I know a lot of blue collar people in NY whose work is directly involved or adjacent to road construction and all of them express cynical views about corruption in that sphere.
Petty corruption is the open secret in all of American construction. Even out in the boonies where we never had the militant unions and "Machines" of new york, the construction company is owned by a guy who is high school friends with most of the people on the town council. Is it any wonder the contract goes to them?
Just blatant nepotism everywhere.