How many millions will Atlanta favoritism cost us?
If you’ve ever been curious about Atlanta’s spoils system, Monday is your lucky day. A federal jury is slated to begin hearing a lawsuit that claims city officials conspired to steer a lucrative airport contract to an old crony of former mayor Maynard Jackson.
In fact, the big question may not be “if” but “how” — as in how many millions of dollars this funny business will end up costing taxpayers.
The lawsuit, filed by Atlanta businessman Billy Corey (you’ve seen his last name on that old white smokestack across the interstate from Grady hospital), dates to a 2002 bidding process for advertising rights at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. But the broader story, which I’ve drawn from case documents, started two decades earlier.
In 1980, the city gave Barbara Fouch, a former model and a friend of Jackson, a no-bid contract to manage advertising displays at the airport. Federal funding recipients, such as our airport, must ensure minority participation in the contracts they let. And, as a black woman, Fouch and her firm qualify as a “disadvantaged business enterprise,” or DBE, under federal transportation law.
Of course, according to the deposition of the city’s head of contract compliance, even Oprah Winfrey would be considered a “disadvantaged” businesswoman under Atlanta’s interpretation of the law.
For 22 years, Fouch and a series of business partners, most recently Clear Channel, operated under an unquestioned arrangement in which the city never re-bid the contract, yet received just half of the ad proceeds. That’s well below what peer airports receive.
In 2002, new Mayor Shirley Franklin decided to open the contract to bids from other vendors, and Corey submitted one of three offers. He came within four points, on the city’s 100-point grading scale, of winning the contract, which went to Clear Channel but was never approved by the City Council.
Yet, Corey claims he actually should have beaten Clear Channel by 12 points because Fouch should not have qualified as a DBE because she’s neither disadvantaged nor a business operator; a judge’s order in the case notes that Fouch’s own DBE application to the city stated that her company owned no business equipment. Curious, huh?
Corey further claims that the city scrutinized his own DBE partner much more thoroughly than it did Fouch. He did receive full credit for his partner, but he portrays this extra scrutiny as part of the city’s efforts to make sure Clear Channel and Fouch retained the contract.
A lot more will come out as the case is tried, but an obvious question is why the city would care so much about just who held an airport contract.
If Corey’s past statements to the AJC are any indication, expect his lawyers to push the idea that the city is run for “the royals” — the insiders, both black and white — at the expense of “the regulars” — the ordinary folks, both black and white, whom the royals ignore between elections.
Should the jury agree and rule for Corey, the decision could cost Atlantans millions of dollars. Already, Corey claims the city’s shenanigans have cost taxpayers millions in forgone ad revenues.
The city might have avoided all this by re-examining the DBE part of the bids or even re-bidding the contract completely. Barring a last-minute settlement of some sort, Atlantans may soon be asking city officials “why” — as in why they’ve fought so hard in a case that looks like a legal loser.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
87 comments Add your comment
LOLO
July 9th, 2010
8:53 pm
Atlanta Government + the Airport = Failure
Gerald West
July 9th, 2010
9:04 pm
Keep going with the investigative reports, Kyle. Have a look at the shenanigans of the Georgia state administration and legislature next. That’s where “good ol’ boy” Georgia politics can pay big time!
Political corruption is so commonplace and expected that exposures become boring, unless there’s a gimmick. The South Carolina governor who went for a hike in the mountains, and found true love in midlife, in Argentina, is an interesting story. Plain vanilla cheating on contract awards is dull.
It all goes to show that all government in America, be it local, state, and national, is corrupt and incompetent. The corruption starts at the campaign stage of politics and grows worse from there. To be elected to public office, a politician needs lots of money to pay for a media blitz to fool voters into thinking there’s something of substance behind his posturing and ranting. Once elected, the politician rewards his contributors; that’s only fair.
Under common law and common sense, a campaign contribution to a politician who gains public office is a bribe; a request for a campaign contribution by a politician who may gain public office is extortion. Politicians are exempt from common law, and campaign contributions are tax deductible.
Now, where do we go from here?
MrLiberty
July 9th, 2010
9:44 pm
The same questions could be asked of our federal government. Clearly crony capitalism is the foundation of everything that goes on on the federal level. Any presumption that we have a truly free market is ridiculous.
Since the creation of the Federal Reserve and the supposed ratification of the income tax, this country’s leadership has been taxing and inflating to the benefit of its “friends” and to the detriment of its citizens. But of course the “American Plan” of Lincoln and others in favor of the northern industrialists was none the better. In that case they just used oppressive tarriffs and the like to benefit their friends at everyone’s expense.
Government power is at the root of evil. It certainly isn’t confined to this state.
joan1
July 9th, 2010
9:49 pm
Kyle: I commend you for your investigative insights. I believe all Atlantans realize that this city is run by a bunch of insiders, all of them lining each others’ pockets, and the corruption is tolerated by the city leaders–I mean those who actually work in private industry and turn a profit, because frankly, most city leaders wouldn’t touch a city government job if they had to because of the stench it would leave on their clothing. Just attend any government function in Atlanta–and you will get an eyeful of the composition of our city government personnel–really and truly sad, and very common among large cities with large black populations. And down and down we go.
neo-Carlinist
July 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
they’re simply using the DC model. with regard to Corey’s war with city hall, I am reminded of North Vietnamese General Giap, who when informed the NVA did not win one single battlefield enagement with the armed forces of the Unites States, replied; “that statement entirely true and completely irrelevant.” but let’s think about it as taxpayers (and I am an Atlanta resident and homeowner). in 2010 the city will incur a huge legal tab to defend itself against charges which are 6-10 years old. ergo, the taxpayers must foot the bill to prove that previous taxpayers were ripped off or fleeced by the city. I’ll let everyone chew on that for the a minute.
