In an indicator of just how many fingers disgraced permit expediter, contractor and confessed federal criminal Walter Wong had in how many San Francisco pies, a settlement with him ratified […]
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Posted inGovernment
No settlement can undo the damage Walter Wong did to this city — and is still doing
There are so many funny stories about San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection. But not funny-ha-ha. Here’s one. In 2013, a city politico couldn’t help but notice that the contractor […]
Posted inGovernment
Walter Wong, notorious permit expediter and central figure in city’s corruption scandal, reaches settlement
Walter Wong has agreed to pay the city $1.7M based on 10 tainted contracts he received. But, more significantly, the city’s most notorious permit expediter has agreed to get out of the game — under penalty of law.
Posted inToday's Mission
Feds level charges against Walter Wong in latest salvo of ongoing Mohammed Nuru probe
The strange and terrible saga of Mohammed Nuru continued to unfold today, as Department of Justice and FBI officials announced charges against longtime city permit expediter and contractor Walter Wong. […]
Posted inGovernment
Mohammed Nuru investigation: Public Works awarded $10.5M worth of contracts with ‘no discernible selection process’ — two went to Walter Wong’s companies
Report: Mayor Ed Lee in 2011 granted Mohammed Nuru oversight of himself. Over the course of two-and-a-half years, San Francisco Public Works signed some $10.5 million in contracts using “no […]
Posted inToday's Mission
Mohammed Nuru investigation: Alleged ‘CONTRACTOR 1’ worked out of building owned by ‘CONTRACTOR 2’ — Walter Wong
A report from NBC Bay Area this morning identified the city contractor who allegedly bribed Public Works boss Mohammed Nuru with a tractor and did cheap or free work on […]
Posted inGovernment
Zhang Li, billionaire developer, arrested on Nuru bribery charges
The Chinese billionaire developer of 555 Fulton St., who purportedly plied Mohammed Nuru and others with extravagantly priced wine and gifts, was arrested in Great Britain last month for his […]
Posted inMobile
Mohammed Nuru investigation: City Attorney fires off 14 subpoenas — Chinese billionaire developer Zhang Li and permit expediter Walter Wong targeted
In the latest salvo stemming from the FBI’s arrest of ex-Public Works boss Mohammed Nuru, City Attorney Dennis Herrera today disseminated 14 subpoenas. They target entities tied to the stalled […]
Posted inGovernment
Sources: Naomi Kelly comped for $865 NYC hotel bill by Recology, along with Mohammed Nuru
Multiple sources have informed Mission Local that the “very senior San Francisco city official” comped along with ex-Public Works boss Mohammed Nuru for two New York City hotel rooms, each […]
Posted inGovernment
Victor Makras, ‘the guy in every room for every mayor,’ guilty of bank fraud
Real-estate maven Victor Makras, a man described as “tied into the inner sanctums of San Francisco politics,” was found guilty today of bank fraud and making false statements to a […]
Posted inGovernment
Is Nuru attorney Ismail Ramsey the man to clean up SF?
So, there he was. That was Ismail “Izzy” Ramsey at Willie Brown’s side as Hizzoner made a presentation at a long conference table in a private room stocked with a […]
Posted inGovernment
Feds charge ex-PUC boss Harlan Kelly, real estate broker and politico Victor Makras in bank fraud conspiracy
In a Grand Jury indictment, the United States Department of Justice today accused ousted Public Utilities Commission general manager Harlan Kelly and longtime San Francisco political fixture Victor Makras of […]
Posted inGovernment
San Francisco has the legislation to crack down on rogue builders. Does it have the political will?
Legislators legislate. But legislation alone cannot solve this city’s problems — and, for this legislation to succeed, some of this city’s most hidebound and corrupt institutions will have to change their ways, and begin doing things that, truth be told, they could have done long ago.
Posted inFeatured
Building department director tasked with reforming antiquated permitting process quits abruptly
In a blow for those hoping to streamline, modernize and cleanse the Department of Building Inspection’s byzantine and hidebound permitting process, the director hired to oversee this move has abruptly […]
Posted inGovernment
SF’s prototype trash cans have landed. One costs $20,900.
The future of on-street trash cans, in sweeping lines and gleaming chrome, has come to San Francisco. And that future is rather expensive. After almost four years of in-depth meetings, […]
