A Disheartening Decision: The Threat to Monmouth County's Lifeline "Ma Medical Center"
- Karen Brittingham-Edmond
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
November 17, 2025
Citizen Disenfranchisement Commentary Updated 11/19/2025 KBE
Long Branch N.J - In a move that has left the community reeling, the powers that be in New Jersey have proposed closing one of the oldest hospitals in Monmouth County, with RWJ Barnabas Corporation leading the charge. This decision raises not only eyebrows but serious questions about the priorities of American leaders here in New Jersey. For a region already grappling with the destructive forces of gerrymandering and gentrification over the past 40 years, the potential loss of a vital healthcare institution is a devastating blow to the citizens who depend on it.
If my mother, Mrs. Cynthia Brittingham, were alive today, she'd be belting out Donna Summer's classic hit "Macarthur Park" from 1978. You know, the one about leaving cake out in the rain? Well, it seems that someone took that advice too seriously because "Ma' Med" our affectionate nickname for Monmouth Medical Center per the relaunched Echo has been left out to suffer in the rain. It's a real shame! It feels like a dirty little secret has been festering behind the scenes for over 40 years, thanks to some not-so-great people and politicians pulling strings. Consequentially, will Long Branch ever get back to being the lovely beach town we all know and love? Or are we just destined to watch our Ma Med cake melt in the park because of the dastardly deeds of racist and non citizen special interest groups who believe in caste systems laws that assist with the continued taking advantage of and oppression of American citizens?
The heart of Monmouth County beats within its historical landmarks, and this hospital has been a cornerstone of care for generations. The proposed shutdown is not merely a closure of bricks and mortar; it symbolizes a neglect of the people who have long called this place home. As American politicians in New Jersey gather to make such pivotal decisions, the question arises: who are they truly serving? The focus on profitability and corporate interests, highlighted by RWJ Barnabas's involvement, eclipses the very real needs of citizens whose health and well-being are at stake.
What has fanned the flames of outrage is not just the potential closure itself, but the manner in which the conversation around it was held at the Anne Vogel Family Care and Wellness Center on Wyckoff Road in Eatontown. In a small conference room where only a fraction of the 500 citizen protestors could voice their concerns, democracy was stifled. Those forced to stand outside the meeting were met with a barrier to their voices, reducing their experiences and resolutions to mere background noise. It is an affront to the democratic process when representatives gather in the shadows, minimizing public input and disregarding the very people they are elected to serve. Shame on you, New Jersey Shame!
American politicians and lawyers in New Jersey should feel a dam shame for fostering an atmosphere that has consistently disrespected long-term citizens' over the past four decades. The recent stunt of organizing a crucial civic meeting in a cramped office space is a prime example. Instead of promoting open dialogue and meaningful engagement, it revealed a concerning lack of commitment to civic duty. The confrontation between voices demanding change was dismissed not only physically but also symbolically, a move that echoes broader trends of disillusionment with the political landscape in New Jersey, which is attempting to turn the State purple, then red. God forbid! By limiting access and silencing dissent, leaders are not merely losing touch; they are reinforcing the Trump narrative that the interests of the few outweigh the needs of the many.
Reflecting on this alarming trend, it is imperative that citizens and advocates rally together in pursuit of justice. The fight against gerrymandering and gentrification must extend to protect vital community resources, such as hospitals. The decision-makers have a responsibility to create spaces for real public engagement, to listen attentively, and to prioritize the health and voices of their constituents over corporate profits. And yes, RWJBarnabas Corporation & MAGA, I'm talking about you!
It's absolutely outrageous that the hardworking citizens of Monmouth County are being sidelined in their own communities. The very people who have invested their time, energy, and loyalty in Long Branch, New Jersey, for many years are being ignored in favor of a privileged few—a small elite that seems far more concerned with their own interests than the well-being of American citizens families, and workers. That makes me suspicious!
How can it be acceptable for local governance to capitulate & boil down to deceptively cramped meeting spaces, where the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out? This is not just a matter of inconvenience; it's a blatant disregard for the democratic process.
These meetings should serve as platforms for transparency, engagement, and meaningful dialogue, yet they often feel more like a façade, designed to placate rather than empower. American tax dollars, which have been contributing for over a century, have funded initiatives like Bloomberg's New Economy scheme in collaboration with The Christian Coalition's "Sanctuary Movement." This movement's primary objective was to displace Black citizens from their minority-majority voting position, paving the way for an insourced population that subscribes to caste systems and upholds white supremacies ideology, rather than embracing the biblical principle that all men are created equal—whether one agrees with them or not.
Additionally, the same Bible teaches that treason constitutes a sin against one's fellow countrymen. Therefore, the act of bringing in millions of people the last 40 years just to undermine, displace, and make homeless American citizens as well as to dilute the power of the Black citizen vote systematically is fundamentally wrong in the eyes of both God and humanity, just as it is wrong to close a longstanding community hospital that has served the public and citizens, Black or White, since 17 January 1889.
The disappointment is palpable as Monmouth Medical Center Hospital, a cornerstone for so many years, has been threatened with closure. This institution was built on the dedication of long-term employees like Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Evelyn Penn, Sister Cheryl Holloways - Reeves, Miss. Alberta January, Miss. Catherine (Bushy) Rock, Mother Teddy Laster, Cindy Brittingham, Mrs. Gail Beiser, Mother Nurse Brown, Mrs. Gertrude Moore, and Mrs. Talarico who use to bake Christmas cookies without fail each year for employees' families, among others, who devoted their lives to serving the community via their work ethic at "Ma Med." Their unwavering commitment has not only shaped the hospital but also boosted its staff's morale long before RWJBarnabas's downsizing thievery scheme was birthed. Yet, those in positions of power seem to dismiss those beloved employees of the past invaluable contributions over the years, instead prioritizing a select few who believe they hold the right to make decisions for everyone else. This betrayal of trust and manipulation of community needs for personal gain is deeply disheartening.
The children and families who rely on this hospital's services and resources deserve better. They deserve leaders who will prioritize their needs and advocate for a fair and just society, not those who wield power with callous indifference like you know who. In a country that prides itself on equality and opportunity, it's time to call out the unfairness and demand the change we deserve!
Now is the time to demand accountability and to ensure that the lifelines of care remain intact for generations to come at Monmouth Medical Center.
Unless!
Unless the parking garage built by insourced workers is about to come tumbling down, and if you visited the parking garage at Monmouth Medical Center, you know exactly what I am talking about. Gee, what a setup for failure! Big ups to the Christian Coalition's "Sanctuary Movement!" When it comes to parking garages, remember cheap labor might save a buck, but if the ceiling is shaking more than your morning cup of coffee, you might want to rethink that "bargain." After all, not all deals are a steal—especially when they come with a side of structural instability! Time will tell.
In the meantime, Rock on Long Branch - Rock on!
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