It`s strange how excited Ald. Burton Natarus can get about the newsstands in the 42nd Ward while overlooking the nastiness of bar bouncers who make walking Division Street a chore. He is indifferent to pedestrians who must sometimes walk near the curb when restaurants take over sidewalks during the warm weather.
He is concerned about appearance of newsstands, but says nothing about regulating rusting and occasionally inoperable newspaper boxes chained to corner lamposts. I`d rather buy a newspaper from a person.
What`s more, Anil Modi, proprietor of the Division and State newsstand, performs many services: He is conveniently situated and sells a variety of publications not easily obtainable in the vicinity; he is a 16-hour presence at a corner that can use some watchful eyes on the street; he is a permanent part of the neighborhood, adding to its grace and friendliness.
He is a hard-working, personable young man who reminds us every day of the energy and ambition that immigrants bring to this country. To Ald. Natarus and the Transportation Department, which has denied the renewal of his newsstand`s license: for shame!
