reports on the arrest of Jose D. Vargas for perjury about properly inspecting building renovations that he was self certifying that later collapsed and killed a fire fighter.

NYC allows architects and engineers to act as their own building inspectors and zoning reviews, creating a system that is ripe for perjury, corruption, and ethical violations. Other architects and engineers have been fined or had their license suspended for similar lapses or for certifying that a building meets zoning rules when they blatantly do not.


Under the program that allowed Mr. Vargas to approve renovations to the Bronx building, called Directive 14, engineers and architects are required to conduct a final inspection and approve the job, or notify the city in writing that they have withdrawn from the project. Buildings officials acknowledge this often does not happen.

[Mr. Vargas' lawyer] argued that the city could not handle the responsibility of conducting building inspections in a timely or safe manner, so it shifted the burden — and the blame, when necessary — to private professionals. He said it would not be difficult for the city to monitor Directive 14 jobs, and alert building owners or licensed professionals when permits are set to expire.

It is not just professionals who are playing the system, the recent crane collapse showed that building department officials are just as prone for negligence and corruption.


this all seems like a Soprano's episode.