Kasim Reed’s “Drip-Drip-Drip” Problem

Last week I posted about how a former Supervisor at the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management blew-the-whistle on Kasim Reed’s current CFO, J. Anthony “Jim” Beard.

CFO, Duriya Farooqui

In an interview, Reed’s Chief Operating Officer, Duriya Farooqui, acknowledged that Beard abused an employee gift card giveaway program.

To slowdown any “rush to judgment” on Beard’s hording the Bed Bath & Beyond redeemables, Ms. Farooqui also announced a “get-to-the-bottom-of-it” audit.

In my post, I neglected to share additional background on Reed’s Department of Watershed Management and Mr. Beard.

Before we get to Mr. Beard, however, there are a few details about the Department of Watershed Management you’ll need to put aside including the fact that Atlantans now pay the highest water rates in the country AND that thousands of Atlanta rate-payers have defective meters that cause them to pay for more water than they consume (and the city knows about it). 

And, most importantly, you’ll have to act as if you’re not aware that Reed directed that cash pool funds be used from the Department of Watershed Management to give airport bond holders the impression that Hartsfield-Jackson is financially stronger than it really is (more on this sugarplum in the future).

Joya De Foor

Pretend like you don’t already know that stuff…

Mr. Beard was not always Reed’s CFO. In fact, as Ms. Farooqui described it, Beard was once the “CFO for the Watershed Management Department” – that’s how he was able to get his sticky fingers in the gift card cookie jar.

Mr. Beard competed against, and lost the CFO position to, Joya De Foor, who was actively recruited by Reed when he was putting together his administration. 

Beard only became the city’s CFO after De Foor was illegally terminated by Reed. 

Why was she terminated? She was terminated because she refused to play ball with Reed 

Yes, now you may begin connecting the dots.

Specifically, Ms. De Foor brought suit against Reed after he wrongfully terminated her for disagreeing with him on how Department of Watershed Management funds could or couldn’t be used.

To avoid providing testimony and subjecting himself to a legal oath to tell the truth, Reed’s attorneys reached an out-of-court settlement with De Foor.

City documents show that Reed’s actions involving the Department of Watershed Management so compromised the city that his attorneys concluded that the city’s “financial exposure far exceeded” the amount De Foor was willing to settle for and go away.

In the end, De Foor avoided a lengthy court battle, took the money, put Reed behind her, and moved on with her life.

So, as controversies and sordid details “drip-drip-drip” out of the department of Watershed Management, we can assume one person keeping a close eye on the Department of Watershed Management is US Attorney Sally Yates.