Ossoff Asks Trump to Reconsider; Religious Freedom Bill; Savannah's St. Pat's Parade

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Host: Orlando Montoya | Release Date: March 5, 2025

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1. Senator Jon Ossoff Urges Reversal of Social Security Office Closures

In the latest episode of Georgia Today, host Orlando Montoya reports on Senator Jon Ossoff's appeal to the Trump administration to reconsider the planned closures of Social Security offices across Georgia. Ossoff expressed significant concern that shutting down offices in cities such as Columbus, Gainesville, Vidalia, Brunswick, and Thomasville would hinder seniors' ability to access essential services like applying for benefits, replacing lost Social Security cards, and appealing denials.

Notable Quote:

“I think sometimes people don't remember, but seniors have paid into this program throughout their lives.”
— Senator Jon Ossoff [01:48]

Ossoff highlighted Georgia's alarming rank as having the second-longest backlog for disability claims in the nation, emphasizing that the office closures would exacerbate difficulties for seniors who have contributed to Social Security over decades.

The Social Security Administration had previously announced significant workforce reductions and restructuring, which includes the aforementioned office closures. Additionally, the Trump administration's initial list of over 440 federal properties slated for closure or sale—deemed non-essential—was partially retracted, leaving the future of several key federal buildings in Georgia uncertain.

Additional Context: Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Nekimah Williams criticized President Trump's policies, stating they threaten essential support systems like SNAP and Medicaid, and endanger federal employment within her district.

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2. Passage of Georgia Senate's Religious Freedom Bill

The episode delves into the Georgia Senate's recent approval of Senate Bill 36 (SB36), also known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Sponsored by Senator Ed Setzler, the bill aims to ensure that state government cannot compel individuals to act against their religious beliefs.

Notable Quote:

“We recognize that we have to put these protections in place so folks simply get fair treatment. That's all we're looking for.”
— Senator Jon Ossoff [04:05]

While Senator Ossoff emphasized the bill's intent to guarantee fair treatment, opposition arose from Democratic Senator Jason Estevez and others who argue that SB36 could permit discrimination under the guise of religious belief. Examples cited include businesses denying service or venues refusing weddings based on owners' religious convictions.

Notable Quote:

“These are benefits that seniors have paid for throughout their careers. The Social Security Administration said last week there would be significant workforce reductions….”
— Orlando Montoya [01:49]

The bill passed in a party-line vote and now moves to the House for further deliberation. Concurrently, Georgia Democrats and civil rights groups are advocating against Senate Bill 120, which seeks to withhold state funding from educational institutions that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Critics like Senator Jason Estevez argue that SB120 undermines vital support programs at Georgia Tech and attempts to “whitewash our communities and our history.”

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3. Enhanced School Safety Measures Post-Apalachee High School Shooting

Reflecting on the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School six months prior, Georgia legislators introduced several bills aimed at bolstering school safety. These measures include increased deployment of school resource officers, expanded mental health resources, and the establishment of a statewide student database to track disciplinary, law enforcement, and mental health information.

Notable Quote:

“SP120 has already forced Georgia Tech to dissolve crucial student support programs… This bill is part of a larger effort to whitewash our communities and our history.”
— Senator Jason Estevez [05:17]

The proposed student database, supported by Speaker of the House John Burns, is intended to help identify students who might pose a risk of committing violence by sharing pertinent information between school districts and law enforcement agencies. Additionally, House Bill 79 introduces a voluntary tax credit for safe gun storage devices, aimed at promoting responsible firearm handling.

Notable Quote:

“We have no greater obligation than to ensure every child has an opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment.”
— Senator Jon Ossoff [07:48]

The legislative push comes as public demand for proactive safety policies intensifies, with community members advocating for measures that prevent incidents rather than react to them.

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4. Arson Charges Amidst Increased Wildfire Activity

Orlando Montoya covers the arrest of William Shane Harvey from Box Springs on felony arson charges related to a 108-acre wildfire. The Georgia Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the Talbot County Sheriff's Office, apprehended Harvey near the wildfire's origin. While no injuries were reported, property damage occurred. The region experienced nearly 500 wildfires burning over 6,000 acres last week, with forecasts predicting a continued high risk for the month.

