May 3rd 2024.
After two years in office, Atlanta's Mayor Andre Dickens has decided to make some changes within his cabinet. With the city's growing population and the demands of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, there will be new leaders taking on important roles. Jan Lennon, the current deputy general manager of operations, will be temporarily stepping into the position of general manager, replacing Balram "B" Bheodari, who has been with the airport since 1999.
Bheodari will be stepping down on June 30, but he will be assisting with the transition as Lennon takes over on July 1. In a statement, Bheodari expressed his pride in his work at the airport, including overseeing the construction of the fifth runway and the international terminal. He also wished his colleagues the best and had faith in Mayor Dickens' vision for the future of Atlanta.
Although a permanent general manager has yet to be named, Mayor Dickens is hoping to make that decision before the end of 2024. In the meantime, he has appointed Peter Aman, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Atlanta Police Department, as the city's new chief strategy officer. Aman will report directly to the mayor and will be responsible for overseeing the RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center, which processes over 120 million gallons of wastewater daily.
Two significant changes have also taken place within the Department of Public Works and the Department of Watershed Management. Al. Wiggins Jr., the former commissioner of public works, has now taken on the role of commissioner for the Department of Watershed Management. He is replacing Mikita K. Browning, who has been with the city since 2011. Meanwhile, Kentorri Garmon, who previously served as the department's director of innovation and performance management, has been appointed as the interim commissioner for the Department of Public Works.
Additionally, LaChandra Burks, the deputy chief operating officer, will now serve as the interim chief operating officer starting on May 25. She is replacing Lisa Benjamin, who has been credited by Mayor Dickens for the city's 21% decrease in crime since 2022. The two women have previously worked together to improve operations at the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and the airport.
Mayor Dickens explained that these changes are a part of his Moving Atlanta Forward agenda, which focuses on four main pillars: One Safe City, A City of Opportunity for All, A City Built For the Future, and Effective & Ethical Government. He emphasized that this plan is not just for the future but for the betterment of the city's residents. He stated, "My vision for an Atlanta that has safe, healthy, and connected neighborhoods and access and opportunity for all residents is not a 10, 20, or 30-year goal. We are building for the future, but we also know we can make a difference in people's lives."
In addition to these changes, Mayor Dickens is also making adjustments in the court system. He has appointed Pierce Hand Seitz, the former co-director of the Safe & Stable Homes Project at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, as a judge for the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. The mayor praised Seitz for his background in education and his dedication to fair legal representation. These changes, along with the Moving Atlanta Forward agenda, demonstrate Mayor Dickens' commitment to creating a better and more efficient city for all of its residents.
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