Archive for the ‘Issues.’ Category

Downtown Business Association meeting

January 9, 2008

Click on the audio player below to hear Mayor Otis Johnson address the Downtown Business Association on January 9, 2008.

16 minutes 7 seconds
Synopsis:
… it’s January 2008, this is the kind of leader I’m trying to be…
Praxis prax·is n (formal)
1.the practical side and application of something such as a professional skill, as opposed to its theory. (Joining together theory and practice).

City government should be more responsive, more transparent, more accountable…
… building a coalition, the need to build a team…
… the Lebanon Plantation planning retreat for the mayor-council team, for one day a year in the first week of the year…
… we need a leader, and a group of leaders to analyze the past, contemplate the future…
… regionalism is the new catchword for government in the 21st century…
… how are we planning to be the cultural, economic, social and political hub of this region…
… we must look at the way we operate, partner, collaborate…
… prepare for the new regionalism that’s going to come…
… issues such as sharing water, transportation, … with Bryan, Effingham, Beaufort, Jasper counties and all the counties all around…
… we must be driven by a vision of a safe, environmentally healthy, economically thriving community for all of the citizens… The vision drives you, inspires you.
The Council has set a list of priorities…

… we instituted quarterly Town Hall meetings … direct democracy …

Give respect to get respect.

The Council has been able to articulate our work… we must work with the city to embrace this vision.

In 2011 will Savannah be better off than in 2008?
…come with a plan, work your plan, be accountable for your plan…

How well have I done with the stewardship?

otis johnson at Savannah downtown business association
Otis Johnson discusses regionalism in the 21st century.

the last inaugural speech you’ll ever hear from Otis Johnson

January 5, 2008

Soon after Robert James introduced the Honorable Otis S. Johnson as the newly installed 64th Mayor of the City of Savannah on January 2, 2008, Otis let the room know that he planned to speak the truth as he felt the spirit move him.

Click on the audio player below to hear selected excerpts from “the last inaugural speech you’ll ever hear” from Otis Johnson. (11 minutes 8 seconds)

Topics include:
Crime, economic development, the opportunity infrastructure in Savannah, bridging barriers, a call for leadership from the citizens.

“Democracy depends on the involvement and the participation of an informed and mobilized populace.”
“… we’re not mind readers, we need you to be involved…”

“… In the next four years I’m going to be off the leash. I’m going to talk about personal responsibility, about institutional barriers to people’s welfare…”
“… I’ve had a good life, so now I’m going to be a truth-talker…”

“… It’s not the liberals, it’s not the conservatives…”

“We must assume responsibility for ourselves, our families, and our communities.”

The success of the Step-up program is highlighted.
Click to see some of the national recognition of this successful Savannah anti-poverty program.

Mayor Johnson issued a challenge to recognize that “… we are not poor, we often act poor … We waste resources, we should commit ourselves to the principle that nobody is going to help us but ourselves… ”

Book cited: Race Matters by Cornell West.

Click for a wonderful review of the speech from the blog “Howards-home” (courtesy of Union Mission), a fine neighbor and one of the finest voices in Savannah:
“I am proud of the Mayor for his courage to speak out about these issues.”

stage of Otis Johnson inauguration at Johnny Mercer Theater

reception-line-at-inauguration.jpg

Savanah civic center reception line for Mayor Johnson inauguration

We’re Going to Vote!

November 4, 2007

Otis Johnson at podium of the get out the vote rally

Click on the audio player to hear a cross section of Savannah voters talking about Otis Johnson:

2 minutes 25 seconds

otis johnson and lois wooten

Get Out the Vote Rally

November 3, 2007

Otis Johnson at podium of the get out the vote rally
Click on the audio player below to hear Mayor Otis Johnson and Pete Liakakis, Chairman of the Chatham County Commission, at the Get Out the Vote Rally:

6 minutes 38 seconds
Pete Liakakis and Otis Johnson

Savannah Morning News: “Johnson for mayor”

October 31, 2007

Today the Savannah Morning News has an article titled:

“Johnson for mayor”
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

(A link to the article is at the bottom of this post)

The subtitle sums it up:
Savannah voters should re-elect Otis Johnson.

[ "otis johnson blog" editors note: Vote! We must avoid a run off! ]

Communications is at the heart of democracy

Below are some highlights from the article, (edited for brevity, see full article via the link at the bottom).


Under the administration of Mayor Otis Johnson, the council has taken a more hands-on approach to key issues such as crime, poverty, neighborhood blight and the delivery of city services.

… Mr. Johnson has since established himself as the council’s leader …

… we believe that Mr. Johnson has earned a second term. We encourage voters to support his candidacy on Nov. 6 in the six-way race for mayor.

Mr. Johnson has shown himself to be a man of his word.
Take crime … (see article)
Take neighborhoods and blight … (see article)
Take education, public infrastructure and jobs … (see article)

One of Mr. Johnson’s best attributes is his fearlessness. He’s not afraid to say something unpopular from his bully pulpit. However, he has shown he can work with anybody for the common good.

Savannah faces a lot of challenges over the next four years. So does this region, which is growing. We believe that Otis Johnson has the city moving in the right direction, and we encourage voters to give him a second term.


Source:
Savannah Morning News: “Johnson for mayor”
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

As always, we ask for your feedback. Use the link below to comment.

Pete Liakakis supports Otis Johnson

October 29, 2007

Pete Liakakis supports Otis Johnson

“Over the last three years, Otis and I have worked well together on critical issues like poverty reduction, crime reduction and economic development. Join me Tuesday November 6th in voting to keep Otis Johnson our Mayor and keep our city and county working together.”

Pete Liakakis,
Chatham County Commission Chairman

Brian R. Foster supports Otis Johnson

October 29, 2007

Brian R. Foster supports Otis Johnson

“As past chairman of the Chamber, I worked closely with the Mayor on SPLOST and ESPLOST. We could not have brought the community together without his leadership in communicating the importance of our future needs in both infrastructure and education. He is passionate about our children’s future and continuing to fight crime. He understands that an education and economic development go hand-in-hand.”

Brian R. Foster,
Chairman and CEO, First Chatham Bank