Day Two of U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s annual road trip included stops at a family farm in Salem County, a municipal airport in Cape May, the groundbreaking of a wastewater treatment plant in Cumberland, and an announcement of a federal grant to restore Lucy the Elephant, a six-story tall national historical landmark in Margate.
Booker helped secure a grant from the US.S. Department of Agriculture to construct sewer infrastructure systems along the Fortescue and Gandy’s Beach communities in Downe Township.
“Replacing outdated septic systems and addressing the health and sanitary issues caused by flooding will improve the quality of life for the community of Downe Township and protect environmental health all the way down to the Delaware Bay,” Booker said. “This project will have long-lasting benefits on clean water and effective waste management for the Fortescue and Gandy’s Beach communities.”
Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky, a Republican and a fixture in Cape May, praised Booker for his efforts to secure $6.9 million for airport improvements he said would drive economic growth in the area.
“We are extremely grateful to the Senator and his staff for helping to give our general aviation airport the opportunity to play a part in the promotion of emerging technologies in the aviation industry,” said Pikolycky. “The Senator’s recognition of Woodbine’s strategic location and his work to provide critical federal funding to position Woodbine to compete in the emerging 21st century aviation technology industry is greatly appreciated by our community.”
Pikolycky was first elected to the Woodbine Borough Council in 1984 and was elected twice as a Republican and once as an independent. He was elected mayor of the 2,218-person municipality in Cape May County in 1994 as an independent, re-elected in 1998 as a Republican, and again in 2002, 2006 and 2010 as an independent. He won re-election as a Republican in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Booker brought $500,00 in federal funding for the interior restoration of Lucy the Elephant.
“Lucy the Elephant is a cherished part of this community, and this funding will ensure Lucy continues to stand tall, attracting tourists and supporting the local economy for years to come,” he said.
Booker will make stops in Camden and Gloucester counties on Saturday.