Savannah's River Street: Mayor talks safety, possible redesign
Jan 08, 2025
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - The attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans that killed 14 people, along with the suspect, has put a spotlight on security plans for cities around the nation, including the Hostess City.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson says the city talked with the Federal Bureau Investigation after the New Orleans attack to learn from their officers on the ground. He says every tragedy is something to learn from, but the city's security plans aren't changing.
One thing the city has been considering though, even before this attack, is revamping what some may call Savannah's own Bourbon Street on the River.
"We are presently looking at ways to redesign River Street totally," Johnson said. The funds for this would come from the Hotel-Motel Tax.
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Johnson says the city has considered a redesign and maybe even closing the road altogether to traffic. This discussion isn't a direct result of the New Orleans attack, but something that's been ongoing.
Johnson echoed Councilman Nick Palumbo, who talked about the natural barriers on River Street that keep people from speeding down the road — cobblestones acting as speed bumps.
The mayor says as far as their plans go, they are trusting their police department and their partners.
"Certainly, this is not the time to panic. This is a time to be able to evaluate your plans and be able to fortify them if necessary."
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It's Johnson's priority to always maintain the "live, work, play" aspect of Savannah when large events come downtown.
"There are takeaways from each different incident," he said. "For me, it has to be a balance between public safety and freedom. Sometimes you can create a situation where it's not even worth coming."
Johnson says Savannah walks through detailed threat assessments before each large event, which has been in place for years.
The Savannah Police Department works closely with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and FBI before all large celebrations downtown, according to the city.