If you ever want to get that nice chaotic third world feeling then go hang out at the Department of Buildings. The Brooklyn one is good but the Manhattan one is even more insane.
It goes a little like this.
Lets say you want a tracking number to pull a work permit. Simple enough.
Go to the Brooklyn office.
They will tell you you have to go to the Manhattan office, 3rd floor.
The 3rd floor will tell you to go to the 4th floor.
The 4th floor will tell you to go to the 5th floor.
Thee 5th floor will send you to the 6th floor.
They in turn will send you to different office on the 3rd floor.
They will then tell you to go and get it in the Brooklyn office.
And the cycle starts again.
I kid you not. Go ahead try it. I did.