Friends,
As we welcome June, we want to extend our congratulations to Gabrielle Langston, Giuseppe Romano, Kate Irvin, Simira Smith, and all the graduates completing their studies this year. The BetaNYC team celebrates you and welcomes you into the next chapter with open arms.
June also marks the start of Pride Month— happy Pride! During BetaNYC’s weekly all-staff meeting, we shared stories of pride. For me, pride is a family affair. My late uncle Tony was born in June; he and his husband were married on June 1, and they always walked with SAGE in the annual parade.
Additionally, my other godparents were a same sex couple. This made growing up in a conservative, military, Mormon community a challenging experience. On one hand, I had people who were my religious and community leaders telling me the people who loved me the most were sinners, and that they would burn in hell. At the same time, I saw these two amazing couples embrace love, life, their communities, and my brother and me.
From Tony, Jeffery, Marilya, and Magaly, I learned how important it is to live in community and stand together. Through their love, hugs, and patience, I realized that pride is love for oneself, one’s chosen family, and community. Pride also stands for rights, self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and celebration of the LGBTQIA community.
The LGBTQIA community has been at the center of our arts and sciences, and we would not be where we are today without their contributions. I hope all of you feel proud to be a part of this community. To all of you who have journeyed to where you are today, the BetaNYC team and community send you our love, support, and solidarity.
If you know the history of the holocaust, McCarthyism, and the War on Terror, it all starts with the persecution of vulnerable communities and list-making. It is disturbing to witness this Federal administration’s persecution of the LGBTQIA community while working with Palantir to build a “master list” for surveillance. If you watched Monday’s The Daily Show edition, you got a brief recap of Musk’s departure and a few weird things coming out of Palantir’s CEO. We knew the mashup of big tech, surveillance, and fascism was coming, but we didn’t know how strange it would be.
On Friday, we received two interesting stories. First, Wired published a mindblowing story of how the Customs and Border Protection has been DNA swabbing migrant children and placing that data into an FBI-run database since 2020. Then, the New York Times made it clear that our fascist government is lining up its technology allies for the worst possible abuses of privacy. Today, the “tech won’t save us” podcast links all of this to Silicon Valley shamelessly taking over the military-industrial complex.
These developments are a reminder that technology, when unchecked, can be weaponized against the very people it claims to serve. This is an ever-present reminder that we MUST elect local and state elected officials to fight abuses of data, privacy, and authoritarianism. Speaking of which, one week from Saturday, early voting starts for the NYC primary! If you are a first-time voter, you still have time to register.
In case you missed it, last night was the first Democratic Primary Mayoral Debate. You can watch the full two hours on YouTube. Also, we have a complete list of upcoming debates in our Election 2025 section.
P.S. Wondering about today’s background image? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to learn about its origins.
— Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director
Support our Public Programs! ✨
June 14th is the birth of the US Army and is being called No Kings Day by many pro-democracy organizations. Across the country, MANY will gather in-person. If you’re looking for a Father’s Day gift or attending a No Kings Day event, get your very own NO KING t-shirt or stickers!! All proceeds directly benefit the very newsletter you are reading. Visit beta.nyc/support-us-no-king.
Community Resources 📚
- Why are disabled lives still devalued? This powerful essay explores how ableism and capitalism combine to keep disabled people in poverty, and why society must stop measuring human worth by their productivity.
- Why climate change hits differently for women: Anya Kamenetz’s piece dives into how gender shapes the experience of climate impacts— and why solutions need to center women’s voices. Also, kudos to Noel’s neighbor and education journalist who just sold her book!!
- Opera meets innovation: NPR profiled a team of artists, researchers, and engineers who helped give Kader Zioueche and Jakob Jordan, non-verbal actors, a voice in an opera. By the way, the tools are open-sourced.
- Unlock your data superpowers! The Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) has launched two data tools— their School of Data digital literacy program and an open data editor tool that spots data errors.
- Protect your digital privacy. With shifting U.S. tech policies on the horizon, more people are turning to global tools for safer email, browsing, and search. Here’s how to make the switch.
- Regain control of your feed: Meta’s AI-powered Discover feed is tracking what you read and watch. Mozilla says it’s time to shut it down.
- Bridging America’s deepening divides: Anthropologist Anand Pandian spent eight years travelling the U.S., engaging with people across the political spectrum. As it turns out, genuine connection is still possible with empathy and open dialogue.
This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽
- Fresh ideas for city solutions: Vital City spotlights NYC’s Pilot Pitchfest, where city staff pitched real-world challenges to academics and civic innovators eager to collaborate.
- Racial disparities in the NYC child welfare system: A recent investigation from the Bronx Defenders reveals that Black and Latino families are disproportionately subjected to child removals.
- Good news for NYC renters: A new law will make it easier to find rent-stabilized apartments and help tenants fight illegal overcharges. The Brooklyn Paper and City Limits have the inside scoop.
- Potential smoother ride for Long Island Commuters: Amtrak is planning a new one-seat train service connecting Ronkonkoma directly to Washington, D.C., eliminating the need for transfers at Penn Station. This proposed route aims to launch by 2030.
- RIP Tom Robbins: Much of our work depends on elders who used the freedom of information process to tell stories. This week, we pay tribute to Tom Robbins, Versatile Muckraker for The Village Voice, who died at 76, by Sam Roberts. The Staff at Craig Newmark’s Graduate School of Journalism also pays a loving tribute.
This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️
- A Trailblazer Reflects on Science and Equity: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, the first person of color and first Earth scientist to lead the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, shares her journey and insights on advancing diversity in STEM amid shifting federal priorities. Also, check out her essay reflecting on her tenure.
