Save newsstands, vending machines

To the editor: 

Prior to the 1962 newspaper strike of 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 a majority of citizens received their news from newspapers as opposed to television news. These broadcasts would be primarily local news, sports and weather, seldom more than 30 minutes. Technology and budgets were not readily available to send out reporters for remote coverage for national or international stories. 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 addition of other items to survive. They provide newspapers and many products that New Yorkers depend upon daily. The continued demise of newsstands since the 1960s is bad news for the papers. Excessive regulations from various municipal agencies have contributed to the reduction in newsstands over past decades.

We are fortunate to live in a free society, with a wealth of information sources available. 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. 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. All free newspapers collectively rely on several thousand freestanding vending machines. Most newspaper owners and employees are our neighbors. Both paid and free newspapers contribute to NYC and pay taxes just like everyone else.  

No wonder there are so few newsstands when any potential investor has to run the gauntlet between the Departments of Transportation, Consumer Affairs, Landmarks Preservation Commission and Arts Commission as well as local Community Planning Boards. Now Queens NYC Councilmember Daniel Dromm wants to introduce legislation which will give the City Council authority to vote on any permit approvals for newsstands. This will result in even more unreasonable obstacles to those who wish to maintain and expand the number of newsstands.

Independent weekly newspaper owners, employees and faithful readers should be concerned about some elected officials, local community planning boards and other municipal agencies meddling in the distribution of newsstands. The increasing hostile environment and intolerance by some against newsstands will inevitably expand to go after various weekly neighborhood free newspapers. They are all heavily dependent on vending machines for distribution to reach a majority of readers. 

Join me in patronizing the advertisers who help cover production and distribution costs. This assists various neighborhood weekly newspapers to bring you each and every issue. In the marketplace of ideas, let us hope there continues to be room for everyone, including our neighborhood local newsstands and free standing vending machines.

Sincerely,
Larry Penner