There is some justice in this world: After more than a month of fighting the city for padlocking his Astor Place newsstand, Jerry Delakas has finally secured a victory. A victory that will set him back $9,000, but a victory nonetheless.
Delakas, who ran the newsstand for 26 years before it was abruptly shuttered by officials in December, could be back in business as early as Wednesday, DNAinfo reports, since the Department of Consumer Affairs breezily agreed on Friday to issue him a license.
Attempts by the city to oust Delakas had persisted for years, since he wasn't the kiosk's official license holder. (The proper license holder, Katherine Ashley, did state in her will that it was her "wish that [Delakas] continue in his capacity of day-to-day operator of that newsstand after my demise and, if possible, to succeed me as franchisee," but what's an old lady's dying wish when there is Protocol To Follow?) The city, by the way, also apparently blocked numerous attempts to have the license transferred, but let this be a lesson to us all: It turns out you can fight city hall, but it'll require you to build a tiny, replica newsstand and bring it directly to the feet of a newly-elected, still-impressionable mayor.
The 64-year-old will first be required to pay the city $1,000 for a new license, as well as the first $1,000 of the $9,000 fine. He'll have to fork over the rest over the course of three-month installments.
