Tuesday, April 7, 2020
In a regular briefing this morning, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said he is pleased that local citizens seem to be doing a better job observing social distancing.
"I want to thank those who are taking social distancing seriously," Johnson said.
"However, there were some gatherings, some stores, some businesses that still do not seem to get the point."
Specifically, he cited "local seafood establishments and neighborhood discount dollar stores" as sites where a lot of violations are occurring.
Johnson had been so incensed by widespread disregard that at last Tuesday's briefing, he threatened a citywide curfew if things didn't improve quickly.
Johnson thanked Walmart and other big box stores for amending policy on how many people can be in a store at a time. That move came after a viral video of a large brawl in a Walmart on the Southside — which Johnson himself was coincidentally able to witness in person.
Johnson admitted that there have been "mixed messages" on the issue of City parking, with citizens unsure of whether it's the first hour that's free, or whether parking is totally free.
"We messed that up," he said, vowing to fix the confusing communications issue. "Everybody has to know what the game plan is."
City Manager Pat Monahan said there was never an intention to make on-street parking completely free, as many citizens were either told or understood.
"The problem with free on-street parking is folks don't park in the parking garages," Monahan said. "But any citations issued Monday and today will be forgiven."
Monahan confirmed that ONLY the first hour of parking is free downtown.
All other parking violations will be ticketed as usual, he said.
Johnson reiterated that City sanitation services are at reduced staff to allow for safe social distancing of truck crews. There will only be two crew members on each truck for the time being.
"We want to practice what we preach," he said.
This also means that services are reduced, however. Only regular trash will be picked up — NO items will be taken to recycling, NO yard waste and NO bulk items will be picked up.
Mayor Johnson said that you can use your yellow recycling bin to put regular trash in — which will not be recycled — but asked that citizens fill up the regular bins first.
You can take your recycling, yard waste or bulk items to the Dean Forest Road Landfill or Bacon Park Transfer Station.
Johnson confirmed that the only legal shelter-in-place protocol current in effect is the Governor's recent and controversial executive order.
Johnson reiterated that he extended the City's own order to May 1 specifically to protect the City if the governor's order expires on April 13, as is currently scheduled.
On an unrelated but timely note, Johnson encouraged Savannahians to take advantage of whatever extra time they might have on their hands to fill out the U.S. Census.
"It takes less than five minutes, took me only four," he said. "At this critical time every Savannahian needs to count."
Johnson said less than 40 percent of City residents have been counted so far.
"I want to thank those who are taking social distancing seriously," Johnson said.
"However, there were some gatherings, some stores, some businesses that still do not seem to get the point."
Specifically, he cited "local seafood establishments and neighborhood discount dollar stores" as sites where a lot of violations are occurring.
Johnson had been so incensed by widespread disregard that at last Tuesday's briefing, he threatened a citywide curfew if things didn't improve quickly.
Johnson thanked Walmart and other big box stores for amending policy on how many people can be in a store at a time. That move came after a viral video of a large brawl in a Walmart on the Southside — which Johnson himself was coincidentally able to witness in person.
Johnson admitted that there have been "mixed messages" on the issue of City parking, with citizens unsure of whether it's the first hour that's free, or whether parking is totally free.
"We messed that up," he said, vowing to fix the confusing communications issue. "Everybody has to know what the game plan is."
City Manager Pat Monahan said there was never an intention to make on-street parking completely free, as many citizens were either told or understood.
"The problem with free on-street parking is folks don't park in the parking garages," Monahan said. "But any citations issued Monday and today will be forgiven."
Monahan confirmed that ONLY the first hour of parking is free downtown.
All other parking violations will be ticketed as usual, he said.
Johnson reiterated that City sanitation services are at reduced staff to allow for safe social distancing of truck crews. There will only be two crew members on each truck for the time being.
"We want to practice what we preach," he said.
This also means that services are reduced, however. Only regular trash will be picked up — NO items will be taken to recycling, NO yard waste and NO bulk items will be picked up.
Mayor Johnson said that you can use your yellow recycling bin to put regular trash in — which will not be recycled — but asked that citizens fill up the regular bins first.
You can take your recycling, yard waste or bulk items to the Dean Forest Road Landfill or Bacon Park Transfer Station.
Johnson confirmed that the only legal shelter-in-place protocol current in effect is the Governor's recent and controversial executive order.
Johnson reiterated that he extended the City's own order to May 1 specifically to protect the City if the governor's order expires on April 13, as is currently scheduled.
On an unrelated but timely note, Johnson encouraged Savannahians to take advantage of whatever extra time they might have on their hands to fill out the U.S. Census.
"It takes less than five minutes, took me only four," he said. "At this critical time every Savannahian needs to count."
Johnson said less than 40 percent of City residents have been counted so far.
Friday, April 3, 2020
In a highly controversial development, the new shelter in place order from Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp — taking effect at 6 p.m. Friday — does in fact reopen the beaches at Tybee Island, at least for the time being.
The beaches had previously been closed by local order on March 20.
It sounds contradictory, but the governor's order explicitly overrides any local ordinance — and his order says the beaches can stay open as long as people observe social distancing and there are no large gatherings.
