Save Calhoun Square Savannah City Council Meeting

As you may already know, the Savannah City Council has decided to arbitrarily go ahead with the removal of the name of John C. Calhoun from Calhoun Square here in Savannah.  A group of us followed the city ordinance requirements and blocked the Jubilee group that was petitioning the city to rename the square, no matter the obstacles they threw our way.  Originally, they were required to get a majority of 19 adjacent square property owner signatures to move forward to the next step which was the Monuments Commission.  They were unable to do so.  Then the Jubilee group’s attorney went to the city to argue the wording of the ordinance. The city then said they were only required to get 51% of 17 signatures.  Still they were not able to meet this requirement (even though WTOC said they had).  They did gather what they said were property owner signatures and submitted them to the city.  But after review of the signatures on file, we found some were fraudulent.  Four of the signatures were gathered from people who had since sold their properties (2) or told partial truths to acquire the signatures (2) and the signatures were rescinded.  We pointed this out to the city and the process was halted.  When it became apparent the Jubilee group couldn’t garner the required signatures through the process outlined by the city, the city decided to move forward regardless of THEIR rules.  

We know it should not be up to the property owners surrounding the square as it’s for the benefit of the city of Savannah.  Of the 17 property owners, Wesley Monumental Church (abstained), Massey School (abstained), 7 property owners voted YES and 8 property owners voted NO.  We were told by representatives of the city that if the petitioners could not get an overwhelming majority to move forward, it would not be deemed the will of the people.  If they could get the votes, it would move forward to the Monuments Commission where public comment would start.  It would then go to the City Council with a recommendation for or against from the Monuments Commission.  Both of these steps are now being scrapped.   

Several of us have put in many hours to make sure we jumped through the hoops required by the city to keep the name of Calhoun off the chopping block.  We’ve collected almost 400 signatures and given proof of property ownership within the city’s requirements. We ask that you consider attending the City Council meeting October 27^th at 2:00 p.m. 2nd floor of City Hall to show support for retaining the name of the square and to show your displeasure for the city’s actions to usurp the rules they put in place. If you cannot attend, we ask that you write a letter to the city  council to be put on file (email: clerkofcouncil@savannahga.gov) that you are against the change and rewriting the history of Savannah – the good and the bad.  

And lastly, if you could share this note with as many others you think might be supportive, I’d appreciate it. If nothing else, we need to let the city know that this is not how business should be done in the City of Savannah.