Richard
July 9th, 2010
10:30 pm
Why should the taxpayers be liable? Shouldn’t it be the actual bad guys? Sueing your local government seems to me a lot like sueing youself.
DannyX
July 9th, 2010
11:05 pm
Excellent column Kyle. I know people like Joan are going to try and make this a racial issue but its not. As you noted the corruption in Atlanta is not just a black thing. This whole state seems to be full ethically challenged leaders that seem to have an entitlement to back room deals that enrich each other.
Each side takes cover by pointing out the poor ethics of the other. There is a long list of failures on both sides. Democrats have had a chance to tighten ethic laws and have failed miserably at both the local and state levels. Republicans this past session decided real ethics reform wasn’t a priority after all.
I agree with Gerald West at 9:04, keep them coming, there is plenty more out there.
flerpae
July 9th, 2010
11:38 pm
Kyle,
Richard Nixon is giving you a solid golf clap for journalistic integrity….
curious observer
July 9th, 2010
11:48 pm
Massell taught Maynard.
Andy did not need tutoring from Maynard but Campbell and Franklin are from the “Maynard Line” of questionable dealings.
The airport has been their cash cow since the 70’s and continues to be so today.
I was told by a minority sub-contractor on the building of the current airport that Maynard received 2.5% of his and every other contract. The total cost was $2-3 Billion as I recall, thus if true a very large commission went to Maynard. Anyone ever heard this story?
Grand Forks
July 10th, 2010
12:01 am
Looks like another case of black favoritism.
The Cynical White Boy
July 10th, 2010
1:19 am
Discrimination is fully legal, even government sanctioned, hell, even government MANDATED….it just depends upon the skin color of “who” is the discriminatOR and the skin color of who is the discriminatEE.
The funny thing is, the blacks are still raising hell even though the laws are stacked in their favor now. They can’t stand that the Asians are moving in and kicking butt, with no government help at all – simply hard work. And they can’t stand that the hispanics are taking “their” government benefits.
Ah well, I am sure that Comrade Obama will make everything okay. Doesn’t matter who wins this particular lawsuit. If the result does not favor Comrade Obama’s allies, he and Pelosi will simply take over the airport, too.
TJAtl
July 10th, 2010
1:46 am
This is spot-on. Kudos to you, Kyle, for taking this on. The DBE program has a legitimate purpose, but has been abused by the “connected” in the City for decades.
TJAtl
July 10th, 2010
2:08 am
I see from the responses this is unfortunately becoming a racial thing. Really, people: cronyism, nepotism, favoritism are as old as humankind, and runs through all levels of power regardless of ethnicity. It needs to be rooted out in ALL circumstances.
A CONSERVATIVE
July 10th, 2010
5:30 am
EVERY READER OF THE AJC has wondered why the paper has rarely..if ever….touched on this issue before-????..AJC is too occupied covering the corrupt, inept school systen…& ..black.on..black crime…
GB
July 10th, 2010
6:56 am
Note that Corey as a “DBE partner.” Regardless of who gets the work, the racial spoils system prevails. Someone is getting paid to be black.
Churchill's MOM
July 10th, 2010
7:09 am
Well done
Churchill's MOM
July 10th, 2010
7:48 am
It is my understanding that the Jackson Family took over the Atlanta School systems food service about 5 years ago, the 1st year the Jackson family cost was $1 million more that if the school system had done it. I am sure the Jackson Family is skimming more now, please check out my facts.
Question Man
July 10th, 2010
7:52 am
This is not a black-white issue, is it? Isn’t it a just question of inside power brokers continuing to feed at the public trough, as has always been the case in Atlanta?
Ronald H. Christ
July 10th, 2010
8:26 am
“…the city is run for “the royals” — the insiders, both black and white — at the expense of “the regulars” — the ordinary folks, both black and white, whom the royals ignore between elections”
My fellow trickle-downers, for the safety and security of the nation we are well on our way to implementing my great dream, the American plutocracy.
Do not worry.And do not trust your government. We haves will take very good care of you have-nots.
Michael
July 10th, 2010
8:51 am
Voltaire is alleged to have said that “government is the art of taking money from one man’s pocket and putting it into the pocket of another.” The corruption Mr. Wingfield discusses is endemic to politics, period. If you look at the history of infrastructure building in cities like New York, for example, you see corruption on a scale that makes anything going on in the “New York of the South” look like a lemonade stand.
In fact, I used to work for the City of Atlanta at the airport as a translator. For a time I was laid off, and when I was re-hired, I was told I was laid off at Jackson’s request–at his personal request–so that a person of color could be found to replace me. Since no one was found who fit that description, I was re-hired. I mention this only to note that I have personally experienced what was explained to me as an instance of reverse discrimination (in fact, I’m mixed-race, but people see me as white).
