Newsstand dismantled after exposé

A newsstand that had been converted into a food stall sits empty on Guonian Road in Yangpu district Thursday. The newsstand was dismantled after a television news exposé found that the stand's owner had been taking money from illegal food vendors in exchange for protection from authorities. Photo: Cai Xianmin/GT

Yangpu district authorities dismantled a newsstand on Guonian Road Thursday morning after a television news exposé found that the stand's owner had been taking money from illegal food vendors in exchange for what he said was protection from local urban management authorities.

Street food vendors in the area told an undercover reporter that they have to pay more than 6,000 yuan ($985) each month so no one will shut down their illegal businesses, Shanghai Television Station (STV) reported Wednesday.

The newsstand's owner told the reporter over the phone that he had ways of dealing with the government agencies responsible for keeping illegal vendors off the streets, according to the report. Even if vendors didn't have the proper permits, the newsstand owner said urban management officers and the city's commercial authorities wouldn't do anything to stop them.

Police have taken the newsstand owner, surnamed Guo, in his 40s, into custody to find out who was offering him such protection, the news website xinmin.cn reported.

The STV reporter also interviewed an urban management officer in charge of the neighborhood about why the bureau refused to take action against the illegal vendors. In the report, the officer, Shen Wei, said they did not take measures to control the situation because there was someone offering help to the vendors.

The Shanghai Urban Management Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau suspended Shen Thursday for not taking action against the illegal vendors, xinmin.cn reported. Meanwhile, the Yangpu district government vowed to prosecute anyone found taking money from vendors in exchange for protection from government authorities.

Authorities also dismantled a nearby newsstand at the intersection of Wuchuan and Zhengli roads for similar reasons Thursday. However, food and clothing vendors continued to do business in the area. The vendors told the Global Times that they did not pay anyone to do businesses there.

Urban management officials will sweep the area for illegal vendors taking up sidewalk space or operating out of newsstands, said Ma Jiliang, the section chief of the Yangpu branch of the Shanghai Urban Management Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau.