Community Corner: Mayor Johnson talks 912 Day, recent flooding and more

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – “Savannah is the greatest city on Earth.”

It’s a phrase Mayor Van Johnson often says, and one the city will be echoing this week.

In 2021, the mayor officially proclaimed Sept. 12 as “Savannah Day,” affectionately known as 912 Day, to champion local pride and celebrate civic unity.

“Savannah has everything it needs,” Johnson said. “We are a military city, we’re a college city, we’re a historic city, we’re a riverfront city, we’re a manufacturing city, we’re a tourist city and most importantly, we’re a great city to be able to live and grow your family.”

A 912 Day scavenger hunt is underway now, and the celebration will culminate on Thursday with a Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Business Connection at Kehoe Ironworks from 5 to 7 p.m.

As great as Savannah is, like any city, it comes with its own issues.

News 3 asked Johnson about ongoing drainage issues that were highlighted in some neighborhoods during Tropical Storm Debby.

“Savannah’s lowland. It’s been lowland since Oglethorpe got here,” the mayor said. “We’ll never be able to fully address issues of flooding, but we can make sure places that flood don’t stay flooded.”

Johnson also talked about crime in the city, particularly those involving guns.

“The fact is, Georgia is a place where everybody can have a gun. So we can’t be mad when guns show up everywhere,” he said. “But to that end, there is a personal responsibility aspect, an accountability aspect, a mental health aspect. And for me, I want to make sure that people who pull triggers in my city go to jail for a very long time.”

September is also National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the mayor had his own battle with the disease.

He’s cancer-free now and encourages others to keep up with their routine checks and establish primary care relationships for early detection.

“Health is the most important asset you have,” Johnson said, “and you can’t buy health.”

In the video player above, watch the entire interview with the mayor.