- A tech insider’s take on government efficiency: Sahil Lavingia, a software engineer who briefly worked with DOGE, shares his unexpected findings on federal operations and he challenges within the cost-cutting initiative.
- Data distrust on the rise: Experts warn that DOGE’s aggressive data collection tactics are undermining public trust in federal surveys such as the census and jobs reports, potentially jeopardizing future U.S. statistics accuracy.
- Social media manipulation in Congress: Former staffers allege that Rep. Nancy Mace directed them to create burner social media accounts to monitor and enhance her image, raising concerns about the use of congressional resources for personal promotion.
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
- Fast track to power: Two recent college grads, one now leading the terrorism prevention program and the other a senior advisor at the Health and Human Services, are sparking concern about experience and accountability in key federal roles.
- AI power shift alert: The AI Now Institute’s 2025 report exposes how a few tech giants control AI’s future, urging urgent action to ensure AI serves the public, not just corporate interests. Be sure to catch the executive summary as well.
- AI for impact: In this guest post, Jake Porway breaks down five types of AI solutions and how nonprofits can use them to tackle real-world challenges.
- Build Apps Without Writing Code? NPR explores the rise of “vibe coding,” where AI chatbots enable anyone to create software through simple prompts, raising questions about the future role of professional programmers.
- AI and global job losses: From recent graduates struggling to find entry-level roles to seasoned creatives being replaced by AI avatars, automation is rapidly reshaping the job market.
- Rethinking AI’s Energy Footprint: MIT dives deep into two dozen expert interviews and data to reveal that what we think we know about AI’s energy use might be way off.
Election 2025 🗳️
- What’s on the ballot? This June 2025 Primary guide from NYC Votes has all the details.
- Now is the time to turn out the votes! Last week, Gabby and Jazzy wrote about finding your civic purpose and taking action. This week, THE CITY profiles a handful of volunteers going door to door for a Mayoral candidate.
- Manhattan Borough President Race Heats Up: City Council Member Keith Powers and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal are the leading contenders in the Democratic primary for borough president, offering distinct visions for Manhattan.
- Brooklyn Borough President debate recap: In a recent NY1 debate, incumbent Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Khari Edwards presented differing approaches to Brooklyn’s future.
- Good Government Group’s endorsement controversy: Citizens Union faces criticism for endorsing Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign despite previously calling for his resignation when he was governor. Hell Gate takes a deep dive into this development.
🗳️ Official NYC Votes Primary Election Debate Schedule 🗳️
- Comptroller – 1st Democratic Primary Debate, view on YouTube
- Mayor – 1st Democratic Primary Debate NBC NY
- Public Advocate – 1st Democratic Primary Debate, Thursday, June 5 at 7 pm on Pix 11
- Comptroller – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Debate, Tuesday, June 10 at 7 pm, NY1
- Mayor – Leading Contender Democratic Primary Debate, Thursday, June 12 at 7 pm
Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼
- Blue Ridge Labs’ Founder Fellowship applications are open and must be submitted by midnight ET on June 8 to be considered.
- The New Jersey State Office of Innovation is seeking a Product Data and Analytics Lead and an Engineering Director.
- The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is hiring a Data Analyst, Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.
- The State of the Map US Public Service Scholarship is open on a rolling basis for current and recent government employees!
Upcoming Events with BetaNYC 🚀
Visit beta.nyc/events for the full list of upcoming events!
- June 11 at 6 pm Discovering NYC Open Data: Online Session
- June 17 at 11 am Introducing NY Open Data: A Workshop
- June 23 at 12 pm Introducing NY Open Data: A Workshop with NYC Council District 34
- June 24 at 3 pm Mapping for Equity: Mapping NYC’s Public Amenities in NYC Council District 2 with BetaNYC
- June 27 at 3 pm Introducing NY Open Data: A Workshop with NYC Council District 6
- June 30 at 10 am Mapping for Equity: Data Entry Class with BetaNYC (AM Session)
- June 30 at 2:30 pm Mapping for Equity: Data Entry Class with BetaNYC (PM Session)
Upcoming Community Events 📅
Note: All times are listed in EDT
- June 11 at 8:30 am IBM AI for Impact, an engaging and interactive workshop designed to help nonprofits explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
- June 11 at 11 am How to Find Your Next Role in Social Impact Tech, a free panel conversation for those looking to transition into a mission-driven tech role.
- June 11 at 6 pm Discovering NYC Open Data: Online Session, an intro to NYC Open Data class as part of the Open Data Ambassadors program, a collaboration between NYC Office of Technology and Innovation’s Open Data Team and BetaNYC.
- June 16-20 UN Open Source Week 2025 – features a full week of networking, insightful panels, hackathons, and breakout sessions exploring topics related to open source, digital public infrastructure, problem solving, and digital cooperation.
- June 28 at 12:30 pm Alliance of Civic Technologists Congress – their first-ever virtual #unconference, shaped by YOU. They will hold their first board election, vote on the budget, & dive into participant-led sessions on the #civictech community’s future.
- June 28 at 9:30 am VibeCamp – The VibeCoding Unconference, a free one-day community unconference on building with AI.
- July 8- 9 The Tech We People Online Summit – the new online summit will now focus on technologies designed for people. The summit is open to everyone, particularly non-technical professionals interested in critically examining current technologies.
About this week’s background image – The Progress Pride flag, based on the original rainbow pride flag by Gilbert Baker, was created in 2018 by Daniel Quasar to celebrate diversity within the queer community and the need for continued progress toward inclusion and acceptance in society. In this version, each color band is made up of images from across NASA. Planetary science, Earth science, heliophysics, and astrophysics are all represented. Below is a collection of the original images. Source: NASA, but now deleted by the current Administration. You can buy Space Pride swag via STARtorialist.
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