City officials are cracking down on corrupt building inspectors today, charging about a dozen of themplus the property owners and contractors with whom they colludedto put the kibosh on an alleged "pay-to-play" arrangement. The Manhattan District Attorney and the city's Department of Investigation will accuse about 50 defendants of briberyspecifically, that inspectors and others expedited certain construction projects, and approved them, because they were paid to do so. The number of building permits issued has increased 35 percent over the last few years. [NYDN/NYT]
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