Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg among celebrities recording MTA announcements on mask use, distancing
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched a new series of public service announcements, featuring New York celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg, and sports broadcaster Michael Kay, to promote mask use and social distancing on public transit. “This has been a difficult year for New York City Transit,” interim NYC Transit president Sarah Feinberg said in a press release, “but as we start to look beyond the pandemic, we hope this new set of announcements will remind our customers of what makes New York so special.” A sampling of the announcements is available here.
New York subways become site for illegal comedy shows
With his comedy club closed because of COVID-19 restrictions, New York promoter Dani Zoldan has literally taken shows underground, holding them on New York subway trains. The website Inside Hook reports Zoldan — who booked outdoor shows until the weather made that impossible — is holding Saturday night shows on the last car of the No. 1 train, with up to 15 paying customers and six comedians. The crowd also includes passengers who randomly wander into the car. Zoldan says he is taking advantage of the lack of restrictions on the side of subway crowds; although the shows are illegal, none have been shut down. An infectious disease expert told the website he thought the concept was risky because it kept people in a confined space for a longer time period.
Ontario railcar firm receives federal funding for expansion
Sarnia, Ontario, firm OWS Rail Car is receiving $832,000 in funding from the Canadian government under the FedDev Ontario program to invest in technology and maintenance and create jobs. BlackburnNews.com reports the railcar cleaning and repair company will use the funds in an effort to double its workforce in the next two to three years, adding high-tech locomotive services like positive train control installation. It is one of six companies in the area receiving a total of $6.5 million.
