“We don’t notice the courthouse”

A photograph of Bart, standing near his apartment, with the Palo Alto Courthouse in the background.

Excerpt from Bart, a resident who lives across the street from the Palo Alto Courthouse, in spring 2023

Bart: […] And we don't notice the courthouse, except that, you know, there's courthouse parking and so forth. And if you're ever called for jury duty, it's great, so.

Interviewer: Oh, okay. Have you been called for jury duty before.

Bart: Yeah.

Interviewer: And what has been your experience?

Bart: Love it.

Interviewer: Okay.

Bart: Because the alternative is going to San Jose, which is a terrible commute.

Interviewer: Okay. That’s interesting. And then how would you describe just this neighborhood generally?

Bart: Um, a lot of apartments. Um …um, a lot of professionals. Very multi-ethnic.

Interviewer: Excellent. How long have you lived near the courthouse?

Bart: So, since about 1983. So, what is that? 40 years? Yeah, 40 years.

Interviewer: Wow. Do you work around these parts?

Bart: Retired.

Interviewer: Ah, retired. Wonderful. Um, how would you say that the courthouse affects your life in the day to day?

Bart: Not really. No, it doesn't really.

Interviewer: So other than potential, like, police involvement, it's really—

Bart: Well, for—as far as the courthouse goes, I don't think the police thing is there at all. So, it's—it hardly affects it at all.

Interviewer: Okay. Um, if you could change the courthouse in any way, what sort of things would you change?

Bart: I'd make it really easy to have jury duty there. I mean, it would really make a big difference.

Interviewer: Hmm. Interesting. But when you say easier, does that mean just in terms of convenience or time spent?

Bart: Well, when you're called for jury duty, it could be different places. And if they could let you choose to be there or favor that, that would be—it would really, you know, make it a lot easier.

Interviewer: So, choose the Palo Alto one [courthouse] instead of the San Jose?

Bart: Yes.

Interviewer: Mhmm. That makes a lot of sense. If there were anything you could change about this neighborhood in particular, is there anything—

Bart: More housing. Everybody needs housing. And the other thing—so, actually, I'm a bicyclist. So, to make this walkable and, you know, try to reduce car use—that's the really big thing. So, ‘cause, like, there are old people living over there and they're walking across the streets and, you know, cars are pretty good around here. But, you know, accidents happen. Like, for example, at El Camino and, um, California (Ave.), you know, that's one of the most dangerous spots in Santa Clara County. So.