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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS MAIN STREET. By John F. Bailey. July 11, 2003. 1:00 A.M. E.D.T.: A citizens’ Committee to Save the White Plains Watch, (the city monthly newspaper published for the past five years), is in the process of being formed.
In an electronic mailing sent and forwarded to a large number of citizens, Barbara Benjamin is calling upon White Plains residents to help “The Watch” by becoming subscribers and placing advertisements. The mailing, a copy of which was sent to White Plains CitizeNetReporter, characterizes itself as a “call to arms to try and find a way to save the White Plains Watch!” Ms. Benjamin’s letter asks for it to be forwarded by e-mail to “any and all who might be willing to help,” and asks for a volunteer to get the committee going.
Ms. Benjamin, interviewed by WPCNR Thursday afternoon said, she has gotten a “fabulous” response, with people telling her “I’m going to help.” Ms. Benjamin did not say how many had contacted her, or how they planned to help, but said they could help by “becoming subscribers and taking out ads.” She said she was moved to send out the mailing because “The Watch” is “a good paper” and the city needs a free independent press.
The recruiting message sent out through Ms. Benjamin’s e-mail address, says that she had spoken with Susan Chang, the publisher of The Watch, and learned that Ms. Chang will not be publishing an August issue. Ms. Benjamin’s letter goes on to say that, “As a result of the city black ball of The Watch, she has lost advertisers and is losing money on each issue, which she cannot continue to do.”
Ms. Benjamin’s letter suggests that the citizen’s committee be formed to “publicize her plight and the reason for it;” conduct a mailing to get subscribers, and hold a “fund-raiser”.
WCNR asked Ms. Benjamin how the Committee will be formed, and proceed, and she said that it was uncertain at this stage. (Her e-mail text said she hoped a volunteer would come forward “to help me get this going.”
Publisher Declines to Comment.
Prior to calling Ms. Benjamin, WPCNR contacted Susan Chang. Ms. Chang said she did not wish to comment on the “Save the Watch Committee.” She said “we are continuing to publish” and that though The Watch has published in August in the past, they chose not to do so in August because of her staff vacation schedules. As I was about to ask Ms. Chang what Ms. Benjamin could have meant by the “city black ball of The Watch,” the telephone call was disconnected. Calling back immediately, I talked to Ms. Chang’s assistant who said Ms. Chang did not wish to speak further on the issue.
In my interview with Ms. Benjamin, I started by asking her what she meant by the “city black ball” comment in her mailing, she said if Ms. Chang was not going to comment she was not going to comment. Ms. Benjamin also said this effort of hers, “had nothing to do with CCOS (Concerned Citizens for Open Space, the organization with which she is associated).”
When pressed on the details of how the city was “black-balling the watch” according to the allegation in her letter, Ms. Benjamin became irritated, said I was “a troublemaker” and said she would not speak to a “yellow journalist like you.” And on that comment, she terminated the interview.
WPCNR contacted the Mayor’s Office asking what they thought Ms. Benjamin’s comment about the “city black ball” meant, and the Mayor’s Office had no comment.
Complete Text of the Save The Watch Commitee Letter Circulated July 7:
This memo is being written by me as a private citizen and not as chairperson of anything. It is a “call to arms” to try and find a way to SAVE THE WHITE PLAINS WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I spoke to Susan Chang today. She will be putting a notice in the July issue of the Watch re our Candidates Meeting because there will be no August issue.
As a result of the city black ball of the Watch, she has lost advertisers and is losing money on each issue, which she cannot continue to do.
I believe a citizen’s committee should be formed, a Save the Watch Committee, and we should find a way to:
1) Publicize her plight and the reason for it
2) Do a city mailing and try to get her hundreds of subscribers.
3) Host a fund raiser to help her out
These are not things she can do herself. It is up to this community to get all the people who support the Watch to fight to save it. Closing it would be a terrible loss to the city and a free press.
I do not want to be chairman of this, but I will be happy to open my house to a “get started” meeting and work hard with any committee that can be formed.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ANY AND ALL WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO HELP. I can think of a great many people who should get this e-mail, but I don’t have the necessary e-mail addresses — but you might. I CAN BE AN E-MAIL CENTER FOR RESPONSES, BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMEONE VOLUNTEER TO HELP ME GET THIS GOING.
Barbara