A QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY

Can Fabrizi still lead after cocaine admission?

Bridgeport's political, business and religious leaders are meeting
with Mayor John M. Fabrizi to discuss his status after his admission
that he has used cocaine and abused alcohol while serving as mayor.

The leaders said Fabrizi must show how he plans to rebuild his
credibility after he publicly admitted his substance abuse problems June 20.

Last week, Fabrizi met with Democratic City Council members and
Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) members to explain his
past drug and alcohol use and current treatment.

A similar meeting with the Greater Bridgeport Council of Churches, a
religious umbrella group, has been scheduled for the near future.

"I'm telling them my story and explaining my situation," said
Fabrizi, whose admission came after his name surfaced in an ongoing
federal drug investigation. A representative from the U.S. Attorney's
Office has said Fabrizi is not a target in the case.

Two weeks ago, Fabrizi said he hadn't used cocaine in 18 months or
consumed alcohol in four months. He has been mayor for three years
and two months, since April 2003.

Paul Timpanelli, BRBC president, described the meeting between
Fabrizi and business leaders as "difficult but cordial. People were
frank, and I think the mayor was honest."

Timpanelli said business leaders "are disappointed in [Fabrizi's]
behavior" but most appear willing to give him a second chance.

To do that, he said, Fabrizi must come up with a specific plan
similar to a corporate crisis recovery plan.

"It's a relatively small window of opportunity," Timpanelli said. "He
has to show how he can revitalize his image and the city's image,
show why he can be trusted, and demonstrate why people should have
faith he can still do the job."

The Council of Churches, in a recent letter to Fabrizi, told the
mayor his drug use violated the public trust. "Leaders set the
thermostat of the entities they lead," stated the letter.

In the letter, religious leaders asked how people, including
children, could be advised to avoid illegal drug use when the mayor
has not done so.

"Your behavior mocks the National Day of Prayer event annually
organized by your office," they wrote.

They requested a meeting with Fabrizi so he could offer "a clear plan
to regain the public trust...with decisive short- and long-term steps
for the well-being of the city of Bridgeport." Fabrizi has agreed to
meet with the organization.

Council ponders options

Fabrizi's meeting with the Democratic City Council members took place
June 28 behind closed doors in the City Hall Annex. Fifteen of 19
Democrats attended.

Fabrizi, who also is a Democrat, spoke to the council members for
about 30 minutes, and then the meeting continued without him.

Associate City Attorney John H. Barton had ruled the Democrats could
meet in a caucus - not open to the public or press - as long as only
Democratic members attended and no city business was conducted.

In an interview, Barton said Fabrizi is "an ex-officio" caucus
member. Fabrizi chairs City Council meetings but can vote only to break ties.

Democratic council member Robert P. Curwen Sr., a Fabrizi supporter,
said one focus of the meeting was expanding the extent of personnel
covered by the city's ethics rules and drug and alcohol use policy.
Fabrizi seems to have violated the rules and policy based on his admission.

Curwen said the city charter might have to be revised so there is no
question that the rules and policy apply to the mayor and his
top-tier appointees, not just unionized municipal workers.

"We want people to know that city business is still moving forward
and we won't just let this situation [with Fabrizi] go away," Curwen
said. "He'll be under scrutiny."

A Bridgeport mayor cannot be impeached or recalled from office.

Democratic council member Robert S. Walsh, who often has clashed with
Fabrizi, said he purposely didn't attend the caucus until after
Fabrizi had finished his presentation. He said he already is familiar
with the mayor's version of events.

"I think I'll only get madder if I hear him explain it anymore," Walsh said.

He said council members are divided over to do about the mayor's
behavior, "but there was a clear consensus that the citizens of
Bridgeport once again had their confidence in government hurt."

He said the council might establish a special committee to look into
how certain municipal rules and policies could be changed, including
those on ethics and employee drug use.

Drug tests, public reaction

Walsh also said the possibility of asking the mayor to undergo
regular drug testing is on the table. "It's something that will
probably be looked into more," he said.

Walsh believes most Bridgeport residents want Fabrizi to resign.
However, he said he hasn't called for the mayor's resignation because
he doesn't think his opinion would influence Fabrizi.

"The reaction I'm hearing is worse than with Ganim," said Walsh,
referring to Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, who was convicted of 16 federal
corruption charges in April 2003 and now is serving a nine-year sentence.

Fabrizi has said he will not resign and has continued to attend many
public events, where the reaction to him appears to be mostly positive.

Walsh said having many council members and state legislators call for
the mayor's resignation at once could have an impact on what Fabrizi does.

Curwen said council members are taking "a wait-and-see approach"
toward Fabrizi.

He said the mayor misled council members in the past when he denied
rumors he had used cocaine. "He lied to a lot of us on this issue, so
there's a lot of skepticism," said Curwen, adding that people usually
try to cover up their addictions.

Curwen doesn't think Fabrizi should resign as of now, since he hasn't
been charged or convicted of any crime. He also thinks Fabrizi has
done a good job as mayor.

"If he's making an effort and is in treatment, as he has told us, I
think it warrants a second chance," Curwen said. "But he also needs
to lead by example."

Fabrizi said he wants council members to keep in mind how committed
he is to moving Bridgeport forward.

"All City Council members, even my detractors, know how hard I work,"
he said. "While they may not agree with everything I do and all I
want to accomplish, they can't take away my work ethic or drive."

Fabrizi said he has spoken to almost all council members privately
about his addiction in recent days. "It's in the past," stressed
Fabrizi, insisting his cocaine and alcohol use never affected his job
performance.