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Look past organized crime allegation
I recently had the opportunity to meet and be interviewed by Jordan Green from YES! Weekly, and must say that I am overall very happy with the article [“Benbassat, an international champion for urban Greensboro (online version)”; by Jordan Green; Aug. 19, 2009] although feel the need to clarify some things in light of their reporting my possible connection to organized crime. In the article, Mr. Green states that “Benbassat’s purist attitude towards politics contrasts with what some may see as a troubling association with organized crime.
“The candidate was employed for a short time by a catering hall in Queens, NY that was alleged by the New York Daily News to be skimming money for the Gambino crime family and he ran an Italo-Argentine import business that associated with some people who were indirectly involved with organized crime in New York City.” He later goes on to include my statement in response: “‘The allegations connecting me to organized crime in New York or anywhere, for that matter, are false,’ Benbassat told YES! Weekly.”
I applaud Jordan’s work on this article for being objective, and am very happy that he included my statement, because the fact of the matter is, quite simply, that I am not involved with anything of that nature, despite my past loose associations and/ or friendships with people that may have been involved. I’ve been reading people’s blogs discussing Mr Green’s articles, and hope they can look past this and instead focus on the issues brought up, for example, my stance on a better controlled growth of our city, there is too much sprawl and this is not good; the mention of my stance and ideas on expanding urban green space, etc.
Max Benbassat, Greensboro
The writer is an at-large candidate for Greensboro City Council.
Omnibus lamentTo Mr. Charles Womack,
Where’s Ogi? I read the YES! Weekly on a regular basis, and I’ll even go down to the post office to get a copy if I don’t see one while I’m out and about around town.
I think I missed a week or two, then I picked up a copy and looked all through the paper for Ogi’s column and it wasn’t there. I really miss it. I haven’t even bothered to read what’s there now, it’s just not the same. Well, actually, I glanced at what’s there now, but passed on giving it any serious attention. I mean, if you’d replaced him with Maureen Dowd I’d probably read that. And while I’m here: Chuck Norris? C’mon now, be serious.
Ogi has a unique viewpoint that should be expressed in a local paper. His topics were relevant, sometimes funny and always interesting. I’d look for his page first, then I’d read the rest of the paper. Now I’ll glance at it, read Jordan Green and Brian Clarey, but I’m still wondering what happened to Ogi? I thought there might even be a note or an explanation… if there was one printed I missed it.
So, I just wanted to say that I miss reading his articles, and was wondering why I haven’t seen him in your paper that seemed to be such a perfect forum for him to say what he has to say! Thanks for your time.
Sue Karlok Lasine, Greensboro
Editor replies: Ogi Overman’s column, Omnibus, hasn’t run in YES! Weekly in about a year — though he did write last week’s cover story. He is currently the editor of the Jamestown News, which keeps him appreciably busy.
Not exactly carefree
To whom it may concern: I am a member of the Greensboro Elk Lodge, on Aug. 1 we had our 5th annual Camp Carefree Charity Ride. You sent out Nneka Davis to cover the story. Well let’s just say the members of the Greensboro Elks Lodge are not happy with the socalled “blurb” (four lines and some picture is hardly a story) in your Aug. 5 paper.
First of all Plum Krazy’s did not put on this ride — the only thing they did was allowed us to hold our raffle for two mini bikes and a TV there (which they donated the TV), but that’s all. For five years the lodge has put together a committee (which I sit on) and we get the donations together and lay out the ride, do the registration at the lodge on the day of the ride, along with feed the riders before they take off. But most of all your “blurb” doesn’t even tell the reason for the ride. In this day and time people are looking to hear about the positive and just like all the other papers, TV and radio you do not get the concept of that either. Over the past five years, we have raised over $90,000 for kids with cancer or other disabilities and their siblings that have cancer to go to a camp for a week for free and be as close to normal and do normal activities as possible.
We would greatly appreciate if you had the story redone the proper way. Sincerely,
Bonnie Van Steen, Greensboro
