Marion Barry Takes Break for ‘Rejuvenation’

A beleaguered Mayor Marion Barry, saying he has been neglecting his health and well-being, announced suddenly Saturday that he is taking time off to seek physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation.

The mayor, who had surgery for prostate cancer in December and who has had drug and alcohol problems in the past, made the announcement in a two-page statement faxed to news organizations.

Barry, 60, noted that he has been in the middle of protracted budget battles, program cuts, job layoffs and elimination of some constituent services. He said he has not been giving proper priority to his health and continued recovery from the prostate surgery, which was described by doctors as successful.

“I therefore announce that, beginning today, I will spend at least a week seeking physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation,” Barry said. He said he would go to the Skinner Farm, a retreat in Tracy’s Landing, Md., “established to facilitate holistic, personal renewal for leaders and others who work under extremely stressful circumstances.”

Barry noted that he spent his first three days out of prison there after serving a six-month sentence in 1992 for a misdemeanor conviction of possessing cocaine.