Savannah Mayor Van Johnson delivered his State of the City address on Wednesday.He said he feels the Hostess City is stronger now than it has ever been in its 290 year history.”The state of our city is clear, it’s thriving,” he said.Johnson talked about his administration’s achievements not just in the past year, but during his entire term as mayor. That includes their efforts to boost public safety.”We knew that we had to address public safety, and we did that by investing over $4.3 million to the Savannah Police Department,” Johnson said.Johnson said they provided the police department with new technology, implemented pay raises for officers and expanded the city’s ShotSpotter system.”So while other communities around the country talk about defunding the police, we invested in our police,” he said.Johnson also talked about his administration’s efforts to help recruit and retain more police officers.”This year… our vacancy rate from 149 to 118. So although there is still attrition due to multiple factors, which include retirements, we are clearly on the right path to getting our police department fully staffed,” he said.During his speech, Johnson praised the hiring of Elzie Kitchen as fire chief and Lenny Gunther as police chief.”I will tell you, I am so proud of these gentlemen, these homebred boys who are leading and serving in our community, leading our police and fire departments,” he said.The mayor also talked about his administration achieving its goal of raising the hotel-motel tax by two percent. He said it will help them improve the city’s riverfront and invest in a popular trail system called Tide to Town.”All of these projects are a benefit to the citizens without you having to pay for it,” he told the audience Wednesday.The mayor acknowledged housing remains a problem in the Hostess City, but he said they’re taking steps to address the issue.”We increased funding to the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund with a record $19.1 million investment,” he said.At the end of Johnson’s address Wednesday, he said while Savannah is in a good spot, there is still room for improvement.”The state of our city is thriving for many, it’s thriving for more than it was before, but it’s not thriving for all. We will not stop until we’re thriving for all,” he said.Wednesday’s address comes at a pivotal time for Johnson, as his position is up for grabs in the election happening on Tuesday.WJCL 22 News reached out to Johnson’s challengers, Kesha Gibson Carter and Tyrisha Davis, for a comment on his State of the City address. We are waiting to hear back.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson delivered his State of the City address on Wednesday.
He said he feels the Hostess City is stronger now than it has ever been in its 290 year history.
“The state of our city is clear, it’s thriving,” he said.
Johnson talked about his administration’s achievements not just in the past year, but during his entire term as mayor. That includes their efforts to boost public safety.
“We knew that we had to address public safety, and we did that by investing over $4.3 million to the Savannah Police Department,” Johnson said.
Johnson said they provided the police department with new technology, implemented pay raises for officers and expanded the city’s ShotSpotter system.
“So while other communities around the country talk about defunding the police, we invested in our police,” he said.
Johnson also talked about his administration’s efforts to help recruit and retain more police officers.
“This year…[we reduced] our vacancy rate from 149 to 118. So although there is still attrition due to multiple factors, which include retirements, we are clearly on the right path to getting our police department fully staffed,” he said.
During his speech, Johnson praised the hiring of Elzie Kitchen as fire chief and Lenny Gunther as police chief.
“I will tell you, I am so proud of these gentlemen, these homebred boys who are leading and serving in our community, leading our police and fire departments,” he said.
The mayor also talked about his administration achieving its goal of raising the hotel-motel tax by two percent. He said it will help them improve the city’s riverfront and invest in a popular trail system called Tide to Town.
“All of these projects are a benefit to the citizens without you having to pay for it,” he told the audience Wednesday.
The mayor acknowledged housing remains a problem in the Hostess City, but he said they’re taking steps to address the issue.
“We increased funding to the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund with a record $19.1 million investment,” he said.
At the end of Johnson’s address Wednesday, he said while Savannah is in a good spot, there is still room for improvement.
“The state of our city is thriving for many, it’s thriving for more than it was before, but it’s not thriving for all. We will not stop until we’re thriving for all,” he said.
Wednesday’s address comes at a pivotal time for Johnson, as his position is up for grabs in the election happening on Tuesday.
WJCL 22 News reached out to Johnson’s challengers, Kesha Gibson Carter and Tyrisha Davis, for a comment on his State of the City address. We are waiting to hear back.
