2 ms·
In the past, yes, bribes were a thing. I went to Edison HS in Jamaica and our shop teacher told us stories of bribing clerks to get permits faster. E.g. in-grou
by MisterTea 5y ago
In the past, yes, bribes were a thing. I went to Edison HS in Jamaica and our shop teacher told us stories of bribing clerks to get permits faster. E.g. in-ground pool permits took years to get through so he said a crispy $100 would get your paperwork moved to the middle of the pile.
I used to work with a truck driver who knew how to properly grease the guys running the loading docks at the Javits center (slip a $20 into your paper work.) Though he said it only works with "older guys who've been around and know the game." That saved us 2-3 hours of waiting, we go into a dock right away, truckers watching us were pissed we skipped the line somehow. This was about 15 years ago though.
Though nowadays I hear those practices have mostly gone away. Of course we have no real way of knowing.
- busterarm 5y agoGrease doesn't work at Javits anymore and the wait times are now 8hours plus.
- MisterTea 5y agoFigures. This was around 2005/6. When we went in the office he said it might not work as the younger guys "don't play the game" but then saw an older guy at one desk and said "That guy right there." Dude pages through the paperwork, sees the $20 tucked and clipped, says "okay looks to be in order. You're going to loading dock so and so." I think we waited in the truck for 5-10 min before we were called and the driver ahead of us didn't look too happy. That mentality is from the old mob days. Thankfully mostly a memory.
- handrous 5y agoIn The Wire, Season 2, automation & computerization threatening both dock jobs themselves (through greatly increased efficiency) and opportunities for relatively small fish to make a little extra on the side (though much better tracking), is a pretty big part of the plot.