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Graphic with a blurred photo of a playground in the background. Text reads: “What’s New in NYC Civic Tech? Week 32 of 2025” followed by a bullet list in a light blue box and navy blue text that summarizes this week’s content: “CityCamp NYC After Party & Fundraiser!; Next steps for our Civic Innovation Fellowship; The 2025 Gender Census!; The push to regulate gait surveillance tech; The latest on Trees Count 2025.” At the bottom, the text reads: “Curated by BetaNYC and YOU!”

What’s New in NYC Civic Tech – August 8, 2025

Gabby Langston

Hello friends,

CityCamp NYC is just a month away, and we’re thrilled to share a few exciting updates. First, we’re launching a brand-new post CityCamp afterparty, an evening gathering to close out the day with celebration, connection, and a toast to the people powering public interest tech in NYC, including a People’s Choice Award! Also, if you haven’t registered yet, CityCamp early bird tickets are still on sale through Monday, August 11, so now’s the time to grab yours.

In the spirit of community-driven collaboration, you can also help shape the day by suggesting a session and joining our new Public Interest NYC subreddit, where attendees and organizers are already sharing ideas and inspiration!

This week’s headlines are a reminder of just how vital spaces like CityCamp are. At the federal level, more details are emerging about the new federal AI strategy, announced late last month (if you missed it, check out Noel’s recap of the new plan!). History has shown us what happens when industrial expansion moves faster than public accountability. Today’s technologies may be new, but the stakes, economic, environmental, and ethical, are familiar. That’s why we need civic spaces like CityCamp NYC: to bring people together across sectors, surface hard truths, and ensure that the systems we build reflect our shared values, not just market demands.

These concerns are echoed locally, too. New reporting on the use of surveillance tools capable of tracking people by how they walk underscores that urgency. These developments raise difficult, yet necessary questions about privacy, equity, and the role of emerging technologies in public safety.

But this week also brought stories of civic tech at its best. NYC’s updated tree census, powered by open data and community engagement, offers a rich, interactive look at our city’s urban forest. It’s a powerful, eye-opening example of how data and collaboration can deepen our connection to place. Be sure to check out NYC Parks’ upcoming Trees Count Events!

We’re also thrilled to spotlight a new blog post from Jazzy Smith, who shares what’s ahead for the Civic Innovation Fellowship and our Mapping for Equity work. With fresh funding from the Siegel Family Endowment and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, we’re researching how to scale the fellowship into a workforce pipeline for CUNY students pursuing careers in public interest tech. If you care about equitable tech education, this is a must-read.

We deeply value reflection, action, and joy, all of which we are going to continue at CityCamp. We hope to see you on September 6 as we build what’s next in NYC, together. In the meantime, don’t forget to grab your tickets, join our subreddit, and book your spot at our afterparty!

In solidarity,

Gabrielle Langston & Jazzy Smith

Upcoming Events with BetaNYC 🎊

  • August 11 at 3 pm Mapping for Equity: Data Entry Class with BetaNYC, Join BetaNYC at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office to learn how to enter data into OpenStreetMap! 
  • September 6 CityCamp NYC, Join BetaNYC for a day of collaborative sessions, cross-sector dialogue, and community-driven problem-solving. At this participant-led unconference, you’ll help shape the agenda and explore the future of technology and policy in NYC. Early bird tickets are on sale through Monday, August 11!
  • September 6 at 5:30 pm CityCamp NYC After Party & Fundraiser, Join us for an evening of celebration, community, and civic tech as we wrap up CityCamp NYC in style! This isn’t just an after-party — it’s a fundraiser to power the movement for open government, data equity, and civic engagement across NYC.
Flyer with a light gray background. At the top, blue text with a small Empire State Building icon reads “CityCamp NYC.” Below it says, “a public interest technology unconference.” An illustrated pigeon stands to the right. In large bold blue text, the flyer announces: “early bird tickets extended!”
Flyer for CityCamp NYC After Party & Fundraiser. Large blue text at top reads 'CityCamp NYC After Party & Fundraiser' with an illustrated pigeon wearing an orange-and-blue striped party hat and a blue award ribbon. Below in gray text: 'Sat, Sep 6, 5:30–8:30 PM, The Greats of Craft LIC.' A link icon and text 'CITYCAMP.NYC/PARTY' follow. Smaller text reads: 'Celebrate the civic tech community with food, drink, music, & BetaNYC’s civic innovator awards.' BetaNYC and CityCamp NYC logos appear at the bottom."

Community Resources 📚  

  • A narrow window to update your passport: A federal court has temporarily blocked a ban on changing gender markers, so trans, nonbinary, and intersex New Yorkers can still apply for an “X” or update their ID. THE CITY explains how to take action before the policy shifts again.
  • 2025 Gender Census is live: The annual survey offers fresh data on how people around the world describe their gender identities. If you don’t fit into the “gender binary,” this survey is for you!
  • The unlikely path to government disruption: This profile of Luke Farritor follows his rise from decoding ancient scrolls to helping Elon Musk overhaul federal agencies as part of the DOGE initiative. (Paywall)
  • Softball season, government style: THE CITY covers NYC’s municipal softball league, where civil servants compete off the clock and form lifelong friendships.
  • Soda wars go to space: Coke and Pepsi once battled for brand dominance aboard the space shuttle. Yes, you read that correctly.

This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽

  • Your walk is being watched: NYC lawmakers want to regulate surveillance tools that track people by their gait, citing privacy concerns.
  • Unbilled MTA tolls adding up: The MTA is losing significant revenue from unbillable tolls due to blocked or unreadable license plates. Despite active efforts to recover that money, the growing volume remains a costly challenge. (Paywall)
  • Inspections fell before Harlem’s Legionnaires’ outbreak: A new Gothamist report shows NYC cooling tower inspections hit near-record lows in the months leading up to a Legionnaires’ outbreak—raising concerns about how gaps in oversight might have contributed to the spread.
  • NYC’s tree census gets a tech upgrade: The city is using 3D scanners to map over 600,000 street trees, helping plan for a greener, more resilient NYC.
  • Queens unpacked, borough-by-borough: This quick explainer breaks down the geography and neighborhoods of Queens, shedding light on its layout, landmarks, and how new transit plans could change access across NYC.

This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️

  • Economic data targeted: A report reveals the federal administration may be trying to control federal economic reports by reshaping the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Palantir lands massive Army deal: The U.S. Army has awarded Palantir a transformative 10‑year, up‑to‑$10 billion enterprise agreement that consolidates numerous software contracts and speeds up access to advanced data, analytics, and AI tools for battlefield operations. (Paywall)
  • A critical moment for U.S. campuses: A new NAFSA analysis warns that delayed visas and travel restrictions could mean 150,000 fewer international students this fall, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and 60,000 jobs nationwide.
  • RoboCops could hit U.S. streets: Cities are testing robot surveillance units for public safety, but critics warn about civil liberties and effectiveness.

Artificial Intelligence 🤖

Election 2025 🗳️

  • How to make policing a key focus: This piece outlines practical steps Mayoral Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani can take to curb NYPD abuse and strengthen community oversight.
  • Forged signatures on Mayor Adams’ petition: Investigators found fake names on Mayor Eric Adams’ petition to run as an independent candidate.

Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼 

Upcoming Events 📅

Note: All times are listed in EDT

We’re building the civic tech workforce NYC needs: one fellow, workshop, and open data tool at a time. Your support helps us train the people powering a more equitable future. Head to beta.nyc/donate! 

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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!