Bribing the inspector?
 

My friend co-owns a small coffee shop in the SF Bay Area. Her partner is an American from Iran. They want to put in a grill and sell hot food, but have encountered a real problem - the building inspector. Maybe he's the FDA inspector. I dunno. He's an inspector and he's an asshat.

First of all, its obvious by his manner than he doesn't like the Iranian partner. Rather than debate HOW and IF this guy is a racist, let's just make it a given, OK?

So anyway, this guy won't issue the permit for the grill. Every time he visits, he comes up with "one last thing." First it needed to be repainted behind the grill. Then the plaster needed to be redone- then painted...the plaster that was OK last time he was there. Then the tile needed to be changed. It goes on and on.

After consulting with the contractors doing the work, it was revealed that this inspector never approves an inspection unless there is a bribe in it for him (like $500). Further, he has a reputation of giving minority business owners a really hard time.

My friend tried to get a different inspector to come out, but had no luck. She's been told (by some of the contractors) that if she complains, this guy will really mess with her business.

And my friend is absolutely resolute in "not being a party to corruption." She will not offer a bribe. even a paltry $500

I have no point to this tale. Maybe its to open your eyes to one of the invisible struggles around us. Maybe its to show that racism is alive and well in the ultra-liberal Bay Area. Maybe its to vent my frustrations using words instead of fire and lead.

there HAS to be a corporation commission or some other governing body to whom your friend can go to. the inspector is blatantly racist towards your friend's co-owner and you have others who will back that statement up. there is absolutely no excuse for this to continue. people like this inspector are the reason that bigotry, ignorance, and hatred still exist in our society. maybe i'm getting a little dramatic, but this sort of thing just comepletely upsets me.

well hes breaking the law... if she could find some evidence of him taking a bribe or offering to ok her business for XXX amount of money... then she could nail him and get him fired and all that...

One would think this to be true.

It been my own professional experience that some areas of the government have such a culture of corruption that there is nobody to go to. Everybody watches eachother's back.

For example, if you need to block off a street in New York (to run a crane or move some huge thing from a building) you need to pay some people off. No bribe = no permit. Your permit application will be "considered" for a long long time.

Who can you go to? The people in charge have their hands out, and their bosses cover them because they get a piece of the action.

The Sopranos isn't all fiction, you know.

i say report the bastard instead of bribing.

call the local aclu, they'll jump up on this.

No watchdog or governmental oversight organization?

Get the bribe on tape, then hand it over to the local media.

I like Zotz idea. Reporting it probably won't do any good. Either they know abt it already or they won't believe it. Funny how quickly something will get corrected if it gets in the news.

Fire and lead clavus, Fire and lead!! Actually I would say you go with the news thing....

The 500 can be used to get a nice hidden camera, which can be used to tape this guy, then the people who told oyu about his scam can go on the news and confirm the story. Raise hell fro the town, they might even get an apology. If all else fails, Fire and Lead. A bigot isn't a big loss.

Fire and lead it is!

OK, I now know why I started the thread - to explain how to bribe someone. You don't do it in a manner that would be obvious. If you walk up to a guy and say, "Here's the money you are shaking me down for," the guy is going to tell you that you must be mistaken and that he is offended. Then the BEST thing to happen to you is nothing.

No, the way a bribe is given, the way it is EXPECTED to be given, is in a subtle manner. Stick five C-notes in the sports section and tell him he'll like the story on page 2.

You don't do anything that can be recorded, photographed, or would leave a paper trail.

As for going to the press, lets make the wild assumption that the local media gives a crap and wants to run your story. Lets assume that there are no buddy-buddy relationships between the city and the media. Further, lets assume that you are able to get witnesses to back-up your story.

Maybe. MAYBE the city employee will be diciplined. His union will probably ensure that he keeps his job, but maybe his life will be unpleasant for a while.

Do you think that his buddies are going to leave your business alone? Do you think that the next inspector won't "find numerous violations?"

There is culture of corruption here. Its not an isolated individual.

I see your point clavus. So I reiterate (and you agreed) fire and lead! I say you put a sophisticated trigger in the sports age, that radios to a gun under his chair that will send a bullets up his ass, and then tell him to read page 2...

Ok I know its ridiculous, but I hate corruption...

Well he has to lead on to the fact he wants a bribe some way shape or form or else it might just keep going on. They should try to catch him in the act mabey by tape recording thier conversations and just wait till he slips up. After a while they will just have the place all fixed to perfection and if he starts making things up they should be able to file some sort of complaint... everyone has a higher op or boss that can be talked to I would think.

I've watched business owners pay off inspectors, union shop guys, "family business owners", and the like to continue to run a profitable business.

I've got tales of money exchanging hands from political circles to shop stewards getting kickbacks. Heck, I've even unknowingly handed over envelopes filled with $$$ for kickbacks and bribes.

While it isn't right, nor do I condone it, but it's the way that some businesses have been run for generations, even in America. If it didn't happen then the greater good would have suffered since the business would have floundered or failed. Because of the payoffs, the business thrives and everyone walks away with what they want.

Corruption is a tough one - the day you play ball is the day you become part of "the system". Thing is as Cynthetiq said, sometimes the system works when it comes to financial success and just putting food on peoples' table.

So what do you do? If you feel horribly uncomfortable offering a bribe, you're probably a bit of an outsider. Main problem with being an outsider is knowledge - you don't know what you're getting into. That $500 could be as high as the stakes get or it could end up like some terrible mafia movie. Don't go into anything if you feel worried about your prospects for getting out without too much fuss.

Poke around, try to talk to some friendly who seems to succeed in the business. Learn and get curious without looking like you're snooping around. Go at the issue from three angles; the legal/bureaucratic, the political and the social. At some point those angles meet - that point is usually where the money is.

Sorry if that's a bit vague but you have to figure out each industry in each area like it's a damn rubics cube. What works in Sydney may not work in California. Lasty, don't tape anybody without their knowledge unless you're watertight legally (unlikely). Going to the press with a recording could open you up to litigation.

If he is looking for a bribe that's the federal go to F.B.I.

The FBI has a minimum money amount. If your amount, here $500, is below their minimum, which is $3000, they won't help you.