A 59-year-old man of Indian descent in New York sells newspapers as an old-fashioned newsboy after the city fines him and closes the newsstand he has operated for 23 years. According to the New York PostThe Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has fined Sadik Topia, an Indian immigrant from Gujarat, a whopping $92,000 (over Rs 76 lakh), citing several violations, and closed his kiosk on West 79th Street and Broadway on November 7. “The city says they support the community, small businesses and the economy, but they are killing me,” Topia told the newspaper.
According to the AfterThe 59-year-old is facing a fine for allegedly selling e-cigarette products without a valid license, improperly shelving the kiosk and violating city rules by selling phone chargers for $30 instead of the allowable amount of less than $ 10.
Mr Topia was fined $58,400 for selling e-cigarettes after his license expired in December 2021. He was fined $100 a day for 584 days – between the day his license expired and July 12, 2023, when there was a hearing on the violation. He also owes $34,000 for having improper shelving in the kiosk and selling a phone charger for $30, despite the city's $10 limit.
However, Mr Topia disputed this, arguing that he only sold unlicensed items for thirteen days. “They tell me to remove the planks, I take them out immediately. I removed the e-cigarettes immediately,” he recalls. “I like it here, I have been here for 23 years and I work hard. If they can reduce the fines, I can get my driver's license back and everything will be clear and I will be fine,” he said.
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Mr. Topia now sells newspapers to his loyal customers every morning. He heads to the Upper West Side to personally sell the newspapers on the street. His customers, deeply disturbed by his exile, also testify to his dedication. “He's working in this freezing weather. It's ridiculous and just inhumane,” Ann MacDougall, a regular customer, told the outlet. Another loyal customer, 77-year-old Carol, added: “He's the best man, and it's just so unfair what's happening to him.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Topia's fate has caught the attention of city officials, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, who vowed to “investigate” his fines and help him reopen his kiosk. Councilor Gale Brewer also wrote a letter to DCWP, urging them to reduce Topia's sentences.
Additionally, a GoFundMe campaign has been started to support the 59-year-old. With over $2,400 raised to date, the campaign aims to reach its goal of $67,450.