ATL: AJC has gotten very good at going after Kasim

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Ex-mayor Kasim Reed doles out $500k in bonuses, gifts on way out

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LINK

How big a deal is this? Cynical me thinks this stuff happens all the time, but if he gets nailed for this how bad would it be legally?

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During his last days in power, Reed awarded at least $350,000 in bonuses to his senior staff; ordered $42,500 in checks to the eight members of his security detail; gave away $36,000 by drawing names out of a hat during a holiday party raffle in December; and awarded $31,000 to lip sync and ugly sweater contest winners, also at the party.

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“Rewarding employees for service and performance is not new and has been common practice in the City of Atlanta,” says the statement, issued through Reed’s spokesman. “These bonuses were appropriate and Mayor Reed believes that the individuals who received the bonuses were worthy of them based upon their contributions to the City of Atlanta’s unprecedented growth and fiscal stability.”

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Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore called the spending “disgusting” and “illegal.” “It just reminded me of someone having money and throwing it in the air and letting everybody catch it,” Moore said. “It’s just unconscionable. Let’s just make it clear: It’s not legal to do this. Just make it point-blank clear. He had absolutely, positively no authority to issue any of that to anybody under any circumstance. “The mayor can only do what is authorized by the council. He did not go through the proper channels.”

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I would think its safe to say his state/national aspirations are scuttled at this point.