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Council Member Brewer discusses newsstand regulations and challenges with DCWP
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Council Member Gale A. Brewer engages in a discussion with Carlos Ortiz from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) about the current state and future of newsstands in New York City. They explore issues such as illegal product sales, declining numbers of newsstands, and potential updates to regulations.
- DCWP confirms there are currently 333 newsstand licenses, down from historical highs
- Discussion touches on the importance of newsstands as "eyes and ears" on the street
- Brewer raises concerns about newsstands selling primarily phones, potentially violating regulations
Gale A. Brewer
0:44:44
I'm obviously gonna say thank you for your amazing work with the newsstand on 70 Ninth Street.
0:44:50
I can't tell you how much joy people have on seeing Sammy return, much thanks to you.
0:44:57
My question is just generally on newsstands, because you do supervise them or oversee them.
0:45:02
There are some now that are literally selling only telephones.
0:45:07
And, you know, nothing to do with newsstands, can't do anything else.
0:45:10
So my question is how much force, staff is focused on that?
0:45:16
I love newsstands.
0:45:17
They're part of New York.
0:45:18
But and they obviously can't make money on the, news business.
0:45:23
And so how are we sort of thinking about newsstands today in 2025?
0:45:28
Is that something that has come up?
0:45:30
Is that something you're thinking about, etcetera?
0:45:32
We want we don't want them to break the law.
0:45:35
But if the law doesn't make any sense, then should we be doing something different?
0:45:38
I don't know.
0:45:39
But this one newsstand I'll bring to your attention has more telephones, an illegal product than exist in many places.
Carlos Ortiz
0:45:51
Thank you for the question, council member.
0:45:52
I think, in terms of your your your one of the first parts of the question with of our staff capacity, we generally in in our enforcement team have about sorry.
0:46:06
I'm gonna do quick math here.
0:46:09
It looks to me a little bit close to over 40, inspectors.
0:46:13
Twenty three of those are really focused on the borough enforcement, which is some of the patrol work that we do and in response to complaints.
0:46:19
I I think if we're seeing any newsstands engaging in illegal activity, we'd be happy to take a look at them and and and route an inspector in that direction.
0:46:27
I think your underlying point is is is a good one that that there are limitations in terms of what what can be sold that are in local law.
0:46:34
I think I think at any point, we're happy to engage in that conversation with with the council and seeing what makes sense, particularly for the twenty first century.
Gale A. Brewer
0:46:43
I assume that there are fewer newsstands than there have been in the past.
0:46:46
Is that a correct statement?
0:46:47
Do you
Carlos Ortiz
0:46:48
know?
0:46:49
I think that is correct.
0:46:50
Just based on just my experience in some of the space, I think we're somewhere around 200, three hundred newsstands.
0:46:55
I think, historically, that was that was way higher.
0:46:59
It's an interesting industry.
0:47:00
I think it certainly has different different aspects that could be addressed.
0:47:04
I mean,
Gale A. Brewer
0:47:04
I think they are the eyes and ears often on the street, and and they're very supportive of pedestrians and and pedestrian traffic.
0:47:11
Go ahead.
0:47:12
I just I would, like, what can we do to keep the pedestrian eyes on the street, make them able to make a living, etcetera?
0:47:20
It's not a big issue, but for those of us in Manhattan, it has a lot of, support.
Carlos Ortiz
0:47:25
No.
0:47:25
I think, for for for your your point about, the particular newsstand we're able to assist with, I'm glad we're able to cut through some of the red tape and and really get to the bottom of a
Gale A. Brewer
0:47:34
You were good.
Carlos Ortiz
0:47:34
What was a complicated case.
0:47:37
Yeah.
0:47:37
I I many I think many newsstands do end up being in Manhattan, so perhaps maybe why they're more beloved in in in this particular borough.
0:47:45
But for us, I'm, sorry, 333 newsstand licenses.
0:47:50
Okay.
0:47:50
But, yeah, we're happy to talk through this one.
Gale A. Brewer
0:47:52
Okay.
0:47:52
Alright.
0:47:53
Thank you very much.