Cumberland County is a region of the state that doesn't get the same attention as places like Camden, Newark or Atlantic City.

Yet it faces many of the same challenges, if not worse unemployment, homelessness and poor health outcomes, just to name a few.

And state support.

While that's been spotty at best, according to a recent report by NJ Advance Media, Sue Livio, who joins me now to discuss this rural region of New Jersey.

So excellent reporting.

And your recent article, Crisis in Cumberland, you point out that Cumberland County ranks first in a lot of worst lists.

What is the reality for people living in Cumberland County?

I think the most disturbing reality is that on average, their life expectancy is five years shorter than the statewide average.

And that's that's really shocking.

I saw that point, but I couldn't help but think that even before someone reaches that early end of life, their quality of life seems so much poorer and so much less.

And Cumberland, just kind of explain that a bit more.

Sure.

So one of the things that was really surprising to in a state, you think, you know, we're surrounded, we've got Philly in New York around us and we have a huge medical business base.

But there are relatively few primary care doctors in the Cumberland County space.

What is always really important to remember is that wealth equals health and that if you are poor or if you are working class and struggling, health falls down pretty low on the list of priorities for you.

And a lot of the working people in Cumberland County are working in warehouses, they're working on farms, they're in retail jobs and benefits are not that great spaces.

Where they really can't take the day off.

Right.

To go get medical care.

That's right.

I mean, it's it's sacrificing pay.

Right.

And even though we have some pretty good sick pay laws in New Jersey, people don't necessarily know about them.

We have it's the second largest migrant worker base in New Jersey.

You also point out that jobs are a problem there and that a lot of companies that did exist that at one time were providing jobs have moved out.

I'm curious, we've seen the state invest and really take over in spaces like AC in Newark and Camden.

Could the state should the state take over in Cumberland County?

And what would that look like?

So a few hours after the story ran yesterday, my colleague Brant Johnson asked the governor this specifically is it, you know, considering how much of an outlier Cumberland is from the rest of the state, is it time the state took a more vested interest, something like what happened in Camden or Atlantic City?

And and he said, no, you know, and that was a takeover in Atlantic City.

But, you know, he's open to suggestions.

Are you hopeful that there is the political will and that businesses could be attracted to this area?

I'm told that the folks in economic development are hopeful, but necessarily not the kind of jobs that are going to lift people out of poverty or a stable life.

But, you know, hopefully this story brings some attention.

There's a lot of people working hard in Cumberland, and I hope there is a political will.

We'll just have to see.

Absolutely important reporting.

Sue Livio, thank you so much.

Thank you.