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Title card for a civic tech newsletter reads, "What’s New in NYC Civic Tech? Week 22 of 2025." Below are bullet points: "Civic participation in the ballot box and beyond," "Upcoming NYC primaries," "Participatory budgeting," and "AI in journalism and child welfare." The text overlay is set against a blurred background of a crowded conference. At the bottom, it says, "Curated by BetaNYC and YOU!"

What’s New in NYC Civic Tech – May 29, 2025

Gabby Langston

Hello friends! We hope you had a restful and reflective Memorial Day.

As primary season ramps up and early voting draws near, I want to acknowledge something important: I have mixed emotions around elections and the weight of all the issues we face—and if you do too, you’re not alone. Our ever-evolving world can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it’s the sudden rush of agency that comes all at once. We’re expected to know exactly what to do and who to trust. Other times, it’s the weight of narrowing down candidates in a whirlwind system. And often, it’s the feeling that so much responsibility is placed on us, while the structures that shape our daily lives don’t give us the breathing room to carry that responsibility well.

But next month offers a powerful opportunity to take the first step toward change, to have your voice heard, and to shape the city we live in for decades to come.

If you’re not eligible to vote, your engagement still matters. Civic participation goes far beyond ballots. Attending community meetings, volunteering with local organizations, sharing information, advocating for causes close to your heart, or simply having conversations with neighbors are all vital ways to build collective power and influence the decisions that affect us all. Local elections impact housing, transit, education, public health, safety, and the digital infrastructure we rely on daily (and so much more!). Whether you vote or not, staying informed and involved in your community helps ensure that the city moves in a direction that reflects everyone’s needs and values.

At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the national currents that ripple down into our communities. Late last week, the House passed an updated budget package that slashes essential services (see last week’s newsletter), and it now lies with the Senate. This week, the federal administration quietly ordered a halt to all new student visa interviews as it contemplates expanding social media monitoring for international students. This move raises important questions about academic freedom, immigration policies, and the broader climate for students coming to study in the U.S.

Furthermore, the CDC’s new COVID-19 vaccine guidance for children and pregnant people has raised alarms. The conversation has been fueled in part by RFK Jr.’s vocal opposition of vaccines, which has amplified misinformation and shaken public trust in our health institutions. It’s a stark reminder that science and public health remain deeply politicized — and that who we choose to trust can have real-world consequences for our loved ones and communities.

At first glance, these stories may not seem directly related, but they all share a common thread about how power, accountability, and history shape our present — and how civic engagement is the key to influencing these forces. Whether it’s through voting, community organizing, or informed conversations, staying engaged is how we protect our values and build a better and more inclusive city for everyone.

No matter how you’re showing up — whether you’re planning your ballot, having hard conversations, volunteering your time, or just trying to stay informed — it all counts. Every step you take helps shape a more just, connected, and thoughtful city. We’re thankful you’re here with us, and wish you a week filled with purpose and positivity.

— Gabrielle Langston & Jazzy Smith 

Community Resources 📚  

  • Build Tech That Builds Justice: Ursula Franklin’s timeless checklist challenges us to ask: Does your project promote justice, favor people over machines, and minimize harm?
  • Unlock the Power of Participation: People Powered’s research hub compiles 19 key findings on how participatory budgeting impacts communities, governance, and civic engagement worldwide.
  • Expanding the Civic Tech Field Guide: this week, 54 new listings were added to the collection, surpassing 12,000 projects total! Plus, you can add your project.
  • Civic Tech in Action: SF Civic Tech (formerly Code for San Francisco) is a volunteer-driven organization tackling local challenges through open-source projects. Check out their latest panel!
  • Explore the Atlas of Urban Tech: A global collection of case studies from Cornell Tech students examines how cities worldwide are leveraging digital technologies to become more resilient, equitable, and innovative.
  • Bluesky Brings Back the Blue Check: Bluesky is introducing a new verification system that grants blue checks to “notable and authentic” users, focusing on credibility rather than payment. Check out the official announcement from Bluesky.

This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽

  • Crypto, Cocktails, and Controversy: Mayor Adams hosted an open-bar crypto summit at Gracie Mansion, raising eyebrows over transparency and the city’s regulatory stance on digital assets. (Paywall)
  • Running NYC with Just an iPhone: First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro is managing over 300,000 employees and a $115 billion budget without a computer—just his smartphone and a miniature keyboard.

This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️

  • Big Bill, Big Impact for New Yorkers: The House’s newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could strip over 1 million New Yorkers of Medicaid coverage and slash nearly $8 billion from the state’s Essential Plan, forcing tough decisions on healthcare and food assistance.
  • U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Weighs In on Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’: In a recent interview on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand discussed her concerns about the legislation that passed the House, which includes significant tax cuts and spending reductions.
  • Inside the Trump-Musk Erosion: A new report reveals that Elon Musk’s aggressive tactics and clashes with senior officials led to mounting frustration within the Trump administration, culminating in his abrupt exit from the White House. 
  • Parole Disparities Persist in New York: A recent report reveals that New York’s parole board is 33% less likely to grant parole to people of color compared to white individuals, marking the widest racial gap since 2016.

Artificial Intelligence 🤖

  • AI Meets Investigative Journalism: This year’s Pulitzer Prizes saw one winner and three finalists disclose using AI tools in their reporting, marking a growing trend in journalism’s embrace of technology.
  • AI in Child Welfare: Balancing Risk and Fairness: New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services employs an AI tool that assesses families’ risk levels using 279 variables—including neighborhood, caregiver age, and mental health history—to determine the likelihood of child harm. The algorithm has raised concerns about potential biases and the reinforcement of systemic inequalities.

Election 2025 🗳️

Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼 

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!