Updated January 8, 2023: In an earlier version of this article, the only Curran-related properties on our map were the 3,021 properties the Department of Building Inspection are auditing. We have since added all the properties Curran worked on while at the department, bringing the total Curran properties represented to 12,739.
In character materials submitted by his dodgy former supervisors, federally convicted ex-senior inspector Bernie Curran was essentially described as the glue that held the Department of Building Inspection together.
And that is a terrifying thought. Say what you will about Curran — who is presently serving a year-long sentence in federal prison on bribery charges, and is also on the hook for a two-year state prison term for perjury — but you can’t say he wasn’t working hard.
He was the glue that held this city’s building-inspection program together. And, considering his propensities, it’s not clear how well that glue is gonna hold.
This is one of the concerns that inspired an ongoing DBI audit of the many, many, many properties Curran worked on. The building department is also going over projects undertaken by federally convicted engineer and permit expediter Rodrigo Santos — and, crucially, on projects where they worked together.
During his time at the Department of Building Inspection, Curran worked on some 12,739 buildings. The department is scrutinizing (at least) 3,021 properties on which he self-scheduled inspections between 2008 and 2019. Santos, in that same time frame, was involved with at least 2,542 city projects. Curran and Santos overlapped on at least 377 properties.
But that is not all. Oh, no, that is not all. Earlier this month, the feds struck again, charging ex-building department plan-checkers Rodolfo “Rudy” Pada and Cyril Yu with bribery.
Pada and Yu are essentially charged with checking the boxes and moving plans along in exchange for meals, drinks and the odd cash-filled envelope from developer Sia Tahbazof and associated executives.
Using our new map, you can now search for projects worked on by all four former employees. Find your address using the search bar or filter by Curran, Santos, Pada, and Yu using the checkboxes.
Map by Will Jarrett. Data from the Department of Building Inspection.
Considering that Curran went to jail over payments he also received from Tahbazof, an interesting business model emerges. As we’ve written before, if the feds’ charges are true, Tahbazof essentially achieved vertical integration within DBI: He had the guys checking his plans in his pocket, as well as the guy who’d go out in the field to inspect them.
The map also includes the 8,546 properties signed off on by Yu from 2013 to 2021, as well as the 8,737 projects Pada worked on from 2000 to 2017.
Interested in combinations? That figures: The map allows you to search where everyone overlapped.
There are 2,451 properties with Curran plus Yu or Pada. There are 707 with Santos and Yu/Pada. There were 127 properties worked on by Curran, Santos and Yu/Pada. There were at least 19 properties with all four of them.
And, best of all, the map is expandable. If more DBI figures come under scrutiny, we can add them in at a later date.
Happy hunting.
Methodology
Data on Bernie Curran and Rodrigo Santos was provided by the Department of Building Inspection. Permit data on Cyril Yu and Rudy Pada was obtained via the department’s Building Permit Addenda dataset and was associated with addresses using the DBI search portal.
You can download the full dataset here. If you spot any errors or bugs, let us know at will@missionlocal.com.
Yes, as a matter of fact, one did. It’s not a comforting realization, but thank you for letting me know.
Well well…finally a source that the average San Franciscan can look into what DBI is trying to hide…DBI certainly will tell the Supervisors and Mayors office that their audit is all that needs to be done…well that’s what they want you to think. Again you have the source of the problem investigating itself…no conflict there…lol…if any of you have been following these excellent articles you will take note that none of this stuff continues unless the powers that be remain. The Mayors office, backed up by the City Attorney, are very aware of DBI antics but it serves their purposes to not actually prosecute the people in charge at DBI. It serves Breed nothing to go after the person she appointed to clean up DBI. Patrick Oriordan comes from the same group that caused this ongoing mess. In fact he helped Curran and associates by covering up his misdeeds only to throw him under the bus as soon as it was discovered. Good luck SF residents you will get no help while this administration stays on top.
This is an amazing piece of work.
I took a look at my block. I wasn’t surprised to see one of the newest houses (3100 block of Harrison Street) listed as having been “assisted” by one of the article’s subjects. That project was nuts and I’m sure they had to pull all kinds of strings.
WOW.
This is a game changer