– Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 –
Good morning. In this week’s newsletter, we’re bringing the latest in a political fight in Chatham County over public safety, a Metaplant workplace safety investigation into a Hyundai affiliate and new funding to fix a dangerous traffic corridor in the Hostess City.
Questions, comments or story ideas? Reach out at staff@thecurrentga.org.
‘This is my assignment’
ANALYSIS: PUBLIC SAFETY, POLITICS
A fight over dismissed murder charges and police misconduct last week gave way to a larger debate involving Chatham County Democrats and public safety.
On a Facebook live Tuesday night, Savannah At-Large Post 2 Alderwoman Alicia Blakely asked guests, the county Democratic party chairman and the sitting-district attorney, about local Democrats supporting the Republican candidate for DA.
Current Chatham County DA Shalena Cook Jones, the Democratic incumbent, is facing a tough re-election challenge by Republican Andre Pretorius. He has the support of political allies of Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a Democrat.
Though Johnson has not endorsed Pretorius, the mayor criticized DA Cook Jones at a press conference last week for what he said was political theater, when Cook Jones dismissed murder cases tied to police misconduct.
Cook Jones fired back that Democrats backing Pretorius are doing so on behalf of the mayor’s “personal vendetta” against her and monied interests who want a more punitive prosecutor.
“I am in this fight not for him — he only represents one vote and I’m not scared,” Cook Jones said on Tuesday. “I am here because this is my assignment and because I represent every single constituent in Chatham County and to suggest anything to the contrary I find extremely disrespectful.”
INVESTIGATIVE: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Feds probe Hyundai affiliate, subcontractors
The federal agency in charge of workplace safety is investigating a Hyundai affiliate company and two subcontractors after a worker sustained life-threatening injuries from a conveyor belt incident.
The confirmed investigation is one of 12 conducted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) since January 2023, when officials broke ground at the massive Bryan County site.
An investigation by The Current last month raised questions about the speed of construction and its impacts on worker safety. Ambulance reports showed 20 traumatic injuries to site workers since the project began, as the plant rushes to start manufacturing vehicles by the end of the year.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Safety funding en route
Some good news for Savannah cyclists, drivers and pedestrians:
After trying and failing three times for federal funds, the Hostess City finally secured a $10 million grant to fix dangerous intersections along 37th Street.
The street between Ogeechee and Bee roads is a high injury corridor, and the new money will go towards fixing signals and improving crosswalks along 15 intersections.
Traffic safety advocate and District 4 Alderman Nick Palumbo confirmed the grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Savannah wins $10M grant to make 37th Street safer
Savannah awarded $10 million in federal traffic funds to fix dangerous intersections on 37th Street corridor. The changes will improve safety for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists by fixing traffic signals, crosswalks and other infrastructure.
OSHA investigating one Hyundai affiliate in Georgia
OSHA has investigated 12 workplace injuries at the Hyundai site near Savannah since January 2023, including one involving the Korean company’s US affiliate.
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