Property owner fined $1,000 for offering box seats to Philly worker
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A Philadelphia property owner has been fined $1,000 for offering free club box seats to a city worker who had inspected a property and ordered renovation work to stop.
Philly.com says the city’s Ethics Board fined Tam Tran. The Associated Press could not immediately locate him for comment Tuesday.
The Department of Licenses & Inspections worker issued the stop-work order in June because of problems with permitting and insurance.
The next day, Tran sent the worker an email offering four tickets worth $130 each. The worker didn’t accept and, instead, reported the email to the Office of Inspector General, which contacted the ethics board.
The city forbids offering employees gifts of more than $99 for official services. The Ethics Board says Tran has taken corrective action at the property and the stop-work order has been lifted.