Despite being the recipient of skin-based treatment, I don’t really hold a grudge against the perps, including the late mayor. After 300+ years of brutal, truly inhuman treatment of people of color by whites, it’s amazing to me that all people of color aren’t either homicidal maniacs or too depressed to get out of bed. The fact that so many white people are so easily brought to a fuming rage at the realization that blacks have exacted a payback price for what has been done to them strikes me as just downright puerile, easily as puerile as the decline that black culture has undergone even as real, honest, plentiful opportunities to move up in the world have appeared.
My point would be this: it’s right to talk honestly about who is using whom, who is working to oppress or degrade whom, but it would be wrong to use that discussion to justify either side of the black-white line’s puffing up and concluding the other side is just plain no damn good and never will be. We’re all cousins, we’re all one family, and we need to quit the crap, learn how to live with each other, be kind to each other and try to bring out the best in each other.
The people who hold grudges against Atlanta for all its many real failures are holding themselves back just as much as they’re hurting us wicked city folks. While people in this state continue snarling at each other over a stupid grudge, our neighbors appear to be moving into the 21st century. That’s why Florida and North Carolina are making progress in public transportation, for example, while the people we have elected to represent us in Georgia continue to position us to be going nowhere.
Curious
July 10th, 2010
9:05 am
Cost “us” Kyle?
I didn’t know you lived in Atlanta. I thought you were a suburbanite.
If you don’t live in Atlanta, how is it costing you anything? The airport authority doesn’t tax suburbanites — so what’s with the hysterics?
I wonder if your interest in government corruption would also lead you to inquire about shady contracting at GDOT, GRTA, GEFA, etc. Or any number of county governments across the state that are run by the GOP. Or are those off limits because they are run by Republicans. You are quick to criticize MARTA, Atlanta the airport, etc., but even Sonny Perdue showed some exasperation at the “Enron Style accounting” of GDOT — even though he’s the governor and he appointed the commissioner.
Of course, all problems at GDOT are the fault of the democrats — old Sonny and the GOP haven’t had time to fix anything. Its only been 8 years. However on the national level you have claimed that its time to stop blaming Bush. So Obama has less than two years where Bush’s corruption, cronyism, profilgate ways can be attributed to Bush — but the GOP in Georgia has 8, or is it 80, years to keep blaming the democrats. Bit of a double-standard there.
By your silence I suppose you are OK with GOP good-old-boy cronysim and corruption?
I suppose you favor a state takeover over the airport — that way the greed and graft could go to those people who have a better claim to it — rich white guys. Can you imagine what would happen if those clowns at the legislature and GDOT took over the airport? Talk about greed and corruption — those boys know how to really game the system.
Don’t believe it? — just look at GDOT track record for handling grant funds from the feds. Where did we put those millions of dollars?
Fair and balanced, right?
Got news for you. All politicians are inherently self-serving, greedy and only care about getting re-elected, To do that they will feather the nests of the friends and contributors (Halliburton and no-bids contracts anyone?) and do what ever they can to undermine the friends of their political rivals. That includes blacks,whites, dems, repubs, libertarians, whatever.
But keep pointing the finger at MARTA, Atlanta and the airport Kyle. Thery are the only govt entities in the state that deserve scrutiny — its what your dittoheads want to hear.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
July 10th, 2010
9:47 am
But if we compel fair bidding on airport contracts, how will the overlords obtain their graft? Think, Kyle. More seriously, Mr. Corey’s allegations have the ring of truth, and would tend to support the sale of the airport to the free market. An appropriate alternative, of course, would be to sell Lawrenceville’s airport to someone like SouthWest, a low-cost carrier blocked from ATL. There is no problem with the Atlanta airport that would not be cured by true competition.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
July 10th, 2010
9:48 am
Dear Curious @ 9:05, it is painfully obvious you do not fly from ATL – you would know who pays the fees there.
The Austrian Brotherhood
July 10th, 2010
10:40 am
Leave Libertarians out of it.
Knowing human nature and the destructive, coercive, intrusive actions of career politicians and low self-esteem do-gooders, they wouldn’t have inane, misguided policies set up for easy abuse in the first place.
Go Asians!
Red November
July 10th, 2010
11:14 am
Well, I see the liberal droolers can’t stand themselves and have to continue trolling Conservative blogs. Then they whine about “right wing trolls” being on liberal blogs on the AJC. Go figure.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s have a recap of the past week or so in liberal “progressive” land:
* The Obama Administration has banned media reporters from accessing and reporting on the Gulf spill up close and personal, even so much as preventing flights below 3,000 feet in the region. Yeah, as oil seeps into Lake Pontchartrain.
* San Francisco, Pelosiland, is considering banning the sale of pets because the bed wetters are afraid that the new pet will be abandoned (seriously).
* Obama’s job approval rating among independents is down to 38% according to Gallup. For the slow wit Obama voters: independents swung the election Obama’s way as he ran as a moderate, not a hard leftist as he’s being now.
* Democrats refused to make compromises with Republicans on extending unemployment benefits, not the least of which is ensuring that at least SOME of it is PAID for. What a concept huh? But you won’t see the DNC main stream media report it like that. But hey, at least on Democrat rejected it: “Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., opposed to the bill because it would add more than $33 billion to the nation’s $1.3 trillion deficit.” Don’t look for the DNC main stream media to throw Nelson under the bus. They need all the Democrats they can hold on to this November.
