Remarks by Van R. Johnson, II
238 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 10
- Play at 1:11
“I wanted to, as we get started, I wanted to thank city manager and members of council, team Savannah, for what I called our march through equity, our equity march throughout our city as we continue to make sure that all neighborhoods, all areas of town have access to state of the art facilities we know That march is long. We know it's continuous. We know that it's all income passing, but it's still something that we must do. And so $25 million in six days. We started off with Alderman Pertee in District 6. Folks are real happy. As we broke ground on the South Side's first ever community…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 3:13
“cut the tide to town, which was money that we all contributed, but Nick, District 4 contributed to get it completed. We now can go from Lake Mayer to Daffodil Park. Seven more miles available. And I wanted to say, just as a matter of setting the conversation, setting the table for city managers, that what people saw was the continuation of the combination of work that takes years to get to where you are. It just doesn't happen like that. We don't just go to a place and say, all right, we're going to break ground. No, you have to get to a point of breaking ground. You have to get to the point…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 8:53
“ultimately where the public gets to see this in real time as well. Because we get asked, well, what is this? What does that mean? I mean, ultimately, with the work, you know, OpenGov and all things we were trying to do, ultimately, you know, it shouldn't be a secret. I mean, Jay, I know you have thoughts about that, but...”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 16:58
“That was part of the hotel-related product we were able to use that fit the category. Where was the $50,000 grant from?”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 17:13
“There's additional money. Please remind me. Um, because somebody pledged money to that particular project. It had something to do with the arena. And so I'm trying to remember what it was. Okay. Let's talk about that. Cause that might be something we can use for whatever enhancement the community might want. Yes.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 19:24
“They also did win an award from GMA that same day for the work they'd done in South Georgia. Gross did, so.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 42:56
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 43:22
“And then to be able to at least put together a multi-jurisdictional group of folks to kind of build it. Because if not, we'll find ourselves running behind it. And I don't want that to occur.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 43:39
“I mean, fortunately we're not the only one. But I mean, the fact is, you know, you have to have a basis for all this other stuff to kind of stand on.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 44:36
“You got it, sir. We just need to kind of... Go ahead. I see you itching.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 44:50
“I'll show you the ones that we came up with. And let's, you know...”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 57:56
“a scientific side-by-side analysis. But I'll tell you this with all due respect. I know some people like to make it clear that I'm a New Yorker by birth. Until you went to New York, a place like that, you don't know potholes. People disappear in potholes in some of those places. We have a lot of roads. And they're very, very busy roads. And I think the best way is that, you know, sometimes we don't, I mean, although we might proactively address the mismanagers, I mean, you know, people complain to me about potholders. Did you call not the 311? No, just complain about the potholder. I think we…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 58:45
“Oh, I mean, well, you see, how many potholes did we're six months in? When did we go to Hodge School? I mean, not Hodge, Hubert to name. In the last year. It was last year? In the last year. Yeah, because, I mean, we filled the first pothole, like, right there, and it took minutes. So, I mean, you know, as far as, you know, as soon as we know about them, you know, I think we'll be able to address them.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:13:10
“I think we also learned some lessons. I mean, I remember I was against us selling the B&B. Some of y'all went for it. I'll get into that. But the same thing that we thought was trash now like the dang hotel and I mean now I mean it is night I'm walking I'm like this is the freaking B&B I mean, it is a significant building. I'm glad that the Gable building did not suffer the same fate. And I'm glad that we are now retrofitting this building to fit our current and future needs. We learned that. wasn't going to work. Our staff ended up all over the place. We rented buildings, buildings we didn't…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:21:15
“a public-facing opportunity for us so people can track it independently. It also holds our feet to the fire about when people can expect to reasonably think that something is going to occur. I want to prioritize only as far as saying that it's important. There are, like you said, funding, there's technical things that, well, this may not be able to happen as quickly as this and this and that. So I think, obviously, that's a meeting of the minds. We tell you what we really think is important. You tell us what you think you can get done first, understanding the realities that we don't…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:23:52
“But I do really want us to get back into the project management space. In the last administration before me, they got rid of it because they didn't think it was going to be helpful.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:24:05
“I mean, but really in a way that allows our professional staff”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:25:11
“It's a lot of juggling. It's a lot of moving parts, a lot of balls to keep in the air, and you can't let any of them fall.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 1:27:47
“No, they can't really get their first $10 million day first ever. But anyway, ladies and gentlemen, we've got a meeting. $10 million what?”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 2:10
“I call this meeting of the Savannah City Council to order today is Thursday July 9th, 2026. The time is 2.05 p.m. We want to thank all of you and all of these amazing young people who are joining us today in chambers and of course everyone that is joining us across our social media platforms and of course our award-winning sgtv here at the city of savannah we say that savannah will be a safe environmentally healthy and economically thriving community for all and for us all means all so thank you all so much today's invocator will be introduced by district two at large alderwoman alicia…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 6:51
“Thank you. You may be seated. Sheriff, thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you for your service to this community. Thank you for your energy. It's been a pleasure working with you, and we'll continue to do great work together. So thank you, sir.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 7:11
“There's a couple of moments. Yes, sir. Okay, move forward.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 7:32
“They're probably moved and seconded that we adopt a regular meeting agenda for July the 9th, 2026. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 8:05
“And probably move the second that we approve the minutes for the work session and city managers briefing held on June the 25th 2026 at 1030 AM and the minutes for the regular meeting held on June the 25th at 2 o'clock PM all the favor indicate by saying aye.”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026
- Play at 8:22
“Opposed? Motion passes. Couple quick announcements and I'll use those in the PURVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK TEAM SAVANNAH, MR. MANAGER, ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, SAVANNAH FIRE, SAVANNAH POLICE FOR AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING 250TH CELEBRATION OF OUR COUNTRY. SAVANNAH DID IT UP. SAVANNAH DID IT BIG. SAVANNAH DID IT SAFE. um and that does not happen by happenstance it happens by good work good planning by not only those that are entrusted but also from our community and so um we won't be here when 300 come some people will be but we won't be here but it was…”
City Council · Jul 9, 2026