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5. Congresswoman Lucy McBath Announces Gubernatorial Run

Lucy McBath, the only Democrat actively seeking the governorship, has officially filed paperwork to begin her campaign for Georgia governor. As reported by Montoya, McBath's campaign highlights her robust legislative record and electoral success in Georgia's suburban Atlanta regions. Elected to Congress in 2018, McBath has successfully retained her seat despite multiple attempts by Republican-majority state legislators to redraw her district in a manner favorable to GOP candidates. On the Republican side, with Governor Brian Kemp term-limited, potential candidates include Attorney General Chris Carr and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, among others.

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6. Savannah's Shrimp Import Controversy

A significant portion of Savannah's seafood offerings has come under scrutiny due to misleading claims about the origin of shrimp. A study commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance found that 77% of shrimp sold at 44 restaurants across Savannah were imported farm-raised shrimp, contrary to advertised claims of serving locally wild-caught Georgia shrimp.

The alliance decries this practice as deceptive and is advocating for legislation requiring Georgia restaurants to disclose the provenance of their shrimp. This issue not only affects consumer trust but also has economic implications for local seafood businesses.

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7. New Security Protocols for Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade

In response to the tragic vehicular attack during New Year's Day in New Orleans, Savannah officials have implemented new security measures for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade. Assistant Police Chief Rob Gavin detailed the installation of water-filled barricades along the 2.5-mile parade route to prevent potential vehicular assaults.

Notable Quote:

“Nothing is going to positively stop a vehicle. Everything has got a failure point. It's there to slow things down.”
— Senator Jon Ossoff [11:08]

These barricades, complemented by additional security installations in high-traffic pedestrian areas like River Street and City Market, aim to enhance public safety without being infallible defenses.

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8. Atlanta City Council Allocates Funds for Path 400 Greenway Trails

The Atlanta City Council has approved the allocation of $1.7 million from federal funds towards extending the Path 400 Greenway Trail, which connects Buckhead to Sandy Springs. Senator Jason Estevez emphasized the economic and commuter benefits of the trail extensions, which include new segments expected to be completed by June for Buckhead and by 2027 for Sandy Springs.

Notable Quote:

“We connect to three transit stations and connect between Buckhead's central business district and get that all to where you can use the trail for your commute into Buckhead.”
— Orlando Montoya [12:29]

Denise Starling of Livable Buckhead underscored the importance of these trails in fostering economic growth and providing alternative commuting options, enhancing connectivity across the region.

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Conclusion

The March 5, 2025 episode of Georgia Today offers comprehensive coverage of pivotal issues affecting Georgia residents, from legislative changes and public safety enhancements to environmental concerns and political campaigns. Through in-depth reporting and direct quotes from key figures, the podcast provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the state's current landscape.

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For more updates and detailed reports, visit gpb.org/news or subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast.

Transcript

[DBHDD Representative]

DBHDD is reminding Georgians that the 988 lifeline can help those worried about opioid and stimulant misuse. The three digit number is free and confidential. Help is available 24. 7. More [e-mail].

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. I'm Orlando Montoya. And Today is Wednesday, March 4th. Coming up on today's episode, Senator Jon Ossoff is calling on the president to reconsider the upcoming Social Security office closures in Georgia. The Georgia Senate passed a bill that aims to protect, quote, religious freedom in the state.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

We recognize that we have to put these protections in place so folks simply get fair treatment. That's all we're looking for.

[Orlando Montoya]

And Savannah officials have announced new security measures for the city's St. Patrick's Day parade. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today. Georgia U.S. senator Jon Ossoff is calling on the Trump administration to reverse course when it comes to planned Social Security office closures in Georgia. Ossoff spoke at a virtual press conference yesterday, saying the administration's plans to shut down offices in Columbus, Gainesville, Vidalia, Brunswick and Thomasville would make it harder for seniors to apply for benefits, replace lost Social Security cards or appeal denials. Saf also pointed out that Georgia already has the second longest backlog for disability claims in the country. He says the move would severely impact seniors. I think sometimes people don't remember, but seniors have paid into this program throughout their lives.

[Senator Jason Estevez]

This isn't a handout.

