With three southside shootings in three days — two of them fatal — Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson called on residents Thursday to do more to protect their city.
“Please help us out,” she said. “Help identify some of these people that you’re hearing about. This is our city, and we cannot allow the criminals to be more powerful than we are.”
In an earlier discussion with council, Jackson also dismissed concerns from some aldermen that she should not visit shooting scenes. Some worried she was stretching herself too thin; others worried if she failed to make it to some crime scenes, she inadvertently could send a message that she cared about one population or one part of town over another.
She dismissed those thoughts.
“I think that is part of my responsibility as mayor of the city to say that I am trying to do as much as possible,” she said. “That is my mode of operation as the mayor of the city to make sure that there is a comfort level regardless of what district they are in ... sometimes, just the mere face of a person, of an official, can help in these situations.”
Alderman Tony Thomas, who represents the southside, said the community is very upset, but traffic stops, field interviews and other proactive policing along White Bluff Road have given residents some measure of security.
Council also heard an update on a review of arena sites. A formal proposal to solicit bids should be ready in February. The city originally expected to build the arena off West Gwinnett Street near the old Chatham Steel site, also called the Springfield Canal site.
The city doesn’t own all the land it needs for an arena there, nor does it at two other sites, a proposed collection of parcels at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Fahm Street or the Savannah River Landing site.
Jackson was mindful that in proposing the special purpose local option sales tax the city offered the arena to Carver Heights residents as a development that could improve the west side. She wanted to abide by that promise.
Alderwoman Mary Osborne backs it, too.
“I will tell you I support the Springfield Canal site,” she said. “And I don’t mind going on record saying that.”
The city sees options for the Springfield site if it is not selected for an arena. Mayor Pro Tem Van Johnson has said it could provide much-needed youth ball fields, and Marty Johnston, director of special projects, has helped explore options for a water park or similar uses.
“If that site proves cost-prohibitive for an arena, there are other public-use opportunities for what we currently own,” Johnston said.