In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, Tybee area State Rep. Jesse Petrea attempted to clarify the situation and calm tempers:
"Early this AM, I notified [Tybee] Mayor Sessions that this would impact the beach in that it was not expressly closed in the new order. Indeed, I contacted the DNR Commissioner early this AM to understand the matter," Rep. Petrea writes.
"He explained that it would allow exercise on the beach by individuals/family groups but NO congregating. Moreover, he explained that Rangers were to be patrolling the beach to enforce strict social distancing."
Petrea goes on:
"I contacted the Mayor to advise of how to address the issue with the Governors office and the DNR. I then contacted he Governors office to explain the depth of concern that was likely to come from the issue due to spring break etc. I offered the Mayor and council members who I spoke with my support of local government and advised them to make a petition to the Governors office," he writes.
The state Department of Natural Resources — charged with oversight of Georgia's beaches, which are all public property by law — today issued a directive that no chairs, tents, or umbrellas would be allowed on the beach but not restricting access.
As of Friday evening, confusion reigned, with Tybee officials vowing to keep entrance to the beach closed off — since DNR's authority according to the strict letter of the law applies to the beach only, from high-tide to the water.
In a separate but relevant development, at least five Tybee Island police officers are reportedly in a quarantine situation due to exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
The beaches had previously been closed by local order on March 20.
It sounds contradictory, but the governor's order explicitly overrides any local ordinance — and his order says the beaches can stay open as long as people observe social distancing and there are no large gatherings.
In a Facebook post Friday afternoon, Tybee area State Rep. Jesse Petrea attempted to clarify the situation and calm tempers:
"Early this AM, I notified [Tybee] Mayor Sessions that this would impact the beach in that it was not expressly closed in the new order. Indeed, I contacted the DNR Commissioner early this AM to understand the matter," Rep. Petrea writes.
"He explained that it would allow exercise on the beach by individuals/family groups but NO congregating. Moreover, he explained that Rangers were to be patrolling the beach to enforce strict social distancing."
Petrea goes on:
"I contacted the Mayor to advise of how to address the issue with the Governors office and the DNR. I then contacted he Governors office to explain the depth of concern that was likely to come from the issue due to spring break etc. I offered the Mayor and council members who I spoke with my support of local government and advised them to make a petition to the Governors office," he writes.
The state Department of Natural Resources — charged with oversight of Georgia's beaches, which are all public property by law — today issued a directive that no chairs, tents, or umbrellas would be allowed on the beach but not restricting access.
As of Friday evening, confusion reigned, with Tybee officials vowing to keep entrance to the beach closed off — since DNR's authority according to the strict letter of the law applies to the beach only, from high-tide to the water.
In a separate but relevant development, at least five Tybee Island police officers are reportedly in a quarantine situation due to exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Gov. Brian Kemp's newest executive order, a "shelter in place" directive, will likely have little impact on residents within Savannah city limits — who have already been under a similarly strict order for over a week.
The new statewide shelter in place protocol, revealed this evening, takes effect at 6 p.m. Friday and lasts through April 13.
It will limit Georgians to travel only to and from jobs, and for “essential services."
It allows residents to leave their homes to buy groceries and takeout food, purchase medical equipment or pharmacy products, seek health care, or exercise outside.
It bans all indoor or seated restaurant dining — service is limited to takeout or delivery.
All these restrictions are already in place under Savannah Mayor Van Johnson's order, in effect from March 24.
The state order in some ways will actually loosen Savannah's restrictions, which divide work into "essential" and "non-essential" categories.
The new, superseding state policy instead lists criteria for “minimum basic operations” and “critical infrastructure" for a business to stay open.
Haircare/nail facilities, gyms, fitness centers, theaters, performance venues, bowling alleys, massage therapists, and tattoo/body artists and recreational indoor activities are to close. (Again, most are already closed in the City of Savannah.)
Bars and nightclubs had already been closed by a previous state order, and will remain so.
The new order specifically says that firearms and ammunition stores are NOT to be restricted in operation, and can stay open as per usual if they comply with the same social distancing protocol as other businesses.
All non-prohibited businesses are required to maintain strict social distancing policies and to allow for working remotely whenever possible.
Some Chatham County residents outside Savannah will feel the impact — in some areas, dine-in service has still been available. That will all stop by Friday evening.
See the order here.
The executive order supersedes all local and county measures.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Savannah Police Violent Crimes detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man Tuesday evening, March 31.
"At around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence on the 200 block of W. 60th Street and located Dschwane Baldwin with a serious gunshot wound. Baldwin was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries," police report.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this homicide: "This is not believed to be a random shooting at this time."
The homicide is the tenth of 2020 recorded in Chatham County.
Anyone with information can contact detectives at (912) 525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tips can also be submitted through a CrimeStoppers online tip portal at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=757. Tipsters may qualify for a reward up to $2,500, depending on the severity of the crime.
"At around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a residence on the 200 block of W. 60th Street and located Dschwane Baldwin with a serious gunshot wound. Baldwin was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries," police report.
Detectives are continuing to investigate this homicide: "This is not believed to be a random shooting at this time."
The homicide is the tenth of 2020 recorded in Chatham County.
Anyone with information can contact detectives at (912) 525-3124 or CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tips can also be submitted through a CrimeStoppers online tip portal at https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=757. Tipsters may qualify for a reward up to $2,500, depending on the severity of the crime.
