Not sure why the OP chose to link to the NJ.com regurgitation of our original piece, rather than the original piece itself, but for anyone who's interested, you can read it here:

Atomic Wings, Now Closed, Sues Jersey City Over Delays in Opening

The JC building department is infamous. But the city doesn't have a whole lot of power to control them though. Municipal building departments are actually overseen by the Dept. of Community Affairs.

I have had second hand experience with the pay-off's with this building department. Although there were arrests in the past I've heard this is a four year cycle where they just start doing it again - don't fool yourself this isn't still going on. I'm sure we all have stories about how slow, ill timed and contradictory this department is (including the fire inspections) for homeowners, builders and businesses.

I don't understand why the media isn't interested in a full scale investigative story of this department? I know a friend of mine was contacted by a private building inspector they used who was contacted by the FBI conducting an investigation on this department. That is how some of the arrests occurred the first time. There are still too, too many stories of corruption, lengthy delays and contradictions to trust anyone there.

This is great news, good luck to them on their lawsuit!! I hope this exposes the buildings dept for what it is.

Quote:

Not just the building dept. most of the agencies in JC are looking for a payoff, I remember a few years ago the fire inspectors tried to shake down our condo by scheduling fire alarm testing for our building at 6 am Sunday morning then not showing up and threatening to impose fines because the test didn't take place.

I think a lawsuit is the only way to deal with this problem. The Building Department just wants payoffs. If they don't get them, they delay things. One would think that City Hall would try to improve the process to get businesses into Jersey City to increase the tax base. But City Hall probably gets a piece of the action.

Some of the past JCList experiences with Michael Razzoli:

http://jclist.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=20458

I hope they hurt him personally as much as possible, and not the taxpayers.

These scumbags need to be personally held accountable and sent to jail, have their pensions canceled and their ill-gotten gains confiscated.

Jersey City: Don't spend our tax dollars defending Razzoli. Throw him under the bus and fix the problem!

As a tax payer, I will gladly pay for it! These scumbags at the Building Department have to go. The city will be a much better place with out them.

I think a class action would be a good idea because it might achieve some tangible results and change to the process. But the problem with it is that if they sue the pants of off the city financially, it's all going to be paid for by the taxpayers anyway.

Hopefully, this will at least shine some light on the building and approval process.

This case seems like it could easily turn into a class action, given the number of entities that have never been able to launch due to the city's permitting racket.

Its about time someone went after the ASSHOLES at the building Department!!!!!!! These guys are the worst. Every developer and business gets screwed on a daily basis and no one ever does anything about it!

SCREW YOU RAZZOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Fulop! If you want my vote you better clean up the trash in the building department so businesses can flourish and not be suppressed.

While your at it, give the Police Dept. a kick in the ass and start cracking down on the quality of life crimes. NO MORE LOITERING on Newark Ave would be a start.

I'm generally not a supporter of our litigious society but I do support Atomic Wings in this case as I feel their situation mirrors other Jersey City businesses and restaurants who don't have a franchise like Atomic Wings to support their cause, financially speaking. The same thing happened to Ox and many other businesses in this town, it's time to open the doors to new business ventures other than high-rise condo developers.

More tax dollars wasted on a lawsuit. Shame shame

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... gs_restaurant_sues_j.html

Closed wings restaurant sues Jersey City over delays in opening

Published: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 11:23 AM
Mark Maurer/The Jersey Journal

The owner of the Jersey City franchise of Atomic Wings has sued the city and a construction code official, alleging there was discrimination in the permitting process that long-delayed the restaurant?s opening, the Jersey City Independent reports.

The restaurant was rumored to open two years before it actually served chicken at the Newark Avenue and Bay Street address in July 2009, reports said. In August of this year, the restaurant shut down and was replaced by Bon Chon Chicken.

Owner Randy Catlin argues that delayed approvals and a delay opening led to its demise, reports said.
The city initially tried to get the suit dismissed, but a judge denied the motion, and the matter will now proceed in court, reports said.

The City Council recently approved a contract with Secaucus-based law firm Chasan, Leyner & Lamparello to represent the city in the legal battle, reports said.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill told the Independent ?the Healy administration seeks to help small and large businesses who wish to operate in Jersey City.?