Jean Lafitte was a pirate in Barataria Bay in the late 1700s/early 1800s, who helped Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, using smuggled goods and the knowledge of the pending British attack (they tried to bribe him to help them... ha).
I spent the past two days in the town Jean Lafitte meeting with groups from the Christian Community Development Association. Members are from all over the US and Canada and are currently having their annual conference in New Orleans. The trip to Jean Lafitte to talk about the wetlands with Kris, Dick, the town mayor (and me?) was one of many options they had as side trips. From what I gathered, it was not most people's first choice, but I would say the vast majority were happy they ended up with us touring the wetlands.
Except for the man yesterday who interrupted us mid-discussion to ask when we were going on the boat, because he didn't come for a political discussion...
But everyone else was interested and engaged and excited to see the cypress swamp and hear the stories. And then there is this little guy--
Jean Lafitte is a pretty cool town, with a really great mayor who is working hard not only for his residents, but the residents of four other nearby, unincorporated towns. Has fought for funding for structures to protect the town, even when the government keeps telling them they are not worth it. He secured funding for an affordable healthcare clinic that is also studying and caring for the long term effects of the oil disaster. He won a grant to build a beautiful library, senior center, and meeting facility with a small museum attached in an effort to prove to the state and country that his town is "worth it". Members of his family have served the role of justice of the peace for over a century, for free, just so the town would have services.
Nothing like spending a beautiful day advocating wetlands and meeting an actual honest politician to give you a little hope.
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