Once celebrated for its Southern charm and historical allure, Savannah, Georgia, is now grappling with the challenges of homelessness and drug use under its current Democratic leadership.

This picturesque city, renowned for its more than 20 public squares adorned with churches, townhouses, and historic buildings draped in Spanish moss, has long held a reputation as one of America’s most beautiful cities.

However, when Dennis Lennox, a travel reporter for the Christian Post, revisited Savannah last year, he was struck by a noticeable shift. He reported a city increasingly overwhelmed by homelessness, with individuals openly using drugs.

“Benches and bushes served as makeshift encampments,” Lennox noted in a column published on Sunday, remarking on the unmistakable scent of marijuana lingering in several areas.

Particularly at Reynolds Square, where a bronze statue commemorates the founder of Methodism, Lennox witnessed blatant drug activity, further highlighting the city’s growing concerns.

‘People injected and smoked in broad daylight,’ he wrote. ‘The odor was unmistakable. There was no police presence.’

Similar scenes sprang up across the city, according to Lennox.

‘A leisurely stroll, particularly in the early morning, became an exercise in caution; watching where to step, skirting encampments and avoiding potential confrontation.’  

Savannah, Georgia, has been plagued by homelessness

The city has long been promoted as one of the America’s prettiest 

When Dennis Lennox, a travel reporter for the Christian Post , returned to the city last year, he said he found it overrun by homeless individuals who engaged in overt drug use

City officials have since adopted an ordinance prohibiting urban camping, and by late 2025, police had issued 179 citations and made 15 arrests.

They also put together a five-year strategic plan to end homelessness in the city. 

‘Access to mental health care is really critical, access to employment services and most importantly housing,’ Jennifer DuLong, CEO for Chatham Scranton Authority for the homeless, told WTOC. 

‘With a plan like this, we can actually really effectively remove and resolve homelessness,’ added Stephanie Kaple, the Executive Director of the Savannah Chatham County Interagency Council on Homelessness, the lead organization in the plan’s development.

Yet problems have persisted, as residents started mixing Xylazine, also known as tranq, with fentanyl in February 2025 for a stronger high, according to WSAV.  

The Homeless Authority also reported 457 sheltered and 172 unsheltered people during last year’s point-in-time survey, which is required by the federal Housing and Urban Development to allow organizations and agencies to receive federal funds.

The data shows that while the population of people experiencing homelessness in Savannah rose from 579 in 2024 to 628 in 2025, the number of people living unsheltered decreased, the Current reports.

That could suggest that coordinated efforts, including access to emergency beds and permanent supportive housing have been effective in reducing the number of homeless individuals.

Meanwhile, records show the number of recorded encampments in Chatham County plummeted from 80 in 2023 to 39 in 2025.

‘The ultimate goal is to put a roof over everyone’s head, but we can’t start there,’ Chris Wilson, an outreach case manager, told the Current. 

Residents in Savannah have started mixing Xylazine, also known as tranq, with fentanyl. Xylanzine users are pictured here 

Despite the setbacks, Democratic Mayor Van Johnson described Savannah as a ‘championship program’ in his State of the City address in November 2025.

‘Savannah will be safe,’ he vowed. ‘Savannah will thrive economically. Savannah will be safe, healthy and thriving for all of its citizens. And all means all.

‘Savannah is winning. 

‘The state of our city is financially stable, foundationally deep and forward thinking.’

He noted that city officials had already recruited a special prosecutor for the Southern District if Georgia’s courts handle federal offenses.

Special US Attorney Makeia Jonese has since handled at least 59 open cases and has secured 23 federal indictments including major convictions of serious criminals.

To prevent further chaos, the Savannah city council also approved a controversial move that addressed firearms in unlocked vehicles.

As of 2024, there were 245 guns stolen from unlocked vehicles in Savannah, authorities said.

‘We know that these firearms are being stolen and used in criminal crimes, so we acted to defend public safety,’ Jonese said.

Democratic Mayor Van Johnson described Savannah as a ‘championship program’ in his State if the City address in November 2025. He is pictured with former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz as they campaigned for the White House in 2024

City officials said they have since issued 41 citations, 30 in 2025 alone, to assuage the authorities as 153 firearms were reported stolen.

‘We know that these firearms are being stolen to defend public safety,’ Mayor Johnson said, noting that in just one year the city has seen a nearly 40 percent decline in firearms being stolen from unlocked vehicles.

