Muhlenberg Rally

By Mark Williams, NPCCR Co-Chair

On Saturday March 15th, I attended a rally/march to save Muhlenberg Hospital.

As many of you know, after 130 years of serving the residents of Plainfield and the surrounding area, Muhlenberg has been slated to close sometime within the next year.

There were upwards of 500 people who participated. The Star Ledger and Channel 4 News represented the media. Unfortunately the story was pushed off the 6 pm news by the crane collapse in NYC. But perhaps the Star-Ledger will print my interview and provide a brief glimpse of NPCCR’s participation in the rally/march.

The closing of Muhlenberg will have a devastating effect on the residents of Plainfield, and because of the collateral effects on the surrounding communities, it’s crucial to get behind any efforts to halt its closing.

Just as the future development of Villa Maria will have a significant effect on our neighbors to the north, Green Brook and Watchung, the closing of Muhlenberg will have a similar effect on North Plainfield.

It is in the best interest of the borough to support the efforts of Plainfield citizens as they fight to prevent the closing of Muhlenberg Hospital.

There will be a mass meeting held on the steps of the Statehouse in Trenton on Saturday, April 5th at 12 noon, and NPCCR will be represented. 

Information from Dottie Gutenkauf of Plainfield:

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs reported having received tons of letters from concerned citizens, and asked those who hadn’t already written to do so quickly.

“I want to have them in hand when Assemblyman Green and I meet with Governor Corzine soon,” she said. “The Governor needs to know!”

Send or deliver letters to the Mayor at City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield 07060.

“This is the real Plainfield,” one participant said to me. “Look around–we’re all here: black, white, latino…young, middle-aged, old…Catholics, Protestants of all kinds, Jews, agnostics…we are united!”

Buses to Trenton on April 5 will be running from Plainfield – departing at 10 a.m. from the Muhlenberg Hospital parking lot at Park Avenue & Randolph Road for a motorcade down the New Jersey Turnpike. Carpooling encouraged.

For more information, contact Plainfield Peoples Organization for Progress chair Steven Hatcher at 908-731-1518.

More media coverage:

Herb Kaufman’s blog post.

Star Ledger video of the rally.

Star-Ledger article.

Star-Ledger article.

Courier-News article.