Posted on 09/15/2004 3:01:15 PM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
Daley Declines To Answer Questions About Carol Marin's Column. City officials responded Wednesday to a Sun-Times column by NBC5 contributor Carol Marin about the 19-year-old son of a top Carpenters Union official being hired as a building inspector.
Asked about the employment of Andy Ryan, son of Local 13 Secretary-Treasurer Tom Ryan, Daley said he was unaware Andy Ryan had been hired and referred questions to Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek.
"He's the man," Daley said. "He can answer it, that's his job."
Marin reported that Andy Ryan's hiring was questioned because the city requires building inspectors to complete an apprenticeship program, obtain journeyman status and have two years of work experience.
Because apprenticeship programs typically require four years to complete, according to Marin's report, Ryan would have had to start the program at age 13.
Kaderbek said he was not familiar with how long it took to complete an apprenticeship program, but he said Andy Ryan had a valid journeyman's card, which was issued in 2002.
Andy Ryan was one of 16 people hired after interviewing 55 people for available positions as building inspectors, Kaderbek said, and every applicant went through the same screening process.
"The criteria that is established for a building inspector is either five years of experience in buildings, a journeyman's card with two years experience with the carpenters' union or a degree in architecture or relevant engineering," Kaderbek said. "That's kind of a broad, admittedly a broad type of criteria. Those people who submit their qualifications get screened and then they come to us. Ultimately what we look for, we evaluate everybody on the same criteria: their ability to communicate both orally and written and understanding of general building components and terminology and how well they interview."
The commissioner said he might consider narrowing the hiring criteria in the future, but might face opposition from labor unions.
"To tell the truth, I like engineers and architects, but something tells me the Carpenters Union won't agree to that," Kaderbek added.
Kaderbek could not cite specific examples but said Andy Ryan may not be the first person his age to be hired as a buildings inspector.
"We think that in the past, years ago, that we've hired some, and they're still here. I think, actually, one of my deputies may have come on very young," Kaderbek said.
The commissioner said that work experience as a carpenter wouldn't necessarily give someone the needed skills to be a buildings inspector.
"You don't get a lot of this type of experience anywhere," Kaderbek said. "I mean, if you're a carpenter and you work 20 years out in the field building buildings, that doesn't necessarily give you the expertise you need to go out and inspect a building. You understand the building's components, but you have a long route to go to get used to that."
That is why the city thoroughly trains every inspector it hires regardless of their previous experience, according to Kaderbek.
"What we do is, we train all the inspectors regardless of how old they are and how much experience they have. We want to make sure everybody's looking at things the same way," Kaderbek said.
"He (Ryan) has to go through a probationary period just like every other new employee, six months," Kaderbek added.
Two top officials at the Buildings Department were in charge of the screening process: Managing Deputy Commissioner Christopher Kozicki and the department's most senior building inspector, Irma Rodriguez, according to Kaderbek.
"They went through and they rated everyone," Kaderbek said. "And I signed off on it. It's ultimately my responsibility."
Kaderbek said neither Tom Ryan nor anyone else at the union pressured anyone at the Buildings Department to hire Andy Ryan.
"Frankly, I don't know if he brought it up in his interview. I guess if it was me, I would have. However, Ryan's a fairly common name," Kaderbek said. "To the best of my knowledge, they (Rodriguez and Kozicki) did not (know who Ryan's father is).
Last year, Local 13 and a number of other Carpenters Union locals were Daley's top campaign contributor, with $84,000 in donations, according to news reports. But Kaderbek said those contributions played no role in getting Andy Ryan hired.
"I don't play favoritism," Kaderbek said. "I never have. Nobody tells me who to hire. He went through a straight-up process, and I'm confident in that process. And he needs to show his ability just like everybody else."
Asked who would want to have a teenager in charge of inspecting a building for possible code violations, Kaderbek said, "I think you would want somebody who was well-trained and that's out there looking for the things that are important.
"Like all the other 15 people, they're all going through that same training. And I dare say they probably know about as much about building inspections as he does," Kaderbek added.
A child prodigy, the Mozart of municipal building inspectors.
"Dude, like, your building sucks..."
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This has a rotton fish smell to me.
Dude, what is that in his pants?
I mean, they could have stopped off at Memo Depot to get one.
Might as well start early learning how to take bribes. I'm sure with a little practice he will be buying a new Jag in no time!
Bust 'em for violation of child labor laws.
Getting stories like this in Chicago is simple. The political structure of the town is hopelessly corrupt.
Chicago is one of the few cities in this country that can beat Boston in uncontrolled dem corruption. In Boston, at least, they TRY for that deft touch.
My husband used to be a licensed building inspector in Michigan (he's retired now, because of disability). He was never a union member, and completed the course in 90 days. YMMV.
One of my sons, who had construction experience, considered a building inspection career, but now he's in the military. IDF: knocks down houses.
The Dems and the carpenters union there had a (surprise) pension-fund scandal busted by the feds. The ex-head of the Indiana Democratic Party was also involved with that little caper.
I though Texas was the only place that did stuff like this.
That dude, is a sesame seed bagle with herb flavored cream cheese. Isn't that where you carry your bagles?
You should know. ;)
Been a looooo-ooong time since I've seen that movie.
Ditto that, but it was one of the great ones in it's time.
Actually, I hear he was offered the position after the CBS Document Analyst gig fell through.
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