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It has been difficult lately to deal with the deaths and economic destruction our country is suffering due to the coronavirus, especially as the deaths surpassed 100,000 nationwide. As of late May, here in St. John Parish, we had logged over 800 cases and 77 deaths. In population-percentage terms, both those numbers are high. Our families, neighborhoods, and communities have all been hit hard, and we continue to offer our prayers for these families. Specifically, we pray that effective treatments or a vaccine may emerge soon, for our communities as we rebuild, and that our economy would recover quickly.

A pandemic is a hard beginning for what I hope is the first of many opportunities as Parish President to communicate directly with you and be open to you through the newspaper and other venues. There are many reasons for hope and optimism about the future in St. John Parish. The coronavirus and COVID–19 disease have made their impact on our community, but also revealed our strength. We have adhered to the best practices as recommended by top epidemiologists and implemented as policies by the state and parish governments. In doing so, we have looked out for one another and positioned our communities to recover faster. I want to thank you for taking on these burdens and promise you that we are doing everything we can to lift restrictions as soon as practicable and deploy every resource to strengthen both our healthcare systems and our economy.

I want to assure you we will all get through this together. I am in regular contact with the governor and our hospital officials, and frontline doctors and nurses. I am also in daily contact with business and community leaders. Especially important right now for rebuilding is that local businesses need our help as they reopen. Whenever possible, I would encourage all of us to prioritize buying local—small businesses are the backbone of our economy and each one represents someone’s dream or family livelihood. Every local business we save makes our future that much stronger.

Above all, I want you to know that I am keenly aware of both the health aspects of this crisis and the economic aspects. It’s not an either-or situation, but a both-and situation. We must first protect the lives and health of ourselves, our families and our neighbors and then balance that with an effort to assist our small business owners and all who were adversely affected economically during this time. Rebuilding our community will take all of us and I challenge everyone to do their part in the upcoming days so that we can move toward a brighter future. If there is anything, I can do for you or a question I can answer, I hope that you will feel absolutely free to call my office. We are working every day to serve the people of this parish, the home I have loved my whole life. It is an honor and I thank you for the trust you have placed in me.

Jaclyn Hotard is the parish president of St. John the Baptist Parish. She may be contacted at 985.652.9569 or via email at parishpres@stjohn-la.gov.