Indian newsstand operator in US fined over Rs 76 lakh

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the 59-year-old.

A 59-year-old Indian-American man in New York City was selling newspapers like an old-school newsboy after the city fined him and closed the newsstand he had run for 23 years.according to new york postThe Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) fined Sadik Topia, an Indian immigrant from Gujarat, up to $92,000 (over Rs 76 lakh) for various violations and shut down his West 79 home on November 7. Kiosks at Street and Broadway “The city says they support the community, small businesses and the economy — but they’re killing me,” Mr. Topia told the outlet.

according to postalThe 59-year-old faces fines for allegedly violating city regulations by selling vaping products without a valid license, improperly shelving newsstands and selling cellphone chargers for $30 instead of the allowed price 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 per day for 584 days from the date his license expired until a hearing on the violations on July 12, 2023. He also owes $34,000 because he improperly placed shelves inside the kiosk and sold cell phone chargers for $30 despite the city’s $10 limit.

However, Mr Topia disputed that he had only been selling goods for 13 days without a license. “They asked me to take the racks down, and I took them down immediately. I took the e-cigarettes away immediately,” he recalled. “I love it here, I’ve been here 23 years and I work hard. If they can reduce the fine, I can get my license back and everything will be clear and I’ll be fine,” he said.

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Mr. Topia now sells newspapers every morning to his loyal customers. He traveled to the Upper West Side and sold newspapers on the street himself. His patronage was deeply disturbed by his exile, a testament to his dedication. “He was working in such cold weather. It’s ridiculous and inhumane,” regular customer Ann McDougall told the outlet. Another loyal customer, 77-year-old Carroll, added: “He was the greatest man and what happened to him was so unfair.”

Meanwhile, Topia’s plight has attracted the attention of city officials, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who promised to “look into” his fines and assist him in reopening newsstands. City Councilor Gale Brewer also wrote to DCWP urging them to reduce Topia’s punishment.

In addition, a to fund me A campaign has been launched to support the 59-year-old. To date, the campaign has raised more than $2,400 with a goal of $67,450.