Has the city stopped publishing inspection results? Why?

I was driving through my neighborhood on Monday when I noticed a big green City of Chicago License Suspended* sign on the window of a local sandwich shop. Somewhat humorously, I noticed that another sign on the restaurant's door said it was closed for inventory/management training.

I was curious to know why they had been closed, so I went to the Chicago Food Establishment Inspection Records database. A quick search showed two listings for this restaurant, which no information available re. last inspection, inspection results and license status.

I then went to EveryBlock Chicago, which has a note that, "The city's database has not yielded new inspection results since August 2009. We at EveryBlock have contacted the health department in hopes that new records will be provided soon."

Seriously? Are there any other online resources that contain inspection results? This is a valuable tool...how can the city allow it to break and fail to fix it 18 months later?



* At least, I think that's what it said...even if those weren't the exact words, the implication was that the city closed the place.

Budget cuts?

Edit to add: I agree that this is a valuable resource that should be properly maintained.

=R=

Not to hijack my own thread, but I looked on the restaurant's FB page after posting this message. Their news feed went something like this:
Monday @ 7 am: Great [blah blah blah] today...stop by!
Monday @ 12:30 pm: We have [some other great benefit for customers] so why not join us for lunch today.
Tuesday @ noon: We've taken all of your feedback & we're going to reinvent ourselves. Stay tuned....we'll reopen in a few weeks.

I read a great blog post this morning about the Groupon/FTD fiasco. The gist of the writer's advice: Don't lie, because it's too easy to get caught. We all know that restaurants get shut for a variety of reasons. I'd much rather a place be honest, but find a way to put a positive spin on it. Just say, "We've embarrassed, but we learned today that our refrigeration system isn't up to code. We closed as soon as we learned this and we're doing everything necessary to get things fixed. We can't wait to reopen so we can continue to serve the fantastic food that our customers love."

To the original point, I guess I can see how the city could justify/rationalize not putting any further resources into the online documenting of these closures, as long as they're continuing inspections. I'm guessing they couldn't care less if someone shows up at a restaurant that's been closed for failing an inspection. It's not their problem. Posting the notices on the web site requires manhours and manhours cost money. Nevermind that such postings create an easily-accessible and ongoing public record.

As for places not being forthright about why they've been closed, I consider such instances useful red flags, ironically, raised by the operators themselves.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Posting the notices on the web site requires manhours and manhours cost money.

I'm not an IT person by any stretch of the imagination, but it's safe to assume that these inspection records are being stores in an electronic database that's maintained by the city for use by city inspectors. Presumably it's the same database--or a version of--that the public can search from the website. So I can't imagine it's that expensive to maintain. It's not as if all of the records would be kept in paper files were it not for the website.

Now that I'm thinking about it, remember how the city went through a period of issue press releases about noteworthy restaurant closings? We haven't seen many of those recently. I wonder if they stopped doing that at about the same time they stopped maintaining the database.

chgoeditor wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Posting the notices on the web site requires manhours and manhours cost money.

So I can't imagine it's that expensive to maintain. It's not as if all of the records would be kept in paper files were it not for the website..

While the law firm I work with doesn't deal with the City/County that much, they do work with higher levels of government, and you might be shocked to see how much information is stored/passed around only on paper.

SSDD

chgoeditor wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Posting the notices on the web site requires manhours and manhours cost money.

I'm not an IT person by any stretch of the imagination, but it's safe to assume that these inspection records are being stores in an electronic database that's maintained by the city for use by city inspectors. Presumably it's the same database--or a version of--that the public can search from the website. So I can't imagine it's that expensive to maintain. It's not as if all of the records would be kept in paper files were it not for the website.

As long as they update their database, no time should be required by city employees. Everyblock handles the import scripts or site scraping needed to gather the information, the data just needs to be publicly available in some manner and they handle the rest.

Based on the statement from Everyblock and a quick look at the department's database, it looks like they haven't added any new info to the database since 2009. That raises some very serious questions about how that department is being managed. I agree with headcase that a lot information is only on paper in some government agencies, but this is important information that the public can use, making it available to the public directly relates to their job of helping protect the public's health. Also, they've spent the money to set up the database, they should use it.

In this particular restaurant's case, though, it might not be a health inspection issue. Restaurants can close due to other permits/licenses being out of whack.

leek wrote:In this particular restaurant's case, though, it might not be a health inspection issue. Restaurants can close due to other permits/licenses being out of whack.

Absolutely agreed, Leek, which is one of the reasons that the inspection database is useful to residents.

Since the big green Closed sign never provides a lot of details, I think customers and neighbors have an interest in knowing the reason behind the closure. Had the license expired? Was there no certified food safety person present? Did they have a rash of Hepatitis cases? Or were rats spotted running through the dining room? That gives the customer more information so he/she can make educated decision about dining at the restaurant in the future.

chgoeditor wrote:That gives the customer more information so he/she can make educated decision about dining at the restaurant in the future.

As well as helping people diagnose any illnesses they may have had in the past.

Just a note to point out that city inspection results website is being updated for the first time in 2 years!

I just happened to take part in a feature article on this topic this wk.

http://gapersblock.com/drivethru/2011/11/21/inspecting_chicagos_kitchens/

Jazzfood wrote:I just happened to take part in a feature article on this topic this wk.

http://gapersblock.com/drivethru/2011/11/21/inspecting_chicagos_kitchens/

Jazzfood-

I really liked that article. I'm glad you linked to it.

Agreed. Those frontline perspectives from jazzfood are fascinating. (The inspector accusing him of bribery based on the offer of some oxtails suggests these inspectors can be major arses, if they're in the mood).

Jazzfood - awesome article and vignettes. Thanks for sharing.

The GP wrote:

Jazzfood wrote:I just happened to take part in a feature article on this topic this wk.

http://gapersblock.com/drivethru/2011/11/21/inspecting_chicagos_kitchens/

Jazzfood-

I really liked that article. I'm glad you linked to it.

I am, too! The Gaper's Block article was the one that clued me into the fact that inspection reports were back online, but then I forgot where I'd read it. Ah, the problems with old age.

I'm so happy the reports are back online. For instance, I was able to learn that my favorite by-the-slice place was shut down not for the sink drainage issue they claimed, but a roach infestation, among other things. An informed customer is a happy (and healthier) customer.

Looks like LA is stepping up efforts to publicize inspection reports. Now on Yelp: Los Angeles Restaurant Health Grades