* Over 25% of the swine flu vaccine produced for Americans has gone bad, meaning that about 40 million doses – worth about $260 million – are being thrown in the trash and written off. This was that huge ramp up supply that the government said we had to have. And you idiotic liberals want the government to run our health care. Sickening.
* The state of Illinois has nearly $5 billion in unpaid bills and is $11 billion in debt as it is (they that’s with a B, Obama voters). So what did governor Pat Quinn do? Why give state union employees a 7.5% TAX PAYER FUNDED raise of course! Note you won’t see any liberal bed wetting over giving raises here, unlike when they drool over themselves when PRIVATE COMPANIES give bonuses and raises.
* The strategy for Democrats in this mid term election year and in preparation for 2012 is to dig as much as possible into the depths of Republicans and find dirt. Gee, I guess when you are a party that is FAILING America and a mindless main stream media licking your boots and only Fox News and Conservative blogs are reporting actual news, then I guess the only thing left to do is go dig up more dirt on Joe Plumber & Co. Pathetic.
* The Teleprompter Administration is losing the White Vote. (See the first bullet point).
* Speaking of the Teleprompter Administration, do a Google on “Obama the great jobs killer.” Straight from Las Vegas, Dirty Harry Reid territory. Yeah, the same Reid who has to get funding support from outside his home state for this November. (He’s as politically dried up as a Nevada snake skin).
* The Community Organizer Administration went around Congress and self-appointed a Health Care Czar, Donald Berwick. This good doctor loves the medical care of the UK and loves rationed care. So, for all you liberals out there who think that government health care is great so everyone can parlay equally, be prepared to watch your elderly parents shoved to the back of the line when they need medical care.
* Jobs continue to bleed in this nation, well over a year past that trillion dollar “stimulus” bill that was rammed through Congress which was supposed to, as Joe “The Gaffe” Biden said, prevent unemployment from going above 8%.
* There has been a lot of focus on that new black panther nut who was intimidating voters in PA during the presidential election of 2008. Well, no thanks to DNCNN, PMSNBC, and the rest of the liberal media, a video has surfaced of same nutball telling black people they need to “kill crackers and their babies.” Now keep in mind the same DNCNN, PMSNBC, and the rest of the left wing bedwetting media which was beside themselves when a Tea Party member allegedly shouted the “N” word (still waiting on that video by the way) won’t even report this. Yet, the Tea Party members are the domestic terrorists, the racists, and the haters. Yeah, makes perfect sense to me.
Facts Matter
July 10th, 2010
11:18 am
Politicians give contracts and sweetheart deals to their friends, families, and contributors? Say it ain’t so.
Hopefully Kyle will be devoting some ink to all of the crooked deals of Deal, Oxendine, and Handel soon. Or will he remain silent about these career corrupt politicians until after the election?
Kyle Wingfield
July 10th, 2010
11:40 am
You thought wrong, Curious. As my bio states, I live in Atlanta.
As for corruption at other agencies: Of course I don’t agree with it. I’ve been working here a little over a year; some of this digging takes time. The Corey lawsuit, unlike allegations at the other agencies mentioned, begins Monday — so in addition to a lot of facts being available, there’s some timeliness involved.
neo-Carlinist
July 10th, 2010
11:43 am
the only color that matters is green (and that’s the color of money, not the color of Al Gore’s portfolio, which by the way is also the financial green, and not the environmental green). as I said, the Atlanta plutocracy is not different than the DC, Chicago, NYC or Texas. the fact that a person’s skin is light or dark is literally a superficial issue. corruption trumps race. and you can take that to the bank!
Claude
July 10th, 2010
12:15 pm
Maybe it shouldn’t, but it surprises me that some of the liberals who post here just shrug off government corruption with everybody-does-it comments. Well, if we can’t make government honest and efficient, then at least let’s make government smaller.
Scott
July 10th, 2010
12:22 pm
Kyle, I seldom agree with you but you are dead on with this opinion. The Airport has been run as a gravy train for some. The rules as they apply are supposed to help disadvantaged minorities, but thats not how it works. My business is registered to be able to bid on airport contracts. If, however, I seriously wanted to win one of these bids, I would have to “partner” with some shell company owned by a minority. This company would have absolutely no knowledge of how to complete it…so basically you pay to have a minority owner to get the business
Tyler Durden
July 10th, 2010
12:30 pm
Yeah, the airport has been rife with corruption and good ol’ boy contracting since time immortal. And much larger elements of cronyism can be found at the state level, where the GOP has been pushing the projects and steering umpteen millions to their patrons for the better part of a decade. The gas pipeline deal to Lake Oconee is just one example. The request to have a very expensive infrastructure project be given the fastlane, along with the process to apply the $40 million bill to ALL Georgians (even tho the pipeline would only benefit a few dozen families and businesses in one community) is corruption at it’s highest. Of course, the family involved has been large GOP contributors for many years and is simply getting their just reward. Socialized support for their community from that well know Socialist, Sonny Puredoo…
Seems like similar outrage is due here from Kyle, yet no one is holding their breath, as this Socialism is supported by the right party.
