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Chicago Building Inspector Convicted of Bribery
September 23, 2010 by matt · Leave a Comment
A former Chicago building inspector was convicted today in federal court on two counts of soliciting or accepting bribes to look the other way on building code violations.
Witnesses said that Jose Hernandez would inform them of violations, then supply the number of a private expediter who, for a fee, would take care of the violations. Work would subsequently stop on the projects of those who opted not to pay, resulting in long delays for the victims in obtaining permits and approvals to resume construction.
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Job Opening: Building Commish
April 18, 2008 by lseggelke · Leave a Comment
One of Richard Rodriguez’s first positions with the City of Chicago was in the Department of Aviation. Now Mayor Daley is sending him back to head that department, after serving the last year as Building Commissioner.
Rodriguez, 37, first rose to the commissioner level as chief of the now defunct Department of Construction and Permits. Rodriguez held that position for over a year before Daley appointed him to head the Department of Buildings. Within months of that move, DCAP was dissolved into the Building Department, where Rodriguez supervised the duties of both departments.
If your head’s not spinning with all the changes of the last two years, you haven’t been paying attention. But Daley credits Rodriguez with streamlining the building permit process and hopes he can bring the same expertise to overseeing the impending O’Hare expansion, record delays at one of the nation’s largest airports and privatization of Midway.
According to Rodriguez, the city hasn’t decided on his successor. Richard J. Monocchio will serve as acting commissioner while the Department and City Council decide on a replacement.
