In a meeting today of Senate “Fiscal Strategies,” Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-29) stressed the need for uniform practices as the state examines a process by which to reopen amidthe COVID-19 crisis.

“If we wait for a vaccine, we are going to compound the suffering,”  said Barry Ostrowsky, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health.

Robert Garrett, president and CEO of Hackensack University Health, said reopening measures may include adjustments, such as “patients [being] called in from their car.

Ruiz applauded the comment, stressing the need for every day practices.

“We need a uniform approach,” said the Newark-based senator. “We hear about opening, but there isn’t a uniform approach. I hope to see direction.”

In Bellmawr, a gym defied the Governor’s executive orders this morning and planned to reopen, as police blocked the entrance and supporters lined up outside, according to NJ101.5.

The gym co-owners posted the following on Facebook:

“People lined up outside the Atilis Gym in the Browning Square shopping plaza before dawn Monday, holding pro-Trump signs and American flags in support of the decision to open, according to tweets by Fox 29’s Steve Keeley.”

Doors of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr now open to cheers, in defiance of state orders. pic.twitter.com/BtuMVpg5hP

— Katherine Scott (@KScott6abc) May 18, 2020

Bellmawr, NJ police have arrived at Atilis Gym with local public works crews blocking’s entrance to gym shopping center&putting up barricades around growing protest crowd supporting gyn owners and chanting “Re-Open New Jersey & ⁦@GovMurphy⁩ ‘s a Tyrant”. @fox29philly pic.twitter.com/zv5XIIUOQb

— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) May 18, 2020

Read Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: 5/18/2020

Governor Phil Murphy will opt for in-person provisional voting for July 7th primary elections – no machines, which will supplement vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots.

In other words, a hybrid.

The state will also examine consolidating polling locations.

“I’m hearing ballots to all R and D, applications to unaffiliateds. Drop off centers, but no polling places per se. The devil will be in the details,” a source added.

For more, please go HERE.

Read Insider NJ’s Morning Intelligence Briefing: May 15th

Mayor Marty Small today landed the line in the Atlantic City mayor’s race.

Despite not getting line, a challenger Pamela Thomas-Fields source said she remains in the race to win.

All day, sources kicked around tidbits of information, including a party examination of the potential for an open primary for mayor. But that option faded late in the day as Small won the support of the county party organization. For more on this developing story, including AC Chairman Mike Suleiman’s full letter, please go HERE.

“I am not surprised by the endorsement of the two Assemblyman for our incumbent, interim mayor,” said Atlantic City mayoral candiate Pam Thomas-Fields. “The unfortunate reality is they are financed by the same forces that attempted to hijack our local government. Their silence on the change of government referendum and complete lack of support for the No Vote speaks volumes on their complacency with the status quo.

Atlantic City deserves positive foundational change from unbought and unbossed leadership. This hollow endorsement only serves to connect my opponent to the corruption and back door deals that have plagued this city for decades. I am committed to a campaign of bold leadership and positive foundational change as an independent voice for the residents of Atlantic City. The status quo has got to go!”

The results of a final vote count in Belleville’s competitive Ward One (Councilwoman Marie Strumolo-Burke versus Carmine Mattia) won’t be known until late Friday.

That goes for the results in other towns still up in the air in Essex.

Numerous residents are now complaining that they never received or sent in a vote-by-mail ballot — even though Passaic County Board of Election records show a ballot in their name was mailed in, accorrding to THIS NBC REPORT.