Listen to this article

The basics:

• Cooper University Health System is undergoing a massive $3 billion expansion, marking the largest public health care investment in the region.
• The groundbreaking event was attended by a bipartisan group of current and former elected officials.
• Once “America’s most dangerous and poorest city,” Camden has experienced significant economic and safety improvements, thanks in part to investments in health care, education and more.

One by one, a bipartisan group of current and former elected officials took the podium during a recent celebratory moment in Camden – the groundbreaking for a massive $3 billion transformation of the Cooper University Health System.

The event featured five governors (Phil Murphy, Chris Christie, Jon Corzine, Jim McGreevey and Tom Kean) as well as a variety of officials and lawmakers from all levels of government; television star, South Jersey native and longtime Cooper supporter Kelly Ripa, along with her dad, Joe; and many more.

The gathering reflected the influence and political muscle of Cooper University’s board chair, George Norcross III, who has spent more than half of his life supporting the growth and expansion of the health system.

So, for him, the day was a milestone moment for both Cooper and the ongoing revitalization and renaissance of his native Camden.

“Who would have ever thought – and I asked each of the governors going back to Gov. Kean – that we would be having a groundbreaking for a $3 billion expansion of Cooper,” said Norcross. “The largest public expansion of a health care institution in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, anywhere. Who would have thought – since Gov. Kean was governor to Gov. Murphy – that Camden would come so far so quickly, from once a place of America’s most dangerous and poorest city?”

Norcross and Murphy shared the stage amid a case brought by Murphy’s Attorney General Matthew Platkin alleging that Norcross led a racketeering enterprise and scheme tied to redevelopment projects in Camden. Norcross and his co-defendants are aiming to dismiss the case, and a hearing recently took place. As of this writing, the judge has not made a decision on that motion. Another hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Coming together

But none of that affected the mood during the Jan. 28 groundbreaking event – with Murphy and Norcross seated next to each other, exchanging pleasantries and lauding each other for their efforts to support Camden’s growth.

“Take a look at where we are today – and the gratitude that we have to each and every one of these persons here today. It’s extraordinary,” said Norcross as he thanked leaders, lawmakers and stakeholders for their support of Cooper and Camden. “If you look at the Camden renaissance, which includes Cooper, the eds & meds corridor, Rutgers and Rowan University – and a lot of the other great institutions that didn’t exist here at one time or another. Much of this today is the responsibility and the great gratitude we have to Gov. Phil Murphy.”

“Thank you for those very gracious words,” said Murphy. “I think my fellow governors would agree with me – there’s only one guy in this state that could pull this group together. So, God bless you and thank you for everything you do.”

Project Imagine will include three new patient towers to accommodate up to 745 all-private inpatient beds; enhanced surgical and emergency services, such as expanded surgical and interventional capacity, a state-of-the-art emergency department and a bridge connecting to MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper; as well as a new regional medical coordination center and additional surge capacity to bolster New Jersey’s emergency infrastructure.

The groundbreaking marked construction of the first phase of the project – a 10-story, 35,000-square-foot hospital tower directly across from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. The work is slated for completion by 2028.

“Families have entrusted Cooper with loved ones in their time of need for more than a century. Today’s groundbreaking helps ensure Cooper can continue serving families in Camden and beyond with the same high-quality standard of care it is known for,” said Murphy. “Our administration has made ensuring New Jersey’s critical health services remain available and accessible a key focus, and these upgrades will ensure this hospital can continue meeting the region’s growing needs.”

“This project reinforces Cooper’s long-standing commitment to delivering extraordinary health care, driving economic growth, and creating new opportunities for the people of the City of Camden and the region,” said Norcross. “Cooper’s success, and the Camden renaissance, could not have happened without the strong and uninterrupted support of Govs. Kean, McGreevey, Corzine, Christie and Murphy – thank you for all you have done.”

Christie spearheaded several Camden-related initiatives during his time in office, including the push for a county police force that has contributed to massive turnaround in crime rates and safety in the city, as well as support for better educational opportunities for the city youth.

He reflected on those efforts as he spoke at the ceremony, in addition to a visit to Camden in the early 2000s when he was the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and how that shaped his focus on turning the city around.

“The real effort began when I become governor – and the indispensable partners to turn that situation around were the Mayor Dana Redd; were my partners in the Legislature – Steve Sweeney and Lou Greenwald; and were George Norcross, and the folks here at Cooper,” said Christie. “And the things that we did to change public safety in this city together – when we first talked about the idea, people thought it was impossible. Disband an entire city police department – and remake it at the county level with a metro division and an entirely new attitude toward the rights of the people of this city to live in safety. People thought it was impossible.

