Last week John Edwards returned to New Orleans to work on yet another Habitat for Humanity project. This one was at Musicians Village. New Orleans is very much aware that their much prized musicians must remain in New Orleans and need affordable places to live.
John Edwards worked with the Carpenter's Union Local 1846 members and five supporters from all across the country who were chosen from a large pool. These supporters were Brenda Stone, Millwood, NY; Mark Williams, Dallas, TX; Terence Davis, Malibu, CA; Sandra Campbell, Florida Keys; and Christi Foley, Cincinnati, OH.
I met them all and they are all wonderful people and a great joy to be around. I don't think Christi quit smiling her beautiful smile the whole day. One of them told me as we were marching on the super dome that she had needed to pinch herself all day to make sure this was all real. It was so much fun for them, and so much needed by the people of New Orleans.
There are quite a few homes being built in Musicians Village (probably 25 or so) but so many more are needed. I drove around the area and other areas many times and just couldn't believe the destruction that is still apparent. For those of you who are wondering, New Orleans... the business section and the Bourbon street area ... are functioning pretty much as normal with a few buildings still boarded up. However, when you drive into the worst hit, residential sections, the story drastically changes. This will clearly take a toll on the long term outlook of the people who have to live there. One other interesting thing that I noticed... When we had the National Day of Climate Change and Senator Edwards spoke at that, it was in an old restored warehouse near the railroad track and several overpassing roads. The people at AdEgg had worked very hard to get that restored and operable. The Director Karen explained to me how high in that building the water came during Hurricane Katrina and I can assure you it was way beyond my imagination. It was about 8-10 feet up in the building which was bad, but then Karen told me that the building was four feet off the ground making the water level about 12 feet high.
During the climate change meeting there were a lot of very well informed and very active supporters of environmental issues present. However, the next day I drove back through that area and I was absolutely shocked at the number of homeless people I saw camped out under those same bridges. They had their bed rolls and their spots staked out and many were sleeping. I assume the police had them moved the day before. I would estimate there were probably a couple of hundred. I never saw anything like it and it was a sad sight to see.
Many or even most of them may have been addicts that need really serious help. I would be surprised if the sort of help they need is available at this point because I think some areas as still having problems getting a hospital functioning normally.
This is the full length speech.
The video below is very short and is an endorsement of Sen. Edwards from one of the Carpenter's Union members by the name of John Edwards. He is really enjoying his name right now.