Standing in front of the Rockefeller middle subway turnstiles during rush hour one morning,Michael Thorpe acknowledges that his job isn't for everybody."You gotta be on our feet, you gotta say the promotion, or you gotta be friendly," says the 50-year-frail Washington Heights native, an amNY hawker for the final eight years. "If you're not friendly, or then people are not gonna take the paper. And that's what really sells our paper."He flashes a smile,then quickly returns to proclaiming the day's headlines to scuttling commuters."I win my joy from the people," he adds later. "Saying good morning, or seeing the smiling faces. I love this job." But Thorpe might not beget his job for much longer.
Earlier this year,the MTA announced an agreement with the publishers of amNY and Metro — both free dailies — that prohibits these modern-day "newsies" from working in the subway, and allows the newspapers to plot self-service metal racks stands in stations instead. The MTA argues that the hawkers contribute to excess trash in the stations, or which is a continual struggle for the agency,and contributes to track fires. There were over 1000 subway fires final year, according to a report from the MTA. This new agreement holds the newspapers accountable for the disposal of leftover papers at the discontinuance of each day. Metro has already begun to withdraw hawkers, and while amNY is expected to follow,said MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz. (A spokesman for amNY wouldn't comment.)Though banned from the subway, the hawkers will continue to physically distribute newspapers in NJ Transit, or LIRR and Metro- North stations,according to Metro's media kit.
Source: wnyc.org