Report: Yonkers housing inspector accepted bribes

A new report released by the Yonkers inspector general reveals the acceptance of bribes within the Department of Housing and Buildings.

News 12 Staff

Dec 26, 2018, 10:13 PM

Updated 1,952 days ago

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A new report released by the Yonkers inspector general reveals the acceptance of bribes within the Department of Housing and Buildings.
Yonkers Inspector General Brendan McGrath outlines several violations within the department, including some ethical wrongdoings.
According to the report, a senior housing inspector allegedly accepted bribes from a landlord to cover up violations at condemned buildings.
"That puts people's lives in jeopardy because it allows construction that's not up to code," says McGrath.
The report shows the landlord owned several properties along Riverview Place with illegal basement apartments that had all been condemned in prior years.
"The owner would file the permits, never do any of the work and DHB would get off his back and he'd have the people come back in and occupy and pay rent in his illegal basement apartments," says McGrath.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano terminated the employee and the case has been referred to police.
The report also mentions a city employee who was working a second job while he was supposed to be on city time. McGrath says that issue has been resolved.
City leaders have asked residents to do their part by reporting anything suspicious or if they notice landlords aren't doing their jobs properly.


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