DEWSTARPATH
July 10th, 2010
12:58 pm
“Looks like another case of black favoritism.”
– Insightful comment. Simplistic and totally biased.
Multiply it by millions, and you can see why there is a
socioeconomic hurdle in the southeastern US when it
comes to attracting new businesses and jobs.
Grand Forks
July 10th, 2010
1:09 pm
Buddy of mine and I did some advertising work for Billy Corey a few years ago. Nice guy.
“Insightful comment. Simplistic and totally biased.”
Yes, black favoritism is totally biased.
Grand Forks
July 10th, 2010
1:13 pm
Governor Cristie for Prez
Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services
New Jersey would close its centralized car inspection lanes and motorists would pay for their own emissions tests under a sweeping set of recommendations set to be released by the Christie administration today.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/070910_Christie_looks_to_privatize_motor_vehicle_inspections.html
Jillian
July 10th, 2010
1:32 pm
Someone I know owns a business securing permits to build various things in Atlanta. In order for them to do ANY business at all, they have to keep a black guy, who knows people at City Hall, full time on their payroll. Otherwise they get NO permits, period. It’s the way it is and has been for more than a generation; the only way it will end is when a non black is elected mayor and starts to clean house.
B. Morris
July 10th, 2010
1:38 pm
I’m not from the Atlanta area, but I have flown thru Hartsfield. The City of Atlanta is democrat run, is it not? Typical of the party’s elite, they still use blacks as barter even when they, themselves are black.
It’s what our newly elected prez calls the status quo, and he has every intention of continuing it. He has recently added hispanics to his stock and trade.
Urban Republican
July 10th, 2010
2:33 pm
The cost of good and bad old boy politicking is costing taxpayers dearly. Elections cannot just be about personality contests.
It was important to to elect a mayor familiar with the way things are run at City Hall. Folks with the money support in large amounts those who will continue the status quo.
African-American and white liberal voters are manipulated by racial strife advertising whether at the local, state or federal level.
hryder
July 10th, 2010
3:00 pm
In bidding of this type, there is no doubt that color blindness could prevail if a coding system were instituted. The assurance that fairness would occur in and during the process is a twenty year prison sentence with no possibility of parole for anyone revealing the coding system or view others bids prior to the bids revelation date. This DBE is B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.. Why is not a slot reserved for my height(6′2″) in the NBA, my skills as a center are unmatched by others with the same innate attribute. Skin pigmentation is an innate attribute.
2040
July 10th, 2010
3:01 pm
When Whites become the minority(sometime in the vicinity 0f 2040) will we get the same benefits?
hahahahahaha
Mike Bloomberg for Atlanta 2014
July 10th, 2010
3:15 pm
Kyle, great article. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Research municipal bonds and how a certain percentage of bonds must be distributed through a minority firm. This is not the case for corporate bonds or any other security. Who happened to own such a firm? Why Maynard Jackson, of course!
I refuse to call the Atlanta airport Hartsfield-Jackson. I prefer to call it Hartsfield-Taxpayer as a memorial tribute to those whose pockets Maynard & Co. picked.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 10th, 2010
3:53 pm
Keep digging Kyle. This goes back farther than 1980; it goes back to before you were born.
Greg in the Highlands
July 10th, 2010
4:03 pm
I am seriously considering moving back to Minnesota. They have blind contract bidding- no mention of race whatsoever. How do you think they got the 35W bridge rebuilt within 1 year of it’s collapse? The was no consideration of race at all. Atlanta is Black owned and operated. That’s why it’s such a mess. When the new census come out and shows that whites are the minority, things will then change.
Bernard
July 10th, 2010
4:23 pm
I’m Asst Controller of a construction company. We “partner” with an MWBE on government jobs. The Minority/Woman Business Enterprise does NOTHING except take a slice of profits. The Owner has one employee – one of their children. The only assets are a luxury sedan and a luxury SUV for the two of them. The Owner of my company had to make a person-to-person loan to the Owner of the MWBE so their Balance Sheet would have “Equity”. When the MWBE has a job, they “lease” employees from us. And on, and on. Total BS, just a scheme to force a white, male, entrepreneur with 30 years’ experience to give away 49% of the profit his company earns.
SPQR(laissez Faire)
July 10th, 2010
4:25 pm
Doing some historical research on the old city of Mountain View, in north clayton county(actually it’s a runway now), I found that Maynard Jackson and a certain state senator whom i-675 is named after, from clayton county, had the state legislature de-charter the city..ostensibly because it was a speedtrap pain in the ass place run by a corrupt mayor..but conveiniently, weeks before the federal government cut the checks for the first massive round of noise abatement condemnation..because guess who then got the money for the compensation of “public works” sewers, streets, etc…? no longer the city of mtn view, not the taxpayers…the city of Atlanta(maynards cash, not fulton county commission) and clayton county. Just a historical note which is probably repeated hundreds of times as the city of atlanta destroys hapeville, east point, and college park with an airport that for some retarded reason resides mostly outside fulton county but is run(in reality, if not in name) by the city of atlanta
DEWSTARPATH
July 10th, 2010
5:09 pm
“Yes, black favoritism is totally biased.”
“Grand fork LobLAw” – I was talking about your post,
not “black favoritism”, whatever that is.
