Face Mask Billboards, Signs Blanket PS: 'We Mean Business'

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Palm Springs officials have launched a campaign that aims to show residents, businesses and visitors alike that face coverings are taken seriously in the city amid coronavirus.

A highly visible new public education campaign entitled “PS Keeping You Safe,” comprised of billboards, oversized poster signs and banners — in both English and Spanish — has launched throughout the city in partnership with tourism and business leaders, including the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and P.S. Resorts.

A total of 25 oversized poster signs have been strategically placed throughout downtown, and four billboards are installed at key gateway entry points on Interstate 10, Gene Autry Trail, Dinah Shore Drive and Highway 111. All the signs inform residents and visitors that face coverings are a must, both indoors and outdoors.

In addition, the city has installed several hundred zip signs around poles in the downtown corridor; two large banners are now overhead along Palm Canyon Drive; several electronic message boards are displaying a "face coverings are mandatory" message; and the city partnered with NBC Palm Springs and “Manny the Movie Guy” to film a public service announcement in both English and Spanish, currently airing on NBC and Univision.

Aftab Dada, chairman of P.S. Resorts, helped fund the initiative.

“We are committed to the health and safety of our residents, tourists, team members and guests and that is why we partnered with the city and other tourism and business leaders to implement this new awareness campaign, particularly in the heavily visited downtown corridor,” Dada said.

Jeffrey Bernstein, owner of Destination PSP, who also assisted with the campaign, said the messaging is vital to the health and safety of the community.

“With the combination of billboards and large signs, no one can miss the message that we mean business about wearing your mask,” he said.

Palm Springs city council members said face coverings are key to stopping COVID-19 spread.

“Ensuring residents and visitors are educated about the need to wear face coverings when in public is one of the City Council’s top priorities as we work to stop the spread of COVID- 19,” said Mayor pro tem Christy Holstege, who teamed with Mayor Geoff Kors and the group of leaders developing the campaign’s messaging.

“On behalf of our citizens, a big thank you to our local tourism and business partners for stepping up to the plate to help the City implement this important awareness campaign,” Kors said. “It’s just another terrific example of how PS is keeping you safe.”