Authorities have also implemented a City of Savannah’s Top 10 Most Wanted list, the mayor said, as he applauded the Dundee Cottages project comprising 39 new cottages and 16 brand new apartments for people experiencing homelessness.

City officials have provided 679 dwellings, homeowner home repairs for 586 dwellings, homebuyer assistance for 165 individuals, infill housing for 234 dwellings and acquired 72 blighted properties, Johnson said in November. 

Indirect investments from the Savannah Affordable Housing fund further helped support applications for three low-income housing tax credits, service centers and infrastructure.

Those tax credits will now help developers build 41 new affordable units for people experiencing homelessness, officials said. 

Still, Lennox said he has no desire to return to the Georgia city anytime soon.

‘Savannah’s beauty is real,’ he wrote. ‘Its Oglethorpe plan remains one of the most distinctive urban designs in the country. Its architecture endures,’ the travel columnist said of the man who developed the city of roughly 15,000.

‘But beauty requires maintenance, clean, safe public spaces, consistent enforcement and policies that prioritize residents and visitors alike.

‘For now, I am in no hurry to return,’ the columnist continued. ‘There are other destinations where a long-planned trip is not marred by conditions no historic American city should tolerate.

‘Savannah can reclaim its squares and its promises, but only with sustained commitment from its leaders,’ Lennox concluded.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline has soared past $4, marking an increase not observed in over three years, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA) on Tuesday.

Fuel prices at stations nationwide have been climbing steadily since the onset of Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

The national average now hovers at $4.018 per gallon, a significant jump from $2.98 just a month ago, as highlighted by AAA.

This surge in prices is not uniform across the United States. In Texas, drivers are paying around $3.678 per gallon, while in California, prices are approaching a steep $5.89.

Meanwhile, motorists in Oregon and Nevada are also facing high costs, with prices nearing $5 per gallon as per the latest figures.

In New York and New Jersey, a gallon still costs less than $4 but prices are creeping up.

Gas prices in the Empire State have jumped from $3 to $3.94 in the last month. 

It’s the first time gas prices per gallon have reached $4 since August 2022. 

In June 2022, gas prices passed the $5 a gallon mark for the first time – just three months after Russia launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Energy costs have soared due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz –  the waterway which around 20% of the world’s oil supply travels through.

The White House has always stressed that short-term energy price fluctuations was a price worth paying for peace.

“As for the temporary short-term fluctuation in gas prices, the president has said that once these combat operations are over, this administration is going to continue to unleash energy dominance,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week.

“We’re continuing to do that every day, and we’re going to see prices go back down at the pump as we have the past year because of this president.”

Earlier this month, President Trump wrote on Truth Social short-term oil prices would “drop rapidly” once “the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over.”

The White House has ordered 173 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and is temporarily lifting restrictions on E10 and E15 gasoline.

Waivers, which come into force on May 1 and will remain in place until May 20, will allow gasoline blended with 15% ethanol to be sold.

“This emergency action will provide American families with relief by increasing fuel supply and consumer choice,” Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, said.

In a desperate effort to locate 27 individuals, rescue teams in Indonesia were mobilized on Monday following the sinking of a passenger boat amid turbulent seas. This tragic event occurred as the vessel made its way to a secluded village in the eastern part of the country.

The ill-fated boat, known as Nazila 05, set sail from Taliabu Island in North Maluku province just after nightfall on Sunday. Its destination was Kema, a coastal village within the same region. Muhammad Rizal, overseeing the search and rescue operations from Palu city in Central Sulawesi, confirmed the details of the voyage, noting the boat’s unfortunate fate near its path.

The ordeal came to light on Monday morning, when the ship’s owner, Rifani Samatia, reported the incident to authorities. This followed an urgent message from the Nazila 05’s captain, who had reached out to explain the vessel’s dire condition. The boat’s bow had succumbed to the relentless pounding of high waves brought on by severe weather conditions. Alarmingly, within half an hour, the captain relayed the grim news of the vessel’s sinking.

Despite the abrupt calamity, Rizal reported that all 27 people aboard successfully evacuated to a longboat before the vessel was lost to the sea. Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the evacuees remain uncertain, adding urgency to the rescue efforts.

To aid the search, a rescue team was swiftly deployed. Their efforts are bolstered by a rescue vessel equipped with advanced navigational and communication technology, a helicopter, and the invaluable assistance of local fishers, as noted by Rizal.

He said the Nazila 05 was frequently used to transport tourists and was also known locally as a fishing or small passenger vessel.

Indonesia is an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, where boats are a common form of transportation. With lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding, accidents occur frequently.