Who knew – not me – when OIB launched what it would become, a staying-power news site focused on government and politics. We tapped into a market niche because no news organization paid regular attention to Bridgeport civics.
What began 20 years ago at the front end of the “blogging” world has evolved into a news community attracting millions of views yearly from an engaged readership, backed by advertising partners reaching key decision makers and influencers from around the state.
OIB started under the umbrella of the late Fairfield County Weekly. Editor Tom Gogola asked me to join the editorial team, writing for both the hard copy newspaper and newly launched website. He gave me plenty of latitude to pick story subjects to my liking.
As a young reporter, 17 years old when I interned at the predecessors to the Connecticut Post, the morning Telegram and afternoon Post, I became fascinated by the guys and dolls of the city. It eventually led to my first book, Only In Bridgeport. It was a natural fit to coin the column as that.
In time Gogola told me, through a stat nerd, that 40 percent of the traffic going to The Weekly website was driven by OIB. The Weekly was owned by Tribune, a mega news conglomerate. The new web world and information flow, however, was taking a bite out of print journalism. Many were shuttered including those owned by Tribune.
I knew it was just a matter of time before the ax fell on The Weekly. I decided to take OIB independent, with a lot of trepidation. Would the readers follows? Gogola was fabulous to me. He also knew the reality.
You don’t do these things alone. I needed people who knew what they were doing to build a website. That’s where designer Sue Katz and webmaster Ray Fusci came in. Sue is the front end and Ray the back end of the site.
It took some time to build enough of an audience to leverage that into monetization via display advertising.
Why the staying power and growth?
Organically, we captured a market niche that needed attention with a focus on government, politics and development that leverages a platform for people of clout and action. The three words Only In Bridgeport takes its name from the colorful news activity in Connecticut’s most populace community, but OIB is not Bridgeport centric in readership. Tens of thousands of suburban readers and regional decision makers come in for a slice of life because they enjoy skin in the game. They work here, own property here, own a business here, have family here.
In addition we cover stories that impact Bridgeport and region from around the state, in the corridors of the state capitol, congressional offices, governor’s budget and policies. Influencers read OIB. That lends itself to advocacy groups who want to reach them. It helps to keep this site going.
That, and you – the readers.
Nothing is forever. Without readers and advertisers, there’s no OIB. So, a precious thank you to all.
The OIB Facebook page is also roaring, compiling several million views in 2025, representing hundreds of thousands of readers. In the early days of OIB the website was a hotbed for reader comments. Commenters seem to like one-stop shopping these days, so if spying comments is your jam, you’ll find plenty of them on the OIB Facebook page.
Check it out.
Moving forward in this 2026, 20-year anniversary we will highlight some of the stories that blossomed with attention, some picked up nationally by The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and FOX News.
I am also grateful for the media partnerships we have with CT Capitol Report, Doing It Local, CT Mirror, Chris Powell. They add unique voices.
And, you’ll be seeing more articles from the likes of Michael J. Daly and Timothy “Ace” Holleran, two scribes with deep institutional knowledge of Bridgeport.
What follows is the first OIB column I wrote nearly 20 years ago, 10 years prior to my former boss Donald Trump becoming president.
Ten years ago Donald Trump, my old boss, invited me to a party at his home in Manhattan, the kind of party where bringing your checkbook was required entry.
“I’m having a little gathering for Al D’Amato and would appreciate your attendance,” Trump said of the Republican U.S. Senator from New York (running for re-election)
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I thought to myself, why does it have to be Al D’Amato! That whiny shrew gives us Italian Americans a bad name. D’Amato had juice in New York and in Washington, and Donald wanted to cover his business-interests butt. In politics you just never know when a simple little phone call can help for this or that. Pols take phone calls from those who help them. Donald wanted to help.
Recommended entry into the Donald Dome was $2,000 — $1,000 for the primary cycle and another $1,000 for the general election cycle. Now, why in the world would I cough up $2,000 for a guy who shrilled like nails on a blackboard? Trump was paying me $8,000 a month to serve as his government relations/media consultant in Connecticut. He had hired me in 1994 on the heels of Bridgeport becoming a potential growth center for casino gaming expansion. Trump owned property in Bridgeport, I was Mayor Joe Ganim’s closest political advisor. I was the right apprentice for the times.
