Newsstand vendor Jerry Delakas meets Mayor de Blasio

By now, you likely know the situation with Jerry's Newsstand on Astor Place outside the downtown 6 entrance.

On Dec. 9, the Department of Consumer Affairs shut down the stand that Jerry Delakas has operated the past 26 years before he could file an appeal with the city to stay in business. (Find more background about this ongoing legal battle here.)

On Sunday, Jerry was one of the thousands of New Yorkers to stand in line to meet Mayor de Blasio at Gracie Mansion.



In total, he waited three hours…



He eventually got to meet the mayor.

From the Save Jerry's Newsstand Facebook page:

Jerry met new mayor Bill de Blasio who said of Jerry's Newsstand to Jerry "Great place!" Paraphrasing the rest: after being told of lock out, de Blasio said he 'is aware, there is a great injustice, and then instructed his aides to 'get on it immediately.' ... Jerry then spoke to aid who took from him the specifics of the case.

Jerry and East Village resident Kelly King also presented the mayor with a mini Jerry's Newsstand. (Jeremiah Moss has a lot more details today on the mini stand and the meet-and-greet with the mayor.)



Meanwhile, there is word that State Supreme Court Justice Carol E. Hull will hear arguments tomorrow "on whether the stand should be reopened while the appeal is pending," as The New York Times put it.



And Jerry's supporters are holding a "We Got Your Back" rally tomorrow morning at 9 on the steps of New York County Courts at 60 Centre Street ahead of the hearing.

You can find more information at the Save Jerry's Newsstand Facebook page.

Meanwhile today, Colin Moynihan files a piece for the Times on the case and the changes that Jerry has seen on Astor Place since he started at the newsstand in 1987.

Previously on EV Grieve:
City shutters Jerry's Newsstand on Astor Place for 'operating illegally'

The story about the city shutting down Jerry's Newsstand on Astor Place actually gets worse

More about saving Jerry's Newsstand

Helping Save Jerry