Kamchak
July 10th, 2010
5:13 pm
..ostensibly because it was a speedtrap pain in the ass place run by a corrupt mayor..
Yep, had a store just off I-285 where you could buy beer 24/7–security was a Mtn. View cop.
joan1
July 10th, 2010
7:27 pm
I am a sole practitioner, and a woman and wanted to get a “partner” with The Minority/Woman Business Enterprise, which sells itself to corporations as an ethical enterprise. I went through paperwork hell, and quite a bit of expense to get the certificate indicating my business was minority owned (well, I guess so, since I am its only employee), and what did it get me. Nothing. This outfit does nothing but collect dues.
Courtney
July 10th, 2010
10:14 pm
No big secret that Maynard Jackson was the biggest criminal in the state. Cannot wait till we get his name off the airport he tried to destroy.
DEWSTARPATH
July 11th, 2010
2:34 am
Courtney – July 10th, 2010 – 10:14 pm
“No big secret that Maynard Jackson was the biggest criminal in the state. Cannot wait till we get his name off the airport he tried to destroy.”
– Biggest criminal in the state ?
Why no prison time or convictions while Maynard was alive ? Doesn’t
the state of Georgia have more prisoners than any other state in
the union ?
Scarlet's Meme
July 11th, 2010
8:02 am
Corruption? In the Mayor’s Office? Next you’ll claim that there’s Yankees in Georgia.
Not bloody likely.
curious observer
July 11th, 2010
8:10 am
Maynard Jackson WAS a crook and still is, even from the grave, as his family and friends profit from the criminal enterprise the “Round Mayor of Bribery” established. I suppose you could assert Blacks are not racist since they are equal opportunity thieves – they even steal from each other!
Look into Church’s Chicken sale of 100+ stores to a “minority” group from Atlanta whose leader was Jackson’s law partner and chief of staff. The group claims debt bankrupted the company, an AJC article supported them, but the reality is the two Blacks at the top of the 7 member group were stealing money faster than the chicken stores could earn money.
The “President” or “Chairman”, I do not recall which, divorced his wife and gave her a Lexus SUV in the settlement. Unfortunately the vehicle was leased to the company, ownership being an insignificant detail to this particular crook, so he simply leased another for himself, also in the name of the company.
The Prez and Chair eventually ran the group into the ground and Church’s found a West Coast buyer for the stores.
Gator Joe
July 11th, 2010
8:29 am
Kyle,
Corruption is wrong and should be exposed wherever, and whenever it exists. It is also wrong, and hypocritical, to overlook corruption when one is in favor of the party or group in power. I’ll bet there was little, or no, investigation of, or outrage regarding corruption when Atlanta was government was all white, yet there was as much, or more, corruption then as now, with racism added to the mix.
You and the Right, may continue to point out misconduct, though you didn’t during white administrations, it is your right, but please withhold the phony outrage
Road Scholar
July 11th, 2010
9:01 am
Kyle, while I agree that the administration of DBE programs are biased to the “insiders”, I have seen some benefits from it. When a fledgling company is given the ability to grow, and does so withintegrity and hard work, the program is a success. But when it is clouded by continued awards to the “insiders”, then it should be investigated.
Gator Joe has a valid point above. Where was the media investigation into the Richardson affair before his wife exposed him? Why are the Oxendine hearings been canceled repeatedly? If he is innocent/guilty then let it be shown. Oh, these, and other items, are ruled over by white powerful officials. So this is OK?
Tyler Durden
July 11th, 2010
11:50 am
Road Scholar and Gator Joe:
Looking for logic or balance from Kyle is a task akin to that fella rolling a rock up a hill that never ends. But it’s kinda fun to hold his feet to the fire, if for no other reason than to remind him how pathetically biased he is…
One day, young Kyle, you might learn. But no one’s holding their breath
Lottery Insider
July 11th, 2010
11:54 am
Great report and analysis, Kyle.
If you are looking for rampant corruption, and for abuse of the poorest and most powerless of Georgians, I hope you will dig into and take on the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Unfortunately, the AJC and Cox/WSB receive huge amounts of advertising from the lottery, so I doubt your bosses would let you dig in. Two angles: (1) why are the poorest and most hopeless among us tricked into “playing” these lottery “games” to provide college money for upper-middle-class college students? (2) why does the Georgia Lottery Corp pay six-figure salaries to so many people? Any monkey could run the lottery – it’s a state-sanctioned monopoly.
No More Progressives!
July 11th, 2010
1:34 pm
Greg in the Highlands
July 10th, 2010
4:03 pm
Atlanta is Black owned and operated. That’s why it’s such a mess. When the new census come out and shows that whites are the minority, things will then change.
Well said. The trouble is I don’t know how much credibility I’ll give the 2010 census, due to all the shenanigans. Democrats see the census as an opportunity to add Congressional seats & waste more of other peoples money, plain & simple. And yes, I know that the census is Constitutionally called for. Look up gerrymandering: done on both sides, I know.
Angus
July 11th, 2010
1:38 pm
Thanks for bringing this story back to light, Kyle.
Hopefully, cronyism is on the way out in Atlanta. (However, looking at Reed’s appointments/hires so far, maybe not fast enough.)
