Submit a RADAR
Donate
A photo of a casual networking event at a bright café-style space. People are chatting in small groups in front of colorful elephant artwork on the wall. Overlaid on the image is a blue and white text box that reads: "What’s New in NYC Civic Tech? Week 31 of 2025." The bulleted list includes: The UK’s first female Astronomer Royal, A look into Liberty Link, New federal AI strategy, Upcoming MTA fare changes, and Special news from NYC’s Digital Service Team. The text at the bottom reads: "Curated by BetaNYC and YOU!"

What’s New in NYC Civic Tech – August 1, 2025

Gabby Langston

Dear friends,

We wish you all a reprieve from the heat and hope you and your family are enjoying your summer. This week, we’re highlighting two exciting developments and reflecting on another whirlwind week in the world of artificial intelligence.

If you’re into stargazing, there’s reason to celebrate: the UK has just appointed its first female Royal Astronomer in 350 years! Professor Michele Dougherty, who credits her early love of astronomy to a DIY telescope she built with her sister and father, is a reminder of how curiosity and family can shape our future scientists. Parents, keep teaching your kids to look up!

Back here in NYC, while the original Internet Master Plan is no longer moving forward, there are still new developments in digital infrastructure. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), in partnership with the New York Public Library, is piloting Liberty Link, a fiber network connecting 35 buildings across The Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Liberty Link is the type of program we’ve advocated in the People Roadmap to a Digital New York City, and the kind of infrastructure we want to see in a revamped Internet Master Plan. 

On the federal level, a new AI strategy was announced last week, and it’s sparking a lot of commentary. Stephen Colbert’s segment offers a humorous take, while others are calling this State-Sponsored Stupidity, a massive handout to gas and chemical companies, anti-woke AI, and flat-out deregulation. For instance, a Wyoming data center is expected to use more power than all the homes in the state. In Texas, another will use the equivalent energy of 4.4 million homes. 

We must hold big tech accountable and ensure that the systems we build and use reduce harm, not increase it. One hundred and forty years ago, unchecked industry helped accelerate climate collapse, and today, we have a much clearer understanding of how economic and environmental policies shape our daily lives.

Everything around us signals an economic and environmental crisis, yet the current federal approach feels like it’s telling us: “Don’t Look Up!”

As City & State explores how political campaigns are embracing AI, and as conversations grow around introducing more AI in NYC classrooms, we believe it’s critical to ensure these tools are built with care and used responsibly. The decisions we make now on tech, infrastructure, and the environment, will shape our future in ways we can’t ignore.

If you care about these issues and want to help shape what comes next, join us at CityCamp NYC on September 6 at CUNY Law School. We’ll spend the day visioning the future of public interest tech in NYC, followed by a community celebration at The Greats of Craft LIC. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and build together!

— Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director

Upcoming Events with BetaNYC 🎊

Community Resources 📚

  • MTA Fare Changes: The MTA is considering fare changes for 2025 and wants your input. Check out their proposed updates and how to submit feedback.
  • Disabled and Displaced: This insightful piece explores how disabled people are often excluded from accessible housing, and what needs to change.
  • What Can You See from NYC Streets? The Pudding breaks down how Google Street View reveals (or hides) the world around us, especially in wealthier neighborhoods.
  • Palestinian Civic Education Resources: Let’s Talk Palestine and The Sameer Project offer educational tools, visuals, and resources to better understand Palestinian history and activism.
  • Reimagining Democracy: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund updated their democratic practice guidelines to meet today’s challenges, and tomorrow’s opportunities.
  • Crain’s 40 Under 40: Meet the rising stars shaping New York City’s future in Crain’s 2025 40 Under 40 list. (Paywall)

This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽

And lastly, special news from NYC’s Digital Service Team: For August, NYC’s Digital Service Team will be at DOT Summer Streets, offering New Yorkers the chance to provide user testing of new websites and provide feedback. We’d love for you to stop by our tables and pick up some cool nyc.gov gear, including tote bags, bubbles, and temporary tattoos. Please help us spread the word!

Here’s where to find us:

  • Saturday, August 2 – Dyckman St (Off the A train Dyckman St stop)
  • Saturday, August 23 – Brooklyn Eastern Parkway – Classon Avenue Rest Stop (Classon Ave & Eastern Parkway)
  • Saturday, August 23 – Bronx Grand Concourse Poe Park Rest Stop (Grand Concourse Service Road between 192nd St and East Kingsbridge Rd)

This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️

  • Free Prison Calls in NYC: Phone calls from New York State prisons are now free, part of a broader push to reduce the financial burden on incarcerated people and their families.
  • Redistricting, Again? New York is heading back to the redistricting drawing board. Here’s what that means and why it’s happening now.
  • SNAP Benefits at Risk: Thousands of New Yorkers could lose food assistance under proposed Trump-era rules. Here’s who’s affected.
  • NY Sues Over SNAP Data Collection: New York State plans to sue the Trump administration to block a controversial move to collect personal data from SNAP recipients.
  • Big Tech’s Ally in Chief: The American Prospect looks at how President Trump has acted as Big Tech’s top advocate, despite tough talk on regulation.

Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼

Upcoming Events 📅

Note: All times are listed in EDT

A deep red t-shirt featuring a bold white graphic that mimics a New York City parking sign. The design reads “NO KING ANY TIME” with double-headed arrows pointing left and right at the bottom. Below the graphic are the logos for BetaNYC and alfredtwu.com.

We send this newsletter because we believe you deserve better civic information—reliable, relevant, and made with care. If that resonates with you, help us keep delivering it. Show your support at beta.nyc/support-us-no-king.

Want to sponsor this newsletter or 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!