Between Pierre Beard’s conflicting statements and blatantly ignoring the law one is left to conclude he may not think laws apply to him. With repeated violations, it makes one question Beard’s decision-making. Can he be trusted to make wise decisions with taxpayer dollars and city policy? If elected officials committing offenses don’t see anything wrong with their actions, would they not be willing to commit more wrongdoing?
Corruption is not always the guy who has a city employee drive his supporters to the polls, votes to hire an incompetent friend, has a secret love interest, or embezzles money. Sometimes, corruption reveals itself in small incremental actions that only that person knows about. And while the corrupt individuals justify their actions, it is not something they would want to share with others. When all the small things are looked at in the aggregate the issues can appear significant. Below are some of the “small things” that are concerning about the councilman representing Columbus’ Ward 4:
- Trouble with the Truth: “We’ve got people who worked here for 25 years and haven’t had a raise,” Beard said, in the November 2021 council meeting. The mayor asked if that was true. The city’s HR Director responded that it was not.
Trouble with the Law:
- In January of 2022, Beard was cited for marijuana possession. Was there a trial on possession?
- There is an upcoming February court date for Beard’s domestic violence case.
In November 2021, The Dispatch reported that police were called to Beard’s home on Byrnes Circle for alleged domestic abuse involving his wife. The Byrnes Circle address is the one Beard listed with the Mississippi Health Department and on other official government documents, but not on his voter registration, which is his grandmother’s home. (It is illegal to vote outside of your precinct.) Did Beard meet the residence requirement when he first filed to run? Did anyone check?
- Mississippi law requires food permits if you prepare food for pay. Mississippi Health Department (MHD) processes food permits electronically through their website. An assortment of documents, including a food manager certificate, and fees are required to obtain a food permit. Food must be served in an approved facility. A private home is not an approved facility according to state law.
Despite this, Beard and his wife operated and sold food from the private home at the Byrnes Circle address under the name PJ&J’s. Popular items on the PJ&J’s menu are the burger trays and the six-piece wings with rotel fries for ten dollars. Beard’s wife has opened Saundra’s Salads Plus More last year that also operates from the same home. There is a variety of menu items, such as loaded jumbo potatoes, baked chicken, or meatloaf with sides, and loaded taco salad all for ten dollars. As of the publication date, MHD shows no record of either business, and appears to be operating illegally.
Last year, the Mississippi Health Department (MHD) listed Beard’s restaurant on Tuscaloosa Road, PJ&J’s, as “under construction” but when MHD learned PJ&J’s was already serving food without a food permit at that location, MHD issued a “cease and desist” order. It appears Beard complied with the order and closed the Tuscaloosa Road location.
How do those in the restaurant industry feel about the councilman from Ward 4 escaping the fees and process, while voting for the restaurant tax and a $100 yearly permit fee for food trucks? What about those citizens that were denied zoning waivers to allow a business to operate in residential neighborhoods? What do we not know about? Is there more? Does the councilman think his behavior is worthy of an elected official? Does the city have ethics training? What if the councilman sees nothing wrong in his actions?
A councilman is supposed to take effort in learning and understanding policies and good governance. The councilman may be willing to be a poor steward of taxpayer money by spending what is not available. And see nothing wrong with that. The councilman may be against a forensic audit because of past poor judgement. But is it possible Beard was considered by others as “just a kid” on the council, so they bullied and strong-armed him? Maybe.
People can often improve– and if there were ever a time to improve, and pledge to learn from past mistakes–this is it. Rather than continue down the wrong road, one that may only get rockier, we’re hopeful Pierre Beard makes a U-turn, saves himself, and the city. The councilman from Ward 4 enjoyed a period of broad support with people that know him as hopeful, joyful, enthusiastic, and tenacious. Some voters still have hope for the councilman, but that support will be undermined if misconduct continues.
Editor note: Beard’s domestic charge was dismissed on Feb. 15, 2022
Below are the documented reports:
