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What’s New in NYC Civic Tech – September 18, 2025

Noel Hidalgo

Upcoming Events
We’ve got exciting events ahead, and the fall weather is perfect for both Mapping for Equity and canvassing before November’s ballot. Our Development and Strategy Manager, Naeema, recently joined NYC Parks’ Trees Count to help map street and park trees—a citywide effort that mirrors our approach of engaging the public to create open data about shared spaces. As more institutions invest in community-powered mapping, our vision is clear: civic data strengthens how we care for the places we all depend on. If you’re not canvassing this Saturday, join us in BedStuy for a Mapping for Equity event with DIVAS for Social Justice.

A PiTech Storefront at The Oculus
Last year, we deepened our partnership with CUNY’s Public Interest Tech Lab and applied together for a grant to launch a PiTech storefront. We’re thrilled to share that the Lab has now secured space in The Oculus!

From October 27 to November 6, 2025, we’ll invite the community to present projects, share tools, and host conversations in this unique space. Think of it as a mini CityCamp plus Open Data Week, cross-pollinated with Data x Design—a pop-up storefront where the public can connect with innovators, mission-driven organizations, scientists, technologists, artists, and civic leaders to showcase how technology can build a more just and equitable future.

We’re seeking projects that engage visitors in hands-on, interactive ways—ranging from data storytelling and civic tech demos to participatory art installations and community mapping. We especially encourage activists and artists exploring futurisms tied to cultural traditions, visions, or sci-fi/spiritual practices to apply.

Data Through Design 2026
If you’re an artist, a passionate maker, or something in between, the Data Through Design 2026 Open Call is now live. If you’ve ever wanted to transform data into art that makes the invisible visible—this is your chance.

Standing Together
Now, more than ever, we must stand together and prepare for the uncertainty ahead. We celebrate open and transparent government, and we recommit to resisting censorship, oppression, and authoritarianism—whenever and wherever we must.

Calls to action:

Community Resources 📚 

  • Nathan Storey delves into NYC’s definitive list of governance organizations. PS, it didn’t exist so he made it. WHOOHOO! (Medium.com) 
  • Transportation Alternatives is running a citywide campaign to universally daylight intersections. (Learn more) 
  • Stephen Nessen looks at the community tech of bike buses. (Gothamist) 
  • A Stony Brook University-led team has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant supporting the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory – Quantum Testbeds (NQVL), which is building a 10-node quantum network connecting atomic quantum processing units at Stony Brook, Columbia, Yale, and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. (Stony Brook)
  • Jessy Edwards looks at reinventing social housing in New York, with thoughts from Vienna. (Hell Gate)
  • Dianne Morales is El Puente’s new Executive Director. El Puente hosts Community Technology NY’s Community Tech Lab. (City and State and CTNY) 
  • Nick Garber reports that Maria Torres-Springer is named president of Revson Foundation charity. (Crain’s NY)

This Week in NYC Civic Tech 🗽

  • New York City and New York, along with several northeastern states, announce the Northeast Public Health Collaborative. (NYC.gov and NY Times) 
  • The NY state attorney general’s office released draft rules around age verification and prohibitions on showing algorithmic feeds to minors without parental permission. (City and State)
  • After SEVEN hackathons, Congress hosts its first. Check out the github repo of the event. (Github) 
  • Neil Barsky looks at the five years that changed New York. (Vital City) 
  • Bradley Tusk looks at what the next Mayor will face. (Vital City) 
  • Wouldn’t it be nice to have a historical record of “Gridlock Alerts Days” and the logic that defines them. (Gothamist By Giulia Heyward)

This Week in Data, Tech, & Gov News 🏛️

  • Jessica Gould reports that NYC loses a federal Head Start grant and Mayor Adams vows to fill the gap for a year, but future budget issues loom. (Gothamist) 
  • Greg David looks at how Trump’s SNAP Cuts Will Squeeze New Yorkers — and Their Grocers and Their Employees. (The City) 
  • Nate Anderson asks good questions about the political backlash against social media. What will we gain by “raising the gates” against certain kinds of posts and posters—and what will we lose? (Arstechnca) 
  • With the sitting President claiming Antifa a terrorist organization, the thought police are coming for your passport. (Matt Sledge in The Intercept_) 
  • Gattaca is here. A new startup is performing whole genome sequencing on embryos. (Rob Reddick’s reporting in Wired)

Artificial Intelligence 🤖

  • The same corporations and institutions that offer us AI as a solution are also causing or exacerbating these very problems. Yet AI is the wrong tool to tackle most complex societal and systemic problems. (Abeba Birhane in Project Syndicate) 
  • Despite the limited use of AI everywhere else in city government, Mayor Adams wants AI to help accelerate hiring in the NYC government. Let me be clear, this is not a good thing. (Annie McDonough reports in City and State) 
  • What do people actually use ChatGPT for? OpenAI provides some numbers. Kyle Orland in Arstechnica. 
  • The future is self-driving cars is self-driving traffic jams. (David Zipper in Vox) 
  • India’s IT services industry experienced a 70% decline in entry-level hiring between fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Why? AI! (Slashdot.org) 
  • How chatbots — and their makers — are enabling AI psychosis. New York Times reporter Kashmir Hill on AI psychosis, user delusions, and teen safety. (Hayden Field in The Verge)

Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼

For more listings, check out #Jobs in Slack. Submit this form to have your job advertised here! 

Upcoming Community Events 📆

Note: All times are listed in EDT. Submit this form to advertise your event here!