“But because we all worked together, it wasn’t,” said Christie. “And it’s great to see the continued progress of that.”

Personal experience

“It’s an honor to be with all of these governors – present and past – who care deeply Camden and making sure that this community had a fair shot at having the American dream be something that they had access to,” said Corzine, who noted that nobody cares about Cooper as much as Norcross. “Between he, his two brothers and family, in general, they have done remarkable things for this community.”

Corzine spoke about the serious car accident that occurred in 2007 on the parkway in South Jersey – while he was governor – that required an airlift to Cooper, where he was cared for.

“I spent about 17 days here – 11 in an induced coma. And I have never been around people who care for others the way the staff – the nurses, the doctors, administrators — all of the people at Cooper gave me care,” said Corzine. “And it gave me so much inspiration because I knew they were giving the same kind of care to everybody who walks through that door.”

It’s an honor to be with all of these governors – present and past – who care deeply Camden and making sure that this community had a fair shot at having the American dream be something that they had access to.
– former Gov. Jon Corzine

McGreevey discussed the investment into the cancer center during his time as governor – at a time when Camden’s future was uncertain. He credited Norcross for his resolute support of Cooper as the former governor remarked on the progress the health system has made since that time. McGreevey also remarked about Cooper’s support during the pandemic for his organization, the New Jersey Reentry Corp.

“I want you to know – North Jersey was packed. Emergency rooms were filled. Clinics were overwhelmed. And we came to Cooper,” said McGreevey. “And because of Cooper, and because of Doc (Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper), because of George – and because of all these other governors, lives were saved. So, today is a great day. It’s a continuation of a vision of a mission that we all share. And we all know is sacred.”

Norcross reflected on a number of the defining moments for Cooper and the City of Camden – and how the governors played a part in them.

“I met Gov. Kean through my father – who became close to Gov. Kean during his tenure and his re-election campaign. The New Jersey State Aquarium is because of Gov. Kean. The most successful outdoor amphitheater in America, right down the street, Freedom Mortgage Theater, is because of Gov. Kean,” said Norcross. “During Gov. McGreevey’s term, our first cancer center originated through his ideas and his inspiration and his support. Gov. Corzine mentioned Anne Milgram, who was the attorney general at the time serving in his administration – who we owe a great debt of gratitude – who started to create a great public safety program.

“And, of course, our medical school is here because of Gov. Corzine today. Then, during Gov. Christie’s administration, the advent of MD Anderson – the No. 1 cancer center in the galaxy. Who no one would have ever believed would have come to Camden, N.J.,” Norcross continued. “But they did, through his support and the inspiration of much of which the mission that MD Anderson stands for. Those are defining moments we’ve had. And in the last almost eight years under Gov. Murphy, his support has been so strong to create better public safety, public education and the kinds of things that have made the renaissance of this city begin.”

See more from the groundbreaking as well as some 3D renderings (provided by Cooper Health):

Norcross referenced a visit by then-President Barack Obama to Camden to see what community policing was. During that trip, Obama called Camden “a symbol of promise for the nation” due to its remarkable turnaround from one of the nation’s poorest and most violent cities.

“Which was a term not very often used back then,” said Norcross about community policing. “Where police officers became partners with the residents in the community. Something now that you start to hear about much, much more. Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor of introducing the last Republican to win the City of Camden – Gov. Tom Kean.”

“I’m proud of that,” Kean quipped. “All of us saw Camden – not as a problem, but as an opportunity. Something we can work on; something we have to work on.”

“To stand here today and see how far Camden has come,” said Kean. “It’s come because of leadership; because of character, because the people of Camden were partners. It’s come because you’ve had a whole series of governors — each and every one of these governors looked at Camden as an opportunity, as something they can do, a way they can make it better.”

Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen recently participated in a press conference with the Camden Board of Commissioners, the Camden County Police Department, and community stakeholders to highlight the progress and accomplishments made over the last 12 years, coinciding with the launch of the county police force. Last year, the city recorded its lowest number of homicides since 1985 – with a falling crime rate combining with progress on education, economic development, infrastructure, housing and more.

Carstarphen said the expansion project marks another milestone in the 138-year partnership between the City of Camden and Cooper University Health Care. “I congratulate George Norcross, chairman of the board of trustees for Cooper University Health Care System, and the entire team at Cooper for expanding their state-of-the-art facilities.

“Cooper’s commitment to attract the top doctors, nurses, and specialists have made Camden the center for quality health care in the region,” he continued. “This historic investment will create not only construction jobs, but upon completion, hundreds of new job opportunities in the health care industry. Cooper University Health Care is helping to lead the way in Camden’s renaissance.”