This department is very unprofessional. The workers are constantly skipping my trash on purpose and…read more1 female employee named "Robin" is always rude to me, when I call to complain about their treatment. She constantly hangs up on me and very condescending concerning my concerns. She needs to be retrained in customer service.

As an Albany homeowner since 1999, I couldn't be more pleased with the services provided by the…read moreAlbany DGS. In many nearby towns garbage service is privately contracted and recycling has to be carted to the center. I only have to lug my garbage and recycling to the curb each week and the City takes care of it for me. I can't say that I like the smell of the dump wafting over to Central Ave on a hot day, but that's not really DGS' fault. Large item pickup has been a breeze. The hazardous waste drop off is really helpful. The newly offered all-in-one-bin recycling has cut down on my sorting time each week too. Even though it's a pain, I try to always bundle my cardboard and yard waste as per the city's instructions, although when I walk my dog on garbage night I see that not many people follow the guidelines. It really irritates me to see that. The folks who are out picking up trash before dawn have to put up with so much crap. The rental properties downtown seem particularly notorious for piling huge mounds of crap on the city's curb (especially at the end of the school year). The City still carts away all of these items. One night I saw someone had large pieces of wood sticking out of their garbage can with nails poking out on all sides. Imagine being a garbage collector in the dark hours of the morning having to deal with those unseen dangerous objects. I really appreciate what the garbage collectors, in particular, face on a regular basis. I'm not a huge fan of two lanes of snow being plowed into the end of my driveway on snowy days in the winter (or the one time right after I'd cleared it, a snow truck went by and I could see the driver laughing at me as plowed a fresh pile of snow in the my drive). That snow pushes over the curbs and onto the sidewalks, making them nearly as impossible to clear as the end of my drive. That being said, Albany is a big city and we get a lot of snow and the plows out there do a fine job of quickly and efficiently clearing the main roadways - especially when compared to some of the surrounding communities. It would be nice if the City could offer plowing/blowing assistance for sidewalks and driveways of the elderly - or coordinate trusted providers for paying homeowners. Right now plowing service prices are all over the map and it's hard to find a steady service from one snow storm to the next.

This is a review of the free tour that is given on weekdays (and weekends by appointment)…read more The woman who led our tour did a great job. She had the timing down for each spot, with the idea that once she hit the highlights, you could go back independently and check out the things that are of interest to you in depth. That's exactly the type of tour I enjoy - quick highlights and then let me explore. And there is so much to see and appreciate in the building. It's definitely an interesting place to visit if you are interested in history, government, or architecture.

I'd never been to Albany!…read more It had all the excitement of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...but with more condoms. (See bill A1008/S323.) 1. You only need to go through security once; all of the buildings are connected with tunnels. Security can sometimes take over half an hour; in that time, you could miss your meeting with your Senator! Bring your lunch or visit the cafeteria; you're golden! 2. The elected officials and staff are unfailingly polite...even if they don't agree with you. Say "Hi!" with a smile! 3. There is a certain Senator who forgot to get dressed-up for his session. I would have complimented him on his Tee, but he went home to change anyway; shirking my meeting. i wish i could review elected officials on Yelp... So, what was I DOING in Albany? Last Sunday, I joined a crowd of non-profit workers, sex workers, lawyers, and ordinary folks to learn how to lobby and prepare for Albany. The Speak Up! advocacy training gave me the tools to do just that. On the Tuesday bus ride to Albany, I couldn't help but feel in awe to be working with over sixty people who make these important issues their lives. The Urban Law Center's staff organized all of the meetings for us, so all I and my team had to do was visit the lawmakers and speak our minds. My team spent the day meeting with four different Senators and Assembly members. I'd never met with lawmakers before, and it felt a little intimidating at first. Still, by meeting with lawmakers in teams, we could all support each-other in constructive discussion to seek co-sponsorships and feedback from our elected officials. It's a busy day, but we got our own war-room of sorts. So, we had space to collect our thoughts...other than waiting rooms. In all, I felt pretty good about my first visit to Albany. I'll be back, and I hope that one senator brings his clothes next time...

The employees were very helpful and informative.......was taken in quickly.....I did have to make…read moresome follow-up visits though.

Amazing! They got me in for my 1st appointment for the application in 1.5 weeks! I just got off the…read morephone with Lesley for my application phone meeting and she was such a pleasure to talk with. Yes, the conversation takes a long time, but she was patient, kind and understanding. I started the call super depressed and spoke about how I am applying due to a suicide attempt. By the end of our 2 hour long application meeting I was smiling and felt inspired to keep going. Thank you Lesley for being you!

