interpretation of law. Instead of directly addressing the issue I brought up, the Judge just read the section of the penal code the defendant was charged with violating and reiterated his previous instructions. And he sounded a little pissed off to be bothered with the question. So, now what was I gonna do? There wasn't going to be any guidance from the bench. I couldn't deny the guy was in possession. I tried my level best to convince my fellow jurors of my position and failed. I wasn't even sure if my position had any legal merit. So, I hated doing it, but I voted to convict. At the time I didn't see there was anything else I could do. So messed up. Mikey C says: It was long ago and it was far away, and it was so much better that it is today

I love Berkeley transfer station the prices are reasonable and the staff very friendly and helpful…read moreI highly recommend

My first time at the Transfer Station. It's the only place who would accept my broken…read moreunder-counter fridge/freezer due to the freon. The fee was $48 (cash or credit card) which is paid at the drive-up ramp where an attendant greets you. Then you drive over to the Blue Dumpster where you must unload your item just in front of that Dumpster. Unfortunately, there is no one to assist with unloading. Luckily I brought someone to do the lifting. Also, the line was not long so only waited approx 15-20 minutes to be allowed into the Transfer Station drop-off area. Tuesday-Thursdays are listed as less busy.

I was expecting government-quality service, and was pleasantly surprised to get friendly and…read morecompetent assistance from the civil clerk, Taylor. If you need docs printed, go across the street. First 10 pages don't even require payment. Lastly, the law library down the street is a great resource too.

I'm extremely frustrated with my experience in the small claims court division, particularly in my…read moreinteractions with Isabella. On two separate occasions, I've been given incorrect or incomplete information, which resulted in me making unnecessary trips over an hour round trip only to find out things were not handled properly. This process is already time-sensitive and stressful, so having to deal with avoidable mistakes and miscommunication only adds to that burden. During my most recent visit, the paperwork was even completed incorrectly and had to be altered afterward, which did not inspire confidence in the accuracy or professionalism of the process. I understand that questions may come up, but there is a noticeable lack of consistency and preparedness that makes navigating the system much more difficult than it should be. Additionally, the tone and attitude I encountered felt dismissive at times, which made an already frustrating situation worse. I'm sharing this because I believe the court system should provide clear, reliable guidance, especially for individuals trying to follow the proper steps on their own. Right now, that standard is not being met in my experience.

This is a government services agency. It's really where you need to go to get started on any of the…read moresocial services you need. This office can get you signed up for CalFresh, General Assistance, MediCal, and other services including SSI and referrals to other agencies. Be sure to bring ID, proof of residency, and certain financial information with you to help expedite the process. This office can be busy so come early to avoid really long waits. Remember, this is the government. Nothing happens quickly, but the staff is working really hard to get to everyone as fast as possible

This office has some major issues under staffed they try to help Need more support positions But…read moregood folks working there