More than 43,000 people have signed the petition defending Paris’ classic news kiosks, which it calls “guardians of the spirit of Paris of days past.”

The newsstands, dark green and topped with a dome, are threatened not just by the decline of print media around the world, but by the city of Paris itself. Threatened with replacement.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s administration has proposed swapping all 400 or so kiosks on the streets of Paris with a newer, sleeker model.

The city argues its more modern design will, in theory, attract younger customers and also allow kiosk operators to diversify their offerings by including elements like a built-in refrigerator. More appealing displays, the argument goes, would sell more papers.

But since an initial draft was unveiled in May, the new design has been compared in the French press to sardine cans and photocopiers.