In the end it was easy to right the check. I wasn’t doing it for D’Amato, I was doing it for Trump. I showed up to Trump’s Manhattan Taj, said hello to his wife Marla Maples, made faces at baby Tiffany, mingled with the well heeled and high heeled. On those occasions when Trump asked me to write a check for a candidate I did it. It was common sense.
Great job Lennie!
Way to go Lennie,20yrs..wow..here’s to 20 more!
Happy Anniversary Honey! May all your Pains be Champagnes !
“We tapped into a market niche because no news organization paid regular attention to Bridgeport civics.”
If “CIVICS is the study of citizen rights and responsibilities”, then where is OIB attention to Bridgeport civics?
Where do you pay attention to the story behind Charter revision this past year? Where do you comment on the decisions made by 10% or fewer of the registered electorate? Who has oversight responsibility for city governance? Why is HOUSING a neglected post for good governance taking up topics like unhoused persons, waiting lists for housing in project locations, the number of locations where high-rise buildings create “poor neighborhoods” without internal organizations to direct and re-direct Bridgeport citizens to find answers for common problems? What would be a role for a Fair Housing Commission to play in Bridgeport, ignored by successive mayoral administrations for more than 20 years? And more, unfortunately….
What remains, are stories of people battling each other, or so it seems, while the POWER remains centered in an executive who was himself caught up in corruption, faced a legal detour, yet returned to the voter population without regulations and encouragement to those who wish to have their own homes at some point? Growing middle-class citizen wealth over a lifetime is an expectation of many families. Where is that outline proposed, directed, and defended to, for, and with citizens? Isn’t that CIVICS? Rather than framing stories of folks who have passed on or have issues with current governance, how is OIB regularly attending to Bridgeport CIVICS? Time will tell.
Lennie is referring to Honda CIVICS. You had allot to say in defense of Police Thief Porter, now you crawl out from under your rock to question OIBs attentiveness to Bridgeport civics.
Tell us how successful has your civics discussion series been. Charter Revision? If Lennue wanted to crush the worthless Charter revision campaign, he would have been successful. All Lennie needed to do was exposed the cost of implementation of keey aspects of changes. I’m still waiting for you civic minded ass to give us an idea of the cost for establishing the new ethics commission.
Let’s see if when budget time comes, Lennie will write a commentary hitting on the fact that you and the other 12 Charter Apostles never considered the high cost of implementation.
Then again, you could create your own blog or web page. Just keep in mind HONDA CORPORATION may hold ©️ to Civic.
Lennie, remember this when JML passes away: “…Rather than framing stories of folks who have passed on or have issues with current governance…”
JG,
You have your own opinion. It may align more with other folks, but speculating about my own “passing”, perhaps as we near January 1, 2026, you will reveal your own goals in the year ahead where we celebrate 250 years of US history that reflects core principles, values, and beliefs that reflects “civics”. As I have explained previously for OIB readers, governance CIVICS is the study of citizen right and responsibilities (and subsequent practice of duties and obligations along with claims of rights.)
Are you proud of the limited number of registered voters who vote in the City each time there is an Election Day? I am not. So that provides a goal to get CONVERSATIONS going about these subjects, and those CONVERSATIONS may produce resolutions, Ordinances, or other “fires under Councilpersons or City administrators” or even TOWN COUNCIL leaders about the values they uphold and goals they support with action. Where does that leave you? Fussing about the role the Council and administration may have to fund the new office of Ethics, a subject beyond the responsibility of a Charter revision group. By the way where did you stand relative to the creation of formal authorization of the Legislative office as to strengthening the City Council. Have you provided a comment. The Ethics Commission has been authorized previously so it is not “new” as you say. The Charter Revisions Commission strengthened it as a part of City governance and the City Council and voters agreed ultimately. Everyone has a role to play in governance, but only if they can see the picture as it is and reflect on how it may improve our lives. Time will tell.
Joel telling it like it is. Simple, straight forward, not hard to understand. Keep up the good work 👍