Ability to make a quick phone call to get an appointment and use of the computer to get an in…read moreperson appointment

I needed to speak with someone in the SS office regarding my pending social security retirement…read moreapplication. I can only say it was seriously the BEST experience I've had on a telephone with anyone. Cindy from the Albany Office went above and beyond for me and I truly appreciate the kind assistance I was given. Big shout out to you Cindy and my thanks for being so kind and helpful.

Great service. They assisted me and helped me complete my transaction quickly and eggy.read more

I've been trying to call for the last 6 days trying to get help to pay off my DRA. Nobody has been…read moreable to help me whatsoever and now my license is gonna be suspended in NY. Thanks NY

Not a bad DMV. Was able to make an appointment online. As soon as I checked in, the called me…read moreminutes later. Lots of stations and many people there but moved quickly. I was out on 30 minutes. Definitely need more parking, but other than that pretty efficient.

Is it actually possible to have a good experience at a DMV? Maybe hard to believe, but yes, or at…read moreleast it was for me. This office is very well set up, with multiple windows open, including a reception area that adds a second person when the line backs up. The woman who processed my request could not have been more friendly and helpful; it was a pleasure to work with and converse with her. Visiting here was one of my last chores for my recent move. I put it off as long as possible, not expecting it to go well. I should have come here first!!!

Ahh... The New York State Department of Labor, what more is there to say?…read more All claims are filed and reported directly to this Albany, NY office. Any questions or issues with individual claims or stoppage of claims are to be addressed to a NYS Department of Labor Investigator. The auto teleprompter is an endless loop after responding to a series of pressing "1" or "2" for nearly five minutes before actually speaking to a human being about your case. The good thing is the call back feature which enables candidates to speak to a claims representative without being on eternal hold. New claim submissions take two weeks pending investigation with a former employer before benefits are released. "Unemployment Rate Edges Up __%" -- the Labor Department announced... sounds familiar?? I'm no stranger to be on this Unemployment Line.

Respectfully I wouldn't rate it at all. I try not to be rude but it is so frustrating navigating…read morethrough the department of Labor. How is it that all day long I'm trying to contact a representative to speak with and this system is always busy with high volume calls. There really no no to accept a call from 9 AM - 3 PM since I've been calling. This is really unacceptable. Seems to me they need to hire some people to accept calls I'll take the job. And when you go to your personal page and you send a notice no one responds to it so maybe you need to hide people in both areas pick up phone and respond to messages sent through the website. It's really ridiculous and it's I'm so baffled by it that since I've been unemployed I've only spoken to somebody one time even though I've had several questions and concerns one time I was able to speak to somebody. Really need to do something with the system this is 2026 with high technology and AI nobody can answer the phone just one live person.

Stopped by, unannounced with family, (out of state), one member is a member of the Florida bar,…read moreinitially, wanted to see the NYS Capitol. Greeted by a very professional security staff officer, explained our request and was provided a tour of the courtroom by the press secretary who had an awesome knowledge of the building and the justices who have served. Would highly recommend a visit. Beautiful building with a great history.

Go in and ask for a tour when court's not in session - a rather reticent tour guide who doesn't…read morevolunteer much information but will answer your questions will bring you inside the pretty courtroom, you can take all the pictures you want, and then you leave. 15 minutes, tops. And they have pencils with double erasers made to look like gavels, which they'll give you at the end!

I was visiting the New York State Capitol and saw this building, what magnificent architecture and…read morecomplete building was not even coming to one frame, that huge it is. The building is known for its expansive colonnade. The Education Building of the State of New York was completed in 1912 and was the first major governmental building constructed exclusively for educational purposes. It houses offices of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and was formerly home to the New York State Museum and New York State Library The building is 140 feet wide (including the front steps), and 590 feet long. The rear wing is 185 feet by 112 feet. There are 36 hollow, fluted pillars made of Vermont marble that run along the front of the block-long building. Each pillar is 90 feet tall.

This department is the slowest, most inefficient, aggravating bureaucracy I have ever had the…read moredispleasure of dealing with. It is seriously kafkaesque. Incredibly confusing forms and instructions, and any time you need to make a change or fix something caused by those unclear instructions it takes them *6 weeks* to process it (not a joke!). I for real got licensed in Maryland in a third of the time it's taken this department to process one form. Completely ridiculous