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What’s New in NYC Civic Tech – May 22, 2025

Gabby Langston

This weekend is Memorial Day. For my family, it is a solemn day. As a grandson of a Korean War Vet, the son of a Vietnam Vet, and a friend to many Cold War, Iraq, and Afghanistan Vets, this is not a weekend of celebration. It is not the star of summer. This is a weekend where we remember that not everyone made it back home, and for those who did, not all came back the same as they left. And then there are those who ended their battles after returning home.

Since 1867, Brooklyn has held an annual Memorial Day parade. It is noted as the oldest Memorial Day parade in the nation. Across the country, many will gather in cemeteries and place American flags on the graves of the fallen. I did this as a Boy Scout and have joined my parents, both veterans, to honor their friends who did not make it home in one piece. 

As a family that has been subjected to American Imperial expansion, we have always embraced those who wore the uniform and those who served at home. While we mourn the souls who laid down their lives in pursuit of this nation’s ideals, we also illuminate a flickering candle for those who valiantly fought to extend our liberties and freedoms. This weekend, our family will continue to light our candles, remember, and echo the heartfelt words, “We are not free until all of us are free.”  

Dear friends, I do not share this to glorify America’s imperial pursuits, but rather to gently remind our community that we find ourselves in one of those rare moments in our lives when the US military is at peace. Furthermore, I pen these words to convey that it is perfectly acceptable to use this weekend as a poignant time of remembrance for the ultimate sacrifices made by our beloved friends and family, gifts given in the name of the freedoms we hold dear.

For the rest of 2025, we are all facing the most daunting battle of our lives. 

The looming Federal budget in Washington, D.C. will radically change how all our governments operate and are funded. This federal budget will harm millions, and the Department of Veterans Affairs budget will be cut again. Nearly nothing stands in the way of this pain and suffering bill. 

One thing we CAN do is 23 days away. We have 23 days till the City’s primary starts on June 14th. It will be one of two opportunities to ensure we elect individuals who will fight for us, not against us. YOU have 23 days to get a friend to vote for the June primary. June 14th is the last day to register for the primary. 

Right now, you can register to vote via Vote.nyc or check out THE CITY’S election guide. Your freedom isn’t free. It must be secured through every election!

If you’re interested in learning more about the Mayoral candidates, check out THE CITY’s and Gothamist’s “Meet your Mayor 2025” quiz. Note that there are no questions about climate change and government service delivery. We have a few more links in the Election news section below.

Lastly, you have an opportunity to shape NYC’s internet future: The NYC Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI) is seeking public input on expanding digital equity through new public infrastructure, or pipes, NOT literacy nor workforce development. Submit your ideas, comments or questions by May 30 at 5 pm EST to franchiseopportunities@oti.nyc.gov and check out Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez’s Instagram post for more on what’s at stake.

The BetaNYC team wishes you all a safe and beautiful Memorial Day. 

Community Resources 📚  

This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽

  • Community board changes ahead: Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine recently made leadership changes in Community Board 9’s Housing, Land Use, and Zoning committee, signaling a shift in how local development projects will be guided. 
  • E-bike crackdown sparks controversy: The NYPD has increased criminal summonses exponentially for e-bike riders under a new enforcement policy that has raised concerns among advocates and community members.
  • Is your street just a shortcut? Open Plans’ latest analysis reveals that in some NYC neighborhoods, up to 88% of drivers are merely passing through. To combat this, Open Plans is advocating for Low Traffic Neighborhoods.  
  • Avoiding bike ticket hotspots: Charlie Dektar created a map highlighting areas in NYC where cyclists frequently receive tickets, using the NYPD’s summons data. The map is causing the quite the buzz in the r/NYCbike Reddit group!

This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️

Artificial Intelligence 🤖

Election 2025 🗳️

Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼 

  • The Office of the New York State Attorney General is hiring a Data Scientist.
  • The Population Reference Bureau launched the Federal Data Forum, an online community that promotes networking and collaboration among federal data users across sectors and states.
  • The Surveillance Resistance Lab has extended their deadline for submissions to My Echo, My Shadow and Me, a new zine on digital grief. 

Upcoming Events 📅

Note: All times are listed in EDT

Want to sponsor this newsletter or to be featured in future ones? Share your community resources, projects, events, and anything else happening so we can feature them in future posts. 

What did you think of today’s newsletter? We’d love to hear your feedback and ideas. Reply to this message. Take care of each other, and have a great weekend!