[Orlando Montoya]

These are benefits that seniors have paid for throughout their careers. The Social Security Administration said last week there would be significant workforce reductions along with restructuring in addition to the Social Security office closures, which we found out about last week. The future of other federal buildings in Georgia is now up in the air. Some of those buildings include downtown anchors like like the Sam Nunn Federal center and the MLK Federal building in downtown Atlanta and the Juliet Gordon Lowe Federal building in downtown Savannah. The Trump administration first published a list of more than 440 federal properties nationwide to be closed or sold, deeming them not core to government operations. And those buildings were on the list. The administration then revised the list hours later, reducing the number of buildings to 320. The list was then removed altogether. The website then said that list would be coming soon. The list also included federal buildings in Thomasville, Valdosta, Chambly, Dublin and Rome. Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Nekimah Williams walked out of President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last night. In a statement, she said she left because the president's actions threatened to rip food from the tables of families who rely on snap. Got Medicaid for those who need it most, and he's already put federal workers, many of them in my district, on the chopping block. The Trump administration fired hundreds of employees at the cdc, headquartered in Atlanta a few weeks ago and then yesterday notified that some of them should be back on the job today and can return. With apologies for the disruption, the Georgia Senate passed a bill that aims to protect religious freedom in the state. Senate Bill 36, or the Religious Freedom Restoration act, says state government cannot force someone to act in a way that goes against their religious beliefs. Senator Ed Setzler sponsored the bill, but.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

We recognize that, you know, we have to put these protections in place so folks simply get fair treatment. That's all we're looking for.

[Orlando Montoya]

But Democratic opponents like Senator Jason Estevez say SB36 opens the door to use religious beliefs as an excuse to discriminate. Restaurant owner can deny someone service based on their religious belief. A Jewish couple can be denied a wedding venue based on the owner's religious belief, and I think that that is wrong. SB 36 passed in a party line vote and now heads to the House for more debate. Georgia Democrats and civil rights organizations are calling on state lawmakers to reject another bill, one that would withhold state funding for any public school from K12 to college or university that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion. Senate Bill 120 passed out of key committees this week but faces another hurdle tomorrow when all bills must either pass in at least one chamber or die for the year. Some Georgia Tech students, including Rain Rinehart, joined today's call against the bill at the state Capitol.

[Senator Jason Estevez]

SP120 has already forced Georgia Tech to dissolve crucial student support programs, including the LGBTQ Resource Center, Black Culture, Innovation and Technology, Intercultural Student Programs and the Women's Resource Center. This bill is part of a larger effort to whitewash our communities and our history.

[Orlando Montoya]

Last month, Georgia Tech dissolved the programs and moved them under a new department called Belonging and student support. SB120's Republican proponents say DEI initiatives are divisive and stifle free speech. Yesterday marked six months since the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School. At last night's Barrow county school board meeting, school safety was once again a key topic. School officials outlined new security measures, including additional school resource officers and more mental health resources for students and staff. A recovery coordinator is now in place at Apalachee High, and the district says it has contracted two student clinicians, with one set to start next week. Students, parents and teachers addressed the board last night with some asking for better enforcement of safety policies. Isabel Trejo is a senior at Apalachee High School.

[Senator Jason Estevez]

In January, a student brought gun onto campus. More recently, an unknown high schooler entered our school and went unnoticed. For months. We've asked for proactive, not reactive, policies. Yet action only comes after another dangerous incident.

[Orlando Montoya]

Two students and two teachers died in the shooting last September. The state Legislature passed several bills yesterday aimed at increasing school safety. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports. It comes ahead of an important legislative deadline.

[DBHDD Representative]

Crossover Day the Georgia House of Representatives checked several school safety bills off their to do list ahead of a Thursday deadline. Among the bills passed was House Bill 79, which creates a voluntary tax credit for safegun storage devices. Representative Mark Newton sponsored the bill.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

I think House Bill 79 can both inform the public and encourage them to utilize both safe handling and safe storage.

[DBHDD Representative]

House Bill 238, which creates a statewide student database, also passed with bipartisan support. The database would include disciplinary law enforcement and mental health information about a student that could be used to evaluate students who might commit violence. The information could be shared between school districts and law enforcement. Speaker of the House John Burns supported the bill.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

We have no greater obligation than to ensure every child has an opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment.