If you can fight your way through the web of bureaucracy in APS, you can probably find enough bad money to make the Corey suit look like a drop in the bucket – and I encourage you to do so.
killerj
July 11th, 2010
3:17 pm
Good old boy politics? This city has been run by black mayors seems like forever and your saying none of them are crooked?Seems like one was just put in jail?Lets forget this article and go take a good look at marta”good old black boys”politics, more money has been wasted there than any place in Georgia! Man,what a joke!
Scott
July 11th, 2010
4:13 pm
@Jillian
I pull permits all the time in Atlanta. Thats a bunch of BS. I’m white and have never had any kind of problem due to my skin color
DebbieDoRight
July 11th, 2010
4:16 pm
I like to read Kyle’s blog — mainly because it exposes all the “tolerant” and “new” southerners at their best!
killerj: Lets forget this article and go take a good look at marta”good old black boys”politics, more money has been wasted there than any place in Georgia! Man,what a joke!
Killer seems to have conveniently forgotten that Marta was run by Whites just 8 short years ago, and they still had budget worries, (because, unlike any other major city US Transportation system), Marta has to beg the GEORGIA LEGISLATURE to use its own money!! Savannah doesn’t have to, nor does Rome or Athens Trans. Auth.
greg: Atlanta is Black owned and operated. That’s why it’s such a mess.
sigh…..Georgia is run by a bunch of white guys…………lately they passed a bill so that no one could implant microchips in your brain. And what about the Go Fish Georgia! initiative? OR Sonny buying and selling his land illegally to GA Power? What about Oxedine, etc. he’s a white guy, so I guess he’s a pure as driven slush. I guess that’s ok since the white guys thought it up…..
As to the rest of the anti-black this and that comments, they don’t even need a response, nor deserve one – they, the posters, must be dying a little everyday that they now have a (horror upon horror!!) black man as President!! Hee hee heee……
Grob Hahn
July 11th, 2010
4:22 pm
Most of the workers at the airport are black. Where’s the “diversity” in that? Or is it just another example of “Justifiable Payback”? How long can this REALLY continue?
Grobbbbbbbbbbb
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 11th, 2010
5:21 pm
Where was the media investigation into the Richardson affair before his wife exposed him?
Billl Shipp was writing about it 3 years ago. Here’s just one example.
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/010707/opinion_20070107038.shtml
Brad Steel
July 11th, 2010
6:15 pm
… a judge’s order in the case notes that Fouch’s own DBE application to the city stated that her company owned no business equipment. Curious, huh?
For an ad services company, it doesn’t seem all that curious.
But that insignificant observation aside, it seems obvious that the reason HJ Airport has all the efficiency and ambiance of a Greyhound station is the cronyism and poor management history from city hall.
Favoritism and self-dealing from local petty politicians? No. That can’t be. That has certainly never happened!
Red November
July 11th, 2010
6:21 pm
Well, at least Joe Gibbs is starting to see reality:
“WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s chief spokesman says it’s possible that Democrats could lose their majority in the House this fall. Press secretary Robert Gibbs says there’s no doubt that enough seats are in play for Republicans to take control. Gibbs says the outcome of the fall vote will depend on whether Democrats wage strong campaigns.”
Well that makes sense. According to Gallup, only 1/3 of independent voters continue to approve of the Obama administration. That number is even lower for the the Democrat-run Congress. We’re tired of the failed economic policies, failed response to terrorism, and failed response to the Gulf disaster. Don’t look now but Obama is going on another vacation!
DebbieDoRight: I’m still waiting for one of you liberals to chastise or even comment on that black panther who said that crackers and their babies should be killed. We already know Attorney General Eric Holder won’t do anything about it.
Halftrack
July 11th, 2010
7:01 pm
Kyle, You are on the right track. Please keep digging into this mess. DBE should be for the real disadvantaged to get start in a business. This system should have a sunshine drop date to make start ups comply with normal competition. As it is now it’s a shame system for the Royals. Keep on digging.
Willie
July 11th, 2010
8:46 pm
Bernard nailed the truth. Set asides mean that a qualified, presumably competent contractor, gives a large slice of the profits to a front who is paid for his skin color or her gender. What a stupid system?
Mark
July 11th, 2010
10:16 pm
I paid my dues for living in the City of Atlanta almost 15 years … I am so glad to have moved away to the Savannah area. Savannah is not problem free but its a nice alternative to the cesspool called the City of Atlanta.
Uncle Billy
July 12th, 2010
7:08 am
Thus hath it has ever been. Thus will it ever be. “Cato acts as if we lived in The Republic of Plato instead of amidst the scum of Romulus.”-Cicero
Willie
July 12th, 2010
7:23 am
You mean corruption like Joe Heckstall and his brother, Cornelius? The democrat legislator who seems to have pressured the mortage company to change the terms of the mortage for his brother?
Horrible Horrace
July 12th, 2010
8:06 am
Atlanta is just a big Cesspool.
neo-Carlinist
July 12th, 2010
8:10 am
maybe they should name a couple prisons after Maynard Jackson, instead of airports and high schools.
Grand Forks
July 12th, 2010
9:17 am
Looks like I have me one of them there stalkers from Bookman’s page.
Grand Forks
July 12th, 2010
9:23 am
Good news for America.
