Savannah mayor says Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has 'overstepped' in mask order battle [View all]

Savannah stands ready to protect its people and visitors and local authorities will continue to enforce a mask wearing requirement, Mayor Van Johnson said Thursday in challenging an executive order renewed Wednesday by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

“As you know last night Gov. Brian Kemp attempted to invalidate Savannah’s mask requirement by stripping local authority to enact policy from municipal governments across the state including Atlanta, Augusta, Rome, Hinesville and the governor’s hometown of Athens-Clarke County,” Johnson said. “He has overstepped.”

Johnson said the governor’s action, which reiterated that local mask mandates are legally unenforceable, changes nothing.

“Nothing has changed from yesterday to today,” Johnson said.

Read more: https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20200716/savannah-mayor-says-georgia-gov-brian-kemp-has--rsquooversteppedrsquo-in-mask-order-battle