The New York City Department of Investigation and the Manhattan District Attorney plan to charge the city inspectors and a gaggle of dirty contractors in a long-ranging probe that’s targeted what sources described as a culture of pay-to-play. Also to be charged? Some of the people who bribed the inspectors – including several Satmar rabbis.
The Daily News reports:
The city is set to launch one of the biggest corruption crackdowns in years Tuesday, sweeping up a dirty dozen building inspectors on bribery charges, the Daily News has learned.
The city Department of Investigation and the Manhattan district attorney plan to charge the city inspectors and a gaggle of dirty contractors in a long-ranging probe that’s targeted what sources described as a culture of pay-to-play.
Up to 50 defendants are expected to be charged and face a long list of bibery counts following a yearlong probe by DOI in conjunction with the DA’s rackets division.
The charges, to be announced Tuesday by DOI Commissioner Mark Peters and Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr., detail a pervasive bribery scheme that's been playing out across the city for years, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern of give-to-get, where inspectors would expedite projects and sign off on certificates of occupancy — for a fee.…
Arrests have already been made, as the above video shows, and several [9:20 am CST – I'm now told 10] of the arrested are Satmar hasidim who, I'm told, are mostly from the Aharon faction. A Satmar Ahron faction school has also been closed by the city along with a Satmar-hasid-owned wedding and party hall, FailedMessiah.com was told by a source familiar with the operation.