{
  "id": 13638282,
  "title": "New Yorkers snap up discarded subway signs, seats at annual sale",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/new-yorkers-snap-up-discarded-subway-signs-seats-at-annual-sale",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T03:51:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/10/1552951/new-yorkers-snap-discarded-subway-signs-seats-annual-sale"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New York's subway system, notorious for its unsanitary conditions and occasional flooding, lures crowds to an annual auction where they can bid on items such as seats, signs, and other memorabilia. In south Brooklyn, individuals patiently awaited hours to peruse an open-air market organized by city authorities. Each participant is granted a maximum of 45 minutes to browse, ensuring others have the opportunity to join later. Nori Juba, a 61-year-old found a large sign featuring Grand Central station's name and the numbers of the subway lines he commutes daily. Despite the subway system's aging and outdated state, Juba believes its rustic charm is what makes it unique. The signs, priced around US$500 for medium-sized pieces and up to US$1,000 for larger ones, and the classic orange plastic seats, which go for about US$900 each, are among the most sought-after items. Celebrities, including filmmaker Spike Lee, often make appearances at the market, proudly displaying their purchases. Paul Dvoskin, the director overseeing the program, explained that the auction was initially conceived as a garage sale, attracting around 4,000 attendees each year. Although the financial figures remain undisclosed, the event remains immensely popular, with plastic seats and MetroCards, symbolizing the city, being the top sellers.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK: New York’s subway is known for being dirty, noisy and sometimes flooded, but that doesn’t stop people from flocking to grab a seat, sign or other memorabilia at a unique annual auction.",
  "key_points": [
    "New York subway auction attracts crowds for discarded items",
    "Seats and signs, priced $500-$1,000, top bids",
    "Celebrities like Spike Lee attend the annual event"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}