Savannah, Georgia, is often described as one of America’s most picturesque destinations, known for its Spanish moss-draped oaks, waterfront views and ornate ironwork.
And Savannah business leaders and city officials say they are working to reclaim parts of the historic city from increasing homelessness, encampments and public safety concerns.
"We have seen the recent articles detailing a visitor’s experience in our city and the visible challenges posed by homelessness, vagrancy and related public safety concerns in our historic public squares and public spaces," a joint statement provided to Fox News Digital by the City of Savannah, the Savannah Chamber and the Savannah Tourism Leadership Council said.
While the groups pushed back on some coverage as "designed to generate clicks by sensationalizing issues," they acknowledged the problems are real and increasingly visible to residents, business owners and tourists.
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bert Brantley said the impact is felt daily across the business community.
"Our businesses, workers and downtown residents expect our public safety system to identify those committing crimes and deliver consequences for those illegal activities," this council that believes we should criminalize homelessness," Alderman Kurtis Purtee told WJCL at the time. "But we have to figure out a way to start working together as a community, while holding people accountable for their actions."
Johnson described the ordinance as "another tool in the toolbox," adding that some individuals "regularly engaged in criminal activity" require a different response.
Since the law took effect, the city says enforcement has led to 179 citations and 15 arrests. Officials also report that 135 individuals have engaged with service providers, with roughly 30% entering shelters after contact with authorities.
Encampments in the historic district have been reduced by about half since 2023, according to figures provided by the city and partner organizations. Those figures were not independently verified by Fox News Digital.
Beyond homelessness, authorities say the region is also contending with evolving drug threats.
A February 2026 Georgia-Florida corridor.
Authorities say trafficking continues through the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, with drugs moving through Atlanta and down the I-95 corridor into Southeast Georgia and Florida.