Big Apple mayor scares newsstand owners

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, May 15, 1995

In his continuing battle against crime, grime and clutter, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is targeting the city's newsstands. As part of a plan that would limit the amount of "street furniture," Giuliani has proposed a measure that will turn ownership of newsstands over to the city. But opponents of the measure fear that the bidding system it calls for could push many newsstand operators out of business.

Street newsstand owners in the Big Apple currently pay $1,000 for a two-year license, which allows them to build their own unit and choose their location. The new plan would employ a yearly bidding system. A similar method recently instituted by the city parks department resulted in a $100,000 bid for one of its 15 newsstands, according to the mayor's office. Robert Bookman, a lawyer for the New York City Newsstand Operators Association, says the only reason street newsstands are able to turn a profit now is because they pay a minimal fee to the city. And even with that nominal cost, the number of newsstands has declined from 1,325 in 1950 to 288 last year. The proposal is at least two years away from becoming law, as it must first gain approval from a host of other city agencies.