New Chicago corruption charges

News from the biggest city in America's most corrupt state. First a little background: Zoning regulations are unbelievably strict in Chicago--the root cause goes back decades. That's because to get a relaxation of a zoning rule, "for a price," meaning a bribe--developers or businesspeople can get the easements they need. In the last thirty years, about two dozen Chicago alderman have been convicted on corruption charges--mostly involving receiving bribes involving zoning "favors."

This latest case does not involve any Chicago aldermen.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

An $87,108-a-year city plumbing inspector was picked up by federal agents this morning, touching off a new round of charges involving allegations of corruption and bribery in the city of Chicago's Building and Zoning Departments.

Mario Olivella, a 10-year city employee, was one of 15 people — including seven city employees — arrested Wednesday and today in the latest chapter of a joint investigation between Inspector General David Hoffman's office and the federal government.

Developers and contractors will be among those charged with paying and receiving bribes in connection with city building, zoning and construction permits. Some of the bribes were allegedly paid to expedite permits in a process that has been criticized, over the years, as slow.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, along with the postal inspectors, FBI and David Hoffman, Inspector General for the City of Chicago, plan to discuss the charges at a 2 p.m. news conference at the Dirksen Federal Building downtown.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that this is the same department that in 2004 hired the teenage son of a Carpenters Union official to work as a building inspector. Based on the prerequisites of the job, the teen-prodigy would have had to started his carpentry career when he was 13.

Technorati tags: Politics Chicago zoning Democrats graft bribery Illinois