Liberals analyze their Obama ‘despair’
For many liberals, this is the summer of their discontent.
Already disappointed with President Barack Obama’s ability to deliver on campaign promises, they now contemplate a slowing economic recovery and a good chance of Republican gains in November — two developments that could make enacting Obama’s agenda even more difficult.
Two recent essays framed the debate raging within the progressive community over why the promise of Obama’s candidacy has not lived up to their expectations — and how liberals should proceed in what they fear will be difficult months ahead.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39565.html
Horrible Horrace
July 12th, 2010
9:26 am
Oblunder never had an intention of delivering on most of his campaign promises. The progressives and dems will be surprised when and if this HCare mess is funded. ObiCare can deny individuals from coverage…and there is much more yummy goodness coming for this idiots that voted in this nightmare.
Intown
July 12th, 2010
9:46 am
Kyle – I would hope in your reporting you would note that the allegations in this case stem from alleged actions 8 years and 3 Mayors ago. Lest we cast Atlanta once again in the stereotypical negative light and hear more calls for a bunch of rednecks to take over the BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD — built and operated by THE CITY OF ATLANTA. If Corey’s allegations are true, then certainly things need to change. But, the benefits to the region brought by this airport far outweigh any waste there. This airport, along with 3 interstate highways converging here, are the largets reason why Atlanta is a major metropolitan area today.
Kyle Wingfield
July 12th, 2010
10:42 am
Intown: Eight years, yes; three mayors, no — the allegations in the case stem from Shirley Franklin’s administration. The airport is certainly a huge key to our economy, but that’s all the more reason why it needs to be run as cleanly as possible.
No More Progressives!
July 12th, 2010
1:03 pm
As to the rest of the anti-black this and that comments, they don’t even need a response, nor deserve one – they, the posters, must be dying a little everyday that they now have a (horror upon horror!!) black man as President!! Hee hee heee……
Ummmmmmmmmm…….he’s not black. He’s half-white.
And clearly not executive material.
Edward Morgan
July 15th, 2010
9:36 am
Spare me the outrage white folks, when you investigate the Governor’s office, the Lottery, and Gwinnett County, Cobb County, and cherokee and Forsyth County you have not credibility. Oh but they are run by whtie people and that is ok. Please give me a Damn Break.
No More Progressives!
July 16th, 2010
1:03 pm
Edward Morgan
July 15th, 2010
9:36 am
Give you a break? For what? What did you do?
Black corruption + conviction = jail.
White corruption + conviction = jail.
I don’t care what color you are.
Intown
July 16th, 2010
1:12 pm
the atlanta airport doesn’t cost state and local property taxpayers ANYTHING. It is funded by the airlines (airline passengers) and tenants (factored into the cost of that magazine you buy before you hop on the plane).
Alan Paulk
July 22nd, 2010
12:09 pm
One must be careful to not project their own race bias (unintentional, unconcious racism) into this issue. There are bad things going on in Atlanta, for sure. I have dealt with the city in a variety of contexts. But if you meet a kind soul or two down there, you won’t be able to see this is as simply us vs. them. Corruption is a human problem, not a racial problem. Cronyism dictates that officials give their friends special deals. The friends of black leaders are likely to be black. This doesn’t make them racists. On the other hand, if they prefer a black stranger over a white stranger, then you have racism.
Mike Bloomberg for Atlanta 2014
July 26th, 2010
7:14 pm
I’m happy that Billy Corey had the fortitude and money to fight city hall and win. In addition to the monetary settlement, Maynard Jackson’s name should be removed from the airport or an asterisk should be placed after it to remind people about this case.
CuriousGreta
July 26th, 2010
9:14 pm
Did anyone ever further investigate the No-Bid Contract given to Bunnie Jackson-Ransom by Grady Memorial Hospital for providing barely any PR services? This “friends of friends” contract was featured in Cretive Loafing and then apparently “hushed up”. Looks like what is happening at the airport is similar to the No-Bid contracts that were given by Grady before they “cleaned house”.
Still Corrupt in 2010
July 26th, 2010
9:32 pm
Wake up Atlanta, this airport is still so corrupt it will make you sick ! Seems as if they sit
around everyday trying to find ways to jack up their revenue. Parking has went through the roof ! Dont be fooled, it is as corrupt as ever. And those rude screaming APD Officers….they should try and be nice every now and then. Always heard the bad apples get sent to the airport…sure seems so.
todd
July 27th, 2010
3:41 am
“After 300+ years of brutal, truly inhuman treatment of people of color by whites, it’s amazing to me that all people of color aren’t either homicidal maniacs or too depressed to get out of bed.”
In case you haven’t noticed many of them ARE homicidal maniacs Michael. Treatment of people of color by whites? What about at the hands of their own people in Africa? This region has seen the most brutal dictatorships and worst human rights violations the world has ever known! None of us was alive 150 years ago so there isn’t any “payback price” and nothing was done to THEM. It’s about time we stop using that as an excuse.
How many millions Atlanta favoritism will cost us, answered | Kyle Wingfield
July 27th, 2010
6:11 am
[...] asked the question earlier this month; yesterday, we got the answer: A federal jury on Monday awarded $17.5 million in [...]
That smokestack is an eyesore
August 10th, 2010
10:56 am
Tear it down. Today.