UPDATES FROM THE STATE HOUSE

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywomen Beth Sawyer and Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, champions of Inspira Health’s takeover of Salem Medical Center, say the acquisition announced Friday will greatly benefit residents of Salem County and the hospital’s health care workers. Located in Mannington Township, Salem Medical Center will now be known as Salem Medical Center, an affiliate of Inspira Health.

“This is the news the communities served by the hospital, the dedicated nurses and caring health care professionals deserve to hear,” Sawyer (R-Gloucester) said. “I supported Inspira’s plan because they are deeply committed to this county, quality health care and their patients. They will recruit and retain top doctors, provide stability for the nurses and set a clear vision for the future so that South Jersey’s health care needs are well met.”

The Salem hospital has served the area for more than 100 years, but has struggled financially in recent years and stopped offering many procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Inspira Health, which also operates a hospital in Elmer, Salem County, proposed a takeover last year and officially acquired the hospital building, ambulatory surgery center and physician offices on Friday.

 TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer says she is seeking cooperation from legislative leaders to address her community’s concerns over the continued construction of warehouses in South Jersey. Speaking at an Assembly hearing this week, she urged members from both sides of the aisle to work with her to advance her bill ensuring local and county officials, and residents, have a voice in the warehouse development process.

“Warehouse construction decisions really need to stay at the local & county level, because they know their communities best. Building massive complexes with no regard to residential concerns, including the safety, traffic and environmental impacts is irresponsible,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer’s bill (A4475) requires county planning boards anticipating the construction of large warehouses to conduct an impact assessment to protect residents and municipalities from adverse outcomes associated with the development. The county planning board is also required to notify all property owners who are within 1,000 feet of the proposed project and hold a public hearing. 

 “I’m all for smart economic growth, but when a proposed 2.1 million-square-foot warehouse with a marijuana grow house runs through residential neighborhoods and backs up to a daycare, there’s a problem,” Sawyer said. 

 TRENTON, N.J. – South Jersey Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer says a centuries-old interstate fight with Delaware over the coastline of Salem County is about securing economic prosperity for future generations.

“It’s time to bring this agreement into the 21st century and look at what makes the most sense for the people of South Jersey. Salem County’s economic security shouldn’t be tied to Delaware,” Sawyer (R-Gloucester) said.

According to a 1682 agreement between England’s Duke of York and William Penn, the Delaware River up to the coast of New Jersey is Delaware’s territory. New Jersey has unsuccessfully challenged the dispute three times to the Supreme Court. This, the lawmaker argues, is making it impossible to do little more than recreational fishing from the shoreline.

“We’ve tried to bring jobs to South Jersey by building infrastructure at Penns Grove, but Delaware won’t let us, because we need to go into the river. This border dispute has depressed an entire area for generations and stymied prospects for the blue-collar workers that call Penns Grove home,” Sawyer added.

To the east of Wilmington, Del., and across the river is Penns Grove, N.J. It is .9 square miles and has approximately 4,800 residents. Thirty-seven percent of the Salem County borough’s population currently lives in poverty and only 50% of the labor force is employed. The median household income is $32,361, which is $57,000 less than the state’s median income.