Civic infrastructure is never finished. The city we want will always be under construction, and the people who show up for it build it: residents, students, volunteers, and the elected officials who invest in the work. As fiscal year 2027 gets underway, we want to thank the Council Members who are building it with us.
For over ten years, BetaNYC has worked to make New York City’s government more accessible, accountable, and responsive in the digital age. Through civic technology, design, and data, we help New Yorkers access and demystify public information, and advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities.
2026 has been one of our biggest years yet! In July, New York City launched its first Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crew, with five in-house teams building digital public goods for New Yorkers. This is something we had been asking for since 2013. We turned 19 fiscal years of City Council budget PDFs into open, machine-readable data so that anyone can check the city’s math, and we testified at the Charter Revision Commission on digital sovereignty. We also launched seven new AI Tools for NYC’s Democracy, kicked off our AI 101 initiative with six hands-on classes, and hosted 42 events across all five boroughs, including our Mapping for Equity workshops, reaching more than 9,200 attendees overall. Open Data Week and NYC School of Data both hit record attendance.
None of this happens without the people and institutions who invest in it. We’re proud to receive support from Council Members Gale A. Brewer (District 6), Eric Dinowitz (District 11), Harvey Epstein (District 2), Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34), Virginia Maloney (District 4), Lincoln Restler (District 33), Justin Sanchez (District 17), and Julie Won (District 26). Their investment in digital, data, civic tech, and AI literacy helps us build tools and programs that put the power of information in everyday New Yorkers’ hands. We’re especially excited to welcome Council Members Justin Sanchez, Virginia Maloney, and Harvey Epstein to our community of supporters.
Here’s what some of them have to say about our work:
City Council Testimonials
Council Member Virginia Maloney
District 4, Manhattan
“New York City is home to one of the most dynamic technology sectors in the world, and New Yorkers should have the skills and opportunities to be part of its future. BetaNYC is doing important work to expand digital and data literacy, helping New Yorkers better understand public information and use technology to engage with their communities and their government. As Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I’m proud to support BetaNYC’s work to make these tools more accessible and ensure that technological progress translates into greater opportunity and a stronger, more responsive city.”
Council Member Lincoln Restler
District 33, Brooklyn
“BetaNYC’s excellent work improving digital and data literacy in New York City has been instrumental in helping New Yorkers gain the skills they need to thrive