[DBHDD Representative]

Both bills were inspired by the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School last fall and received bipartisan support. The House also passed a bill that would ban cell phone use in classrooms. Crossover day on Thursday is the last day bills can pass out of one chamber and make it to the other this session. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis at the state Capitol.

[Orlando Montoya]

A Talbot county man has been jailed on felony arson charges. The Georgia Forestry Commission says their law enforcement officers and the Talbot County Sheriff's Office took William Shane Harvey of Box Springs into custody near the location of a 108 acre wildfire, which he's accused of deliberately setting. GFC says no injuries were reported from the wildfire, but there was damage to property. The commission says low humidity and gusty winds last week created conditions that led to a busy week for wildfires, with close to 500 fires burning more than 6,000 acres, and they expect the potential for wildfires this month to be above normal. Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath is eyeing a run for governor. The Atlanta Democrat filed paperwork with state officials today to accept campaign contributions and register her campaign committee. In a statement, her campaign touted her legislative record and her electoral wins in Atlanta's suburbs. McBath was elected to Congress in 2018 and re elected three times despite repeated attempts by the state Legislature's Republican majorities to redraw her district in ways that would favor GOP candidates. McBath is the only Democrat to take steps toward a gubernatorial run so far. On the Republican side, governor Brian Kemp is term limited, can't run again, and state Attorney General Chris Carr is the only candidate so far, although others, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, are expected to run People travel to Savannah to eat local seafood. That's a big reason to like living in Savannah, actually the shrimp. But a recent study found the overwhelming majority of shrimp sold in Savannah as local shrimp is in fact imported from other countries. The Southern Shrimp alliance hired a Florida based consulting firm to genetically test shrimp at 44 Savannah restaurants and despite advertised or implied messaging promising wild caught Georgia shrimp, 34 of the restaurants, or 77% were farm raised imports. The alliance calls it a scandal that should be addressed by legislation. The group is backing a bill in the State House that would require Georgia restaurants to disclose if they serve imported shrimp. St. Patrick's Day is another draw to Savannah, and this week Savannah officials announced new security measures for the popular parade on the Big Green Day later this month. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports Police will line.

[Assistant Police Chief Rob Gavin]

The perimeter of the 2 1/2 mile parade route with water filled barricades. They're meant to protect against vehicular attacks similar to the one in New Orleans where a man driving a pickup truck killed 14 people on New Year's Day. Speaking at a press conference in downtown Savannah Tuesday, Assistant Police Chief Rob Gavin pointed specifically to that tragedy as a reason for the new barricades.

[Senator Jon Ossoff]

They're not a fail safe. Nothing is going to positively stop a vehicle. Even the multi million dollar systems you can put in roads, everything's got a failure point. It's there to slow things down. It's there to slow it down enough for us to be able to take some form of action.

[Assistant Police Chief Rob Gavin]

The water filled barricades will also be installed in some parts of downtown that lie outside the St. Patrick's Day parade, including the pedestrian hotspots of river street and City Market. For GBB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

[Orlando Montoya]

The Atlanta city council approved two measures that will designate $1.7 million in federal funds toward path 400 connecting Buckhead to Sandy Springs. GP's Amanda Andrews has more.

[Senator Jason Estevez]

The money from the Federal Highway Administration will pay for construction on two Greenway Trail extensions along Georgia 400, completing the path. The first should be completed in June. Denise Starling leads the nonprofit Livable Buckhead. She says trails are important for economic development and provide more commuter options. We connect to three transit stations and.

[Orlando Montoya]

Connect between Buckhead's central business district and get that all to where you can use the trail for your commute into Buckhead.

[Senator Jason Estevez]

The final trail extension, stretching into Sandy Springs, is expected to be complete in 2027. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Orlando Montoya]

And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. We love listener feedback. If you'd like to send us a story, suggestion or tell us what we're doing, right or wrong, send us feedback to georgia [e-mail] we invite you to visit our webpage, gpb.org news to find the latest from our report porters across the state. And if you haven't yet hit subscribe, do that now. That'll help you to keep us current in your feet. I'm Orlando Montoya. Thanks for tuning in today.

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