Wednesday, June 13, 2018
The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) of the Coastal Empire announced today that it has begun a search for a new executive director after the departure of former director Kesha Gibson-Carter.
Gibson-Carter served in the role for five years. She has accused local law enforcement and District Attorney Meg Heap of trying to bully her into silence when she complained about a large backlog of unprosecuted rape cases in Chatham County.
"She had a passion for the RCC and an unwavering commitment to assisting and supporting victims of sexual assault,” said Lynne Wolf, President of the Board of Directors of the RCC. “We wish her the best as she pursues new endeavors.”
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council "will assist RCC in identifying resources for interim support during the RCC’s search for a new Executive Director," the group says.
Gibson-Carter served in the role for five years. She has accused local law enforcement and District Attorney Meg Heap of trying to bully her into silence when she complained about a large backlog of unprosecuted rape cases in Chatham County.
"She had a passion for the RCC and an unwavering commitment to assisting and supporting victims of sexual assault,” said Lynne Wolf, President of the Board of Directors of the RCC. “We wish her the best as she pursues new endeavors.”
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council "will assist RCC in identifying resources for interim support during the RCC’s search for a new Executive Director," the group says.
Thursday, June 7, 2018
If today's meeting was any indication, Mayor Eddie DeLoach's announcement Wednesday of potential extreme cuts in City services if the controversial Fire Fee is reduced by half seemed to take many Council members on both sides of the debate by surprise.
The clock is ticking, as the decision means Council and City Manager Rob Hernandez must come up with a new budget in two weeks, before the next fiscal year's millage rates must be set according to state law.
Mayor DeLoach said today he has directed City Manager to "Modify the numbers and bring us something forward so people can feel better about" the Fire Fee.
At Wednesday's impromptu solo press conference, DeLoach said he would support cutting the Fire Fee by half — down to $120 per single-family house per year — but that draconian budget cuts might result, including laying off as many as five percent of City employees.
Alderman Van Johnson responded that while he was "blindsided" by the Mayor's press conference Wednesday, he commended the Mayor for his "chutzpah" in admitting the policy needed changing.
Alderman Tony Thomas accused the Mayor of "throwing the City Manager under the bus."
"You outlined a plan... but I don't know if the City Manager has analyzed that plan," Thomas said.
Several Council members, including Alderman Bill Durrence and Alderwoman Estella Shabazz, insinuated that they had no idea the Mayor's Wednesday announcement was coming.
Most Council members were reluctant to back any of DeLoach's specific suggestions, especially the idea of cutting five percent of the City workforce.
A lengthy back-and-forth included Johnson directly telling the Mayor that "We warned you that this would be unpopular. We warned you that this would affect poor folks. We warned you that this would affect nonprofits."
One citizen spoke to Council briefly about the issue.
Rick Ellison, President of Retirees Unite For the Future, told Council that "Savannah's going to hell in a handbasket.... we're getting killed by taxes from the school board, killed by the Fire Fee, and killed by the parking rates downtown."
When Alderman Julian Miller tried to explain that the school board's proposed 16 percent tax hike largely had nothing to do with the City's Fire Fee, Alderman Johnson responded that "those of us who've been up here for a while" — meaning himself and Alderman Thomas — "understand that all these things are interconnected" in the public mind.
In explaining the difficulties of redoing the budget to conform to the newly reduced Fire Fee, City Manager Hernandez at one point became visibly frustrated with Mayor and Council.
"I need you to be very clear... as to what the rules of engagement are in bringing you options and recommendations," he said.
If the Fire Fee is reduced as the Mayor directed, "I have to make up $11.2 million in revenue this fiscal year" which is already halfway over, he said.
"I need you to clarify what's in play and what's not in play," Hernandez said.
Hernandez explicitly urged Council not to suggest directing the $10 million revenue surplus toward reducing the Fire Fee.
"It is not prudent to use one-time money to go toward recurring expenses," he said of the surplus, which has already been earmarked for other purposes in previous Council votes.
Council is expecting to take up the City Manager's options at a budget retreat June 18. Hernandez was tasked to include an option without a Fire Fee at all.
The clock is ticking, as the decision means Council and City Manager Rob Hernandez must come up with a new budget in two weeks, before the next fiscal year's millage rates must be set according to state law.
Mayor DeLoach said today he has directed City Manager to "Modify the numbers and bring us something forward so people can feel better about" the Fire Fee.
At Wednesday's impromptu solo press conference, DeLoach said he would support cutting the Fire Fee by half — down to $120 per single-family house per year — but that draconian budget cuts might result, including laying off as many as five percent of City employees.
Alderman Van Johnson responded that while he was "blindsided" by the Mayor's press conference Wednesday, he commended the Mayor for his "chutzpah" in admitting the policy needed changing.
Alderman Tony Thomas accused the Mayor of "throwing the City Manager under the bus."
"You outlined a plan... but I don't know if the City Manager has analyzed that plan," Thomas said.
Several Council members, including Alderman Bill Durrence and Alderwoman Estella Shabazz, insinuated that they had no idea the Mayor's Wednesday announcement was coming.
Most Council members were reluctant to back any of DeLoach's specific suggestions, especially the idea of cutting five percent of the City workforce.
A lengthy back-and-forth included Johnson directly telling the Mayor that "We warned you that this would be unpopular. We warned you that this would affect poor folks. We warned you that this would affect nonprofits."
One citizen spoke to Council briefly about the issue.
Rick Ellison, President of Retirees Unite For the Future, told Council that "Savannah's going to hell in a handbasket.... we're getting killed by taxes from the school board, killed by the Fire Fee, and killed by the parking rates downtown."
When Alderman Julian Miller tried to explain that the school board's proposed 16 percent tax hike largely had nothing to do with the City's Fire Fee, Alderman Johnson responded that "those of us who've been up here for a while" — meaning himself and Alderman Thomas — "understand that all these things are interconnected" in the public mind.
In explaining the difficulties of redoing the budget to conform to the newly reduced Fire Fee, City Manager Hernandez at one point became visibly frustrated with Mayor and Council.
"I need you to be very clear... as to what the rules of engagement are in bringing you options and recommendations," he said.
If the Fire Fee is reduced as the Mayor directed, "I have to make up $11.2 million in revenue this fiscal year" which is already halfway over, he said.
"I need you to clarify what's in play and what's not in play," Hernandez said.
Hernandez explicitly urged Council not to suggest directing the $10 million revenue surplus toward reducing the Fire Fee.
"It is not prudent to use one-time money to go toward recurring expenses," he said of the surplus, which has already been earmarked for other purposes in previous Council votes.
Council is expecting to take up the City Manager's options at a budget retreat June 18. Hernandez was tasked to include an option without a Fire Fee at all.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Responding to a growing volume of outrage from businesses, nonprofits, churches, and citizens about the controversial new Fire Fee, Mayor Eddie DeLoach today announced that he will direct City Manager Rob Hernandez to formulate a "Plan B" which will cut the Fire Fee payments at least in half — but the Mayor threatens that deep and severe budget and service cuts will have to happen as a result.
"It's obvious we're moving too fast and we have not communicated this in the best manner... We brought too much change too quickly," said the Mayor.
Saying "We understand we need to move on to Plan B," the Mayor will ask the City Manager for a new plan to include a way to cut all Fire Fee payments by more than half.
"Make no mistake: This plan will include difficult cuts," including "no less than five percent of non-safety employees," the Mayor said.
"DeLoach says he will push to "eliminate unnecessary programs." He says," I ask that everything be on the table for cuts other than public safety."
DeLoach said that the Fire Fee issue was the most controversial local issue since the crime wave which was largely responsible for him getting elected in 2015.
Saying "time is of the essence" in coming up with a new budget, the Mayor said he hopes the new plan can be adopted in time for the deadline for the City to set property tax millage rates next month.
The new Fire Fee rate will start at $120 a year instead of the planned $256 a year for a basic single-family home, the Mayor says.
"It's obvious we're moving too fast and we have not communicated this in the best manner... We brought too much change too quickly," said the Mayor.
Saying "We understand we need to move on to Plan B," the Mayor will ask the City Manager for a new plan to include a way to cut all Fire Fee payments by more than half.
"Make no mistake: This plan will include difficult cuts," including "no less than five percent of non-safety employees," the Mayor said.
"DeLoach says he will push to "eliminate unnecessary programs." He says," I ask that everything be on the table for cuts other than public safety."
DeLoach said that the Fire Fee issue was the most controversial local issue since the crime wave which was largely responsible for him getting elected in 2015.
Saying "time is of the essence" in coming up with a new budget, the Mayor said he hopes the new plan can be adopted in time for the deadline for the City to set property tax millage rates next month.
The new Fire Fee rate will start at $120 a year instead of the planned $256 a year for a basic single-family home, the Mayor says.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
The City of Savannah says it received 67 applications for the Chief of Police position at the Savannah Police Department. "Two of those applications came from current SPD officers," a spokesperson says.
The City has gone on the record in previous reports that current Interim Savannah Police Chief Mark Revenew is not interested in the job permanently.
The City has contracted with Mercer Group, an executive recruiting firm, to lead the search process, expected to result in a final pick by September.
Once the list of candidates is narrowed, those candidates will be interviewed by three panels.
· The first panel will be made of executive City staff members.
· The second panel is a citizens advisory panel, with each member of City Council selecting "a member of the Savannah community to represent them on this panel," the City says.
· The third panel consists of law enforcement executives.
Citizens Advisory Panel members, picked by City Council members, are as follows:
Mayor Eddie DeLoach: Reed Dulany III, president and CEO of Dulany Industries
Alderwoman Carol Bell: Greg Parker, owner of the Parker’s convenience store chain
Alderman Bill Durrence: Brenda Walker, President of the Live Oak NOA
Alderman Brian Foster: Savannah attorney Steven Scheer
Alderman John Hall: Rev. William Eason, Edgemere/Sackville Neighborhood Association president
Alderman Van Johnson: Da’Henri R. Thurmond, Sr., pastor of St. Paul CME.
Alderman Julian Miller: Kevin Klinkenberg, executive director of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority
Alderman Tony Thomas: Edna Jackson, former City of Savannah Mayor
Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz: Ulysses Bryant, President of the Liberty City NOA; retired SCCPSS Campus Police Chief, Current SSU Interim Police Chief
The City has gone on the record in previous reports that current Interim Savannah Police Chief Mark Revenew is not interested in the job permanently.
The City has contracted with Mercer Group, an executive recruiting firm, to lead the search process, expected to result in a final pick by September.
Once the list of candidates is narrowed, those candidates will be interviewed by three panels.
· The first panel will be made of executive City staff members.
· The second panel is a citizens advisory panel, with each member of City Council selecting "a member of the Savannah community to represent them on this panel," the City says.
· The third panel consists of law enforcement executives.
Citizens Advisory Panel members, picked by City Council members, are as follows:
Mayor Eddie DeLoach: Reed Dulany III, president and CEO of Dulany Industries
Alderwoman Carol Bell: Greg Parker, owner of the Parker’s convenience store chain
Alderman Bill Durrence: Brenda Walker, President of the Live Oak NOA
Alderman Brian Foster: Savannah attorney Steven Scheer
Alderman John Hall: Rev. William Eason, Edgemere/Sackville Neighborhood Association president
Alderman Van Johnson: Da’Henri R. Thurmond, Sr., pastor of St. Paul CME.
Alderman Julian Miller: Kevin Klinkenberg, executive director of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority
Alderman Tony Thomas: Edna Jackson, former City of Savannah Mayor
Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz: Ulysses Bryant, President of the Liberty City NOA; retired SCCPSS Campus Police Chief, Current SSU Interim Police Chief
Friday, June 1, 2018
The City of Savannah says it is extending the deadline for property owners to submit Fire Fee Discount applications to Friday, June 15.
It was originally today, June 1, but only about 2,000 discount applications had been filed as of earlier this week, out of over 47,000 eligible properties in the City.
“We believe it is important to give people an extra two weeks to complete their applications so they can receive a discount. We hope more of our property owners take advantage of the discounts and take the appropriate measures to make their homes safer,” said City Manager Rob Hernandez.
The City says the Revenue Department has received nearly 1,000 calls each day for the past three days from property owners seeking help with their applications. "In addition, the number of applications received has nearly doubled in the past few days," a spokesperson reports.
The discounts will take off up to 20 percent of the Fee, estimated to start at $256 per single-family home, per year.
Anyone who needs help with their Fire Fee Discount application can contact the Revenue Department by calling (912) 525-2810 or by e-mailing [email protected].
The City is encouraging property owners to contact the Revenue Department by e-mail due to high call volume and higher than usual wait times.
It was originally today, June 1, but only about 2,000 discount applications had been filed as of earlier this week, out of over 47,000 eligible properties in the City.
“We believe it is important to give people an extra two weeks to complete their applications so they can receive a discount. We hope more of our property owners take advantage of the discounts and take the appropriate measures to make their homes safer,” said City Manager Rob Hernandez.
The City says the Revenue Department has received nearly 1,000 calls each day for the past three days from property owners seeking help with their applications. "In addition, the number of applications received has nearly doubled in the past few days," a spokesperson reports.
The discounts will take off up to 20 percent of the Fee, estimated to start at $256 per single-family home, per year.
Anyone who needs help with their Fire Fee Discount application can contact the Revenue Department by calling (912) 525-2810 or by e-mailing [email protected].
The City is encouraging property owners to contact the Revenue Department by e-mail due to high call volume and higher than usual wait times.
