On Terra (the third rocky planet orbiting Sol), we’ve reached the end of the Gregorian year 2025. The seasonal marketing engine is fully online: lights, Yuletide, mistletoe, and cheerful greetings everywhere. I’m celebrating the traditional way—long johns and sweaters.
From all of us at BetaNYC: we hope you have a safe, restful, and hopeful end of year. We’re deeply grateful for the adventurous year we’ve had with you. 2025 was a big one—and yes, we’ll share a proper recap next month.
For now, here are three things to know as we close out 2025:
First: Sustain our newsletter (and get a School of Data ticket).
We’re asking for charitable contributions to help keep our monthly newsletter going. As a thank-you, sustaining donors at $26/month receive a NYC School of Data 2026 ticket—our little two-for-one.
Support the weekly roundups you rely on and join NYC’s public interest technology community on March 28, 2026 at CUNY School of Law for NYC School of Data.
Second: Open Data Week / School of Data session ideas are still welcome.
We will continue to accept proposals and review them on a rolling basis. We will review proposals on a case-by-case basis and prioritize straightforward or fully thought-through proposals. To maximize your chances of having your proposal reviewed and accepted, please submit your application as soon as possible. In 2026, we’re especially excited to platform conversations on digital equity, smart cities, and artificial intelligence—grounded in open data and real public benefit.
Third: Share your best tech policy ideas.
As a member of Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s transition subcommittee, I’m reviewing and elevating technology policy ideas. I can’t submit everything I read, but I am adding new community recommendations to our post here.
If you’ve got a strong idea, send it my way. Also, read Reinvent Albany’s report authored by Martha Norrick.
In 2026, we’ll mark the 18th year of the meetup that became BetaNYC. It’s been a wild and uniquely New York journey—and together, we’ve changed this city for the better.
No matter how dark the world might feel, we won’t extinguish our hope. We move fforward—together. Excelsior.
Or as my Abuelos Y Abuelas would chant, Pa’lante!
In solidarity and hope,
Noel Hidalgo
Support BetaNYC Today! 💗
As we wrap up 2025, we want to say a special thank you to everyone who has opened, read, or forwarded this newsletter.
This year, more than 5,300 people subscribed, and nearly 2,000 readers checked in each week to stay current on civic tech news, tools, and opportunities. Behind the scenes is a small, but mighty team, and supporters like you, making it all possible.
As we head into 2026, please consider becoming a sustaining donor to help us keep this information free and accessible: https://beta.nyc/donate
What’s New at BetaNYC? 🚀
Reinvent Albany is a NYC School of Data Lead Partner! We’re excited to share that Reinvent Albany is joining NYC School of Data as a Lead Partner. Their long-standing work to strengthen government transparency and accountability aligns deeply with what School of Data is all about: giving New Yorkers practical tools to understand, use, and advocate with public data. Huge thanks to the Reinvent Albany team for their support! This partnership will help us deliver an even more accessible, community-driven conference in 2026.
Call for Proposals Update: Rolling Review. We’re continuing to accept proposals for NYC Open Data Week and NYC School of Data, and we’re reviewing submissions on a rolling basis. Please note that we will review proposals on a case-by-case basis and prioritize straightforward or fully thought-through proposals. To maximize your chances of having your proposal reviewed and accepted, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Missed BetaBagels, or want to revisit the conversation? Watch the full recording! Our recent BetaBagels brought together civic tech and public interest tech leaders to share policy recommendations, reflect on the road ahead for NYC in 2026, and respond to audience questions. Thank you NYC-DSA Tech Action Working Group, Pilot Pitchfest, Public Sector Job Board, Tech Mayor Project and Tech:NYC for a great conversation!
We want to give a special shout-out to Rebecca Heywood and the Public Sector Job Board for being part of BetaBagels, and for continuing to make it easier for people to find real public sector and civic tech roles. Check out Rebecca’s special edition Public Sector Job Board post!
Upcoming Events with BetaNYC 🎊
- January 9 from 12 pm – 6 pm NYC PIT Pop Up Open House & Relaunch with ribbon cutting at 2 pm
- January 15 at 5 pm Open Data Week Winter Meetup
- January 25 at 11 am Wikipedia Day NYC 2026
Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼
- Democracy Now! is seeking a Video News Production Fellow and a Digital Fellow.
- The Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ Civil Service Pathways Fellowship 2026 applications are open until February 13.
- Hip Hop Caucus is searching for a Senior Director, Campaigns and Advocacy and Senior Director of Development.
- The NYC Campaign Finance Board is hiring a Director of Marketing & Digital Communications, Data & Metrics Manager, and Senior Outreach Manager.
- The NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) is recruiting volunteers for the Language Assistance Advisory Committee (LAAC).
- The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is searching for an Analyst, Division of Strategic Operations & Analytics, Project Manager, Strategic Planning Division of Strategic Operations and Analytics and a Director, Strategic Planning.
- The New York State Office of Information Technology Services is seeking a Technology Analyst 1 (Human-Centered Design) and a Front-end Engineer.
- The Office of Council Member Sandy Nurse is hiring a Chief of Staff.
Upcoming Events 📅
Note: All times are listed in ET
- January 13 at 1 pm Redrawing the Lines that Divide Our Students: Data and Tools for Better, Fairer School District Boundaries
- January 15 at 3:30 pm Tech Ladies – The Loop: Virtual Community Meet Up – Jan
- January 16 at 9 am TechWalk | NYC, 1/16
- January 28 at 6:30 pm CUSP x Transit Techies | Colin Miller (Subway Builder) & Greg Feliu (The Busiest Subway Lines in NYC, Ranked)
- January 27 at 2 pm Telling Public Stories with Data
- February 18 at 10 am The Next Wave Black History Month Summit
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Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year! See you in 2026! 🫶