Janice Boyle writes that a proposed university land sale to Inspira will harm a competitor with which Rowan is allied.
To the Editor:
Concerning the article "Kennedy CEO convinces Rowan (University) board to table vote on competing hospital" following a Jan. 6 trustee meeting:
Rowan University must oppose the proposal for Inspira Health Network to build a new acute-care hospital on property now owned by Rowan on U.S. Route 322 in Harrison Township.
Kennedy Health System's hospital in Washington Township is in very close proximity to this location. Two acute-care hospitals so close together would result in serious competition for experienced health care workers in light of current shortages, as well as unnecessary duplication of services in the area.
As a registered nurse, I have been a full-time employee of Kennedy Health System for 32 years, and I am a master's degree student in nursing at Rowan. The Rowan trustees should not sell this property to a competitive health care provider because a university medical school has a professional affiliation with Kennedy. I would consider such a sale to be a conflict of interest.
In addition, the traffic on nearby Route 55 is already excessive, and the environmental impact to the area would be detrimental to the entire community.
Janice Boyle
Newfield
Sweeney's Atlantic City idea: Grab power
To the Editor:
If anyone is interested in an objective viewpoint of state Senate President Stephen Sweeney's plans to "save" Atlantic City, the editorial in the Jan. 17 Philadelphia Inquirer, which carried the headline "Selling out Atlantic City," was quite informative.
(Sweeney has advocated state takeover of the city's finances to stave off a forced bankruptcy of the municipal government, an idea that appears to have some support from Gov. Chis Christie and other lawmakers.)
A takeover would allow the state to overrule local officials who live, love and work in Atlantic City, and help Sweeney's financial backers make some money on the acquisition of the municipal water authority and other assets that could be sold or privatized. Funny how Sweeney didn't mention that.
Sweeney did mention that New Jersey has suffered nine recent bond rating declines, but I don't think he took enough of the credit. He supported using our tax money to invest in Atlantic City when everyone but the people in Trenton knew it was a lousy decision for taxpayers. Sweeney also has no problem standing by and watching future tax revenue evaporate through incentives .
There are people willing to put up money to back a Sweeney run for governor. Maybe they envision the return they'll get on their investment by seeing how much political power broker and Sweeney backer George Norcross III has benefitted from the senator's service.
Carol Rhodes
Barnsboro
Join your local Boy Scout troop
To the Editor:
I am writing in order to complete my Communication Merit Badge for Boy Scouts. This merit badge is required to complete the rank of Eagle Scout.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is a goal of mine. To achieve this goal has taken a lot of hard work. The rewards of what I have learned outweigh the work I have completed.
Becoming an Eagle Scout will help me in all aspects of my life -- from learning CPR and first aid, to cooking, to tying knots, to fire safety and numerous other skills that will help me for the rest of my life. Being an Eagle Scout is also a great achievement to put on a college application and a resume.
I would encourage every boy to become a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout by contacting their council office to find their local troop. Being a Boy Scout has changed my life.
Dylan Smith
Elmer
Note: The writer is a member of Troop 60 of Daretown.
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