#Dani Zoldan says NYC is only helping high-culture spots

Comedy club owner Dani Zoldan told Page Six that the city is propping up its high-culture institutions — while telling small venues to “drop dead.”

The Department of Cultural Affairs said this week that it was awarding $47.1 million to artsy institutions like Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera.

“These are organizations that have access to unlimited amounts of capital,” the Stand Up NY co-owner told us. Meanwhile, he said, “New York City is basically telling independent music venues and comedy clubs to drop dead.”

Zoldan said he just wants the COVID-19 regulations to be fair. “All we’re asking is to be able to be granted the same guidelines that have been given to restaurants and bars,” he said.

Under current guidelines, small venue theaters are still unable to open, while restaurants and bars have been open at limited capacity since September (although indoor dining has been scrapped once again).

Zoldan’s planning a drive-in and streamed fund-raiser on Feb. 14 at Coney Island’s Ford Amphitheater.