Sion Misrahi, a Lower East Side developer, says the New York City Department of Buildings is “scared to death,” according to the Lo-Down blog. In light of the recent allegations of corruption within the DOB, Misrahi says that the department is now “scared of [its] own shadow,” and acting with undue trepidation. Misrahi, who had a role in a recent documentary, “The Lower East Side: An Endangered Place,” said that this fear is the reason that there are over 540 stalled construction sites in the city. He believes that department trepidation has made it “impossible to do business in the city.” The developer is outspoken on his opposition to stricter new rezoning laws that he feels stymie city growth, and maintains that the DOB is targeting existing buildings with fines, because there are few new construction sites to monitor.