I just went by today and saw a bunch of rats. I'll upload the video later and link to it.

Nothing surprises me in this city. Shameful

Thank you for your request. According to our system, we already have an open service request of this kind at this location. Your request has been combined with service request #609298. If you would like to check the status of the request, please contact the Public Works Call Center at 510-615-5566 or pwacallcenter@oaklandnet.com. This issue can also be followed by watching http://seeclickfix.com/issues/1960328.

The City of Oakland Public Works Department has referred this issue to ALAMEDA COUNTY VECTOR CONTROL,. Please contact that department to follow-up (see "Other Helpful Links" at http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm#Links).

Here are some important City of Oakland contact points:
* Abandoned Autos: 510-777-8622 (abandoned vehicles on public street after 3 days)
* Animal Control: 510-535-5602 (live animals) or 510-535-4888 (dead animals)
* Code Enforcement: 510-238-3381 (blighted private properties, deteriorated buildings, inoperable vehicles on private property)
* Drug Hotline: 510-238-3784 (tips) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)
* Parking Citations: 800-500-6484 (parking citation assistance center, pay or appeal a citation) or 510-238-3099 (enforcement)
* Prostitution Hotline: 510-238-2373 (tips) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)

Thank you.

Public works, did u not read what was said about Vector Control. Why ignore the issue?

WOW.

I called and it sounds like the person at ACVC may have given incorrect info. OPW gave me the number for the Senior VC person who actually goes out and checks the sites and has done so before. For future reference, his name is Gary Kunselman and office # is (510) 567-6831. I already called and left a message to discuss, so please do not flood Mr. Kunselman with calls about this issue. I'll update when I learn more.

Interestingly, OPW says they just forward the info and they don't get any kind of receipt or issue # from ACVC for follow-up. I'll talk to ACVC because I know call/email center software and this might be something they can easily fix with an email system setting :)

Gary called back and was super informative. He's a biologist, so I got a little science lesson :) Exactly the opposite of the last time I called ACVC.

His colleague Mike Hung will be calling with more info tomorrow because this is actually his assigned area, but long story short, he will be going out to assess the situation.

Main takeaways:
-The drought means the rats will try to come closer to humans, which is why they're hanging out at the park
-The rats we're seeing are either Norway or roof rats, and neither is afraid of people :/
-Due to California law about the types of pesticides they can use, it's going to be a bit tricky and may take time to get rid of them, but they're dedicated to making it happen

Thanks Leigh for info and hard work on this issue.

So I talked to Mike after he did an inspection. Because there's a lot of food litter in the area, it would be pretty much impossible to remove the rats.

However, he said that the parks department should remove the ivy along the fence so there's less of an attractive living environment.

I'm going to ask for closed trash cans in the park and the removal of the ivy in another thread. I'm not going to complain about the homeless people (and I urge everybody else to refrain from doing that) because they don't have an alternative living situation and I think we can all coexist with some proper garbage cans and city attention to the park. If the San Francisco Parks Department can figure it out, so can Oakland.

I'm closing this thread. ACVC was very helpful.

Leigh, thanks for info, as for your comment on the homeless I disagree, they have alternatives, they don't do it and it also brings crime and its unhealthy to all.