It is refreshing to learn that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has directed his staff to assist long time East Village resident Jerry Delakas in attempting to reopen his currently closed Astor Place newsstand.
Jerry and his newsstand have been a neighborhood fixture since the 1970s. This reminded me of the history of New York City newspapers.
Few remember that prior to the 1962 newspaper strike, which lasted for 114 days, New Yorkers had numerous newspapers.
These included the New York Post, New York Daily News, New York Journal American, New York World Telegram & Sun, New York Mirror, New York Times, New York Herald Tribune, Long Island Star Journal, Long Island Press and Staten Island Advance. It was an era when the majority of citizens received their news from newspapers, as opposed to television news.
Readers could select from morning, mid-day and late afternoon editions, available at several thousand newsstands.
Today there are fewer newspapers and only several hundred newsstands left. The profit margin for individual newspaper sales can be as little as pennies.
Newsstand owners need the additional revenues to survive. They provide newspapers and other products many New Yorkers depend upon on a daily basis.
The continued demise of newsstands since the 1960s is bad news for the papers.
Excessive regulations from various municipal agencies has contributed to the reduction in newsstands over past decades.
We are fortunate to live in one of the few remaining free societies, with a wealth of information sources available for all. Today, there is an ongoing circulation battle between the New York Post, New York Daily News and New York Times. They face competition from other daily newspapers such as Newsday, Staten Island Advance, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal along with freebies – AM New York, Metro New York and Epoch Times.
Great Neck residents can select from either the Great Neck News or Great Neck Record. Many of these paid papers count on sales by local newsstands.
These same newsstands provide gainful employment for hundreds of operators along with distributors.
Newsstands generate sales taxes which help support municipal services. They also provide eyes and ears in keeping the neighborhood safe. Most owners and employees are our neighbors.
They contribute to New York City and pay taxes just all of us.
Perhaps new New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will build upon the previous accomplishments of previous New York CityCouncil Speaker Christine Quinn.
Under Quinn’s watch, legislation was introduced and passed allowing newsstand operators to sell non print products for up to $10 versus the previous $5 limit.
Both Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito need to learn from the challenges faced by hard working New Yorkers, such as Jerry Delakas.
No wonder there are so few newsstands when any potential investor has to run the gauntlet between the city Departments of Transportation, Consumer Affairs, Landmarks Preservation Commission and Arts Commission.
Will Speaker Mark-Vivertio introduce legislation to limit the role all three agencies have in placing unreasonable obstacles to those who wish to maintain and expand the number of newsstands? Time will tell.
In the marketplace of ideas, let us hope there continues to be room for everyone including our own Great Neck News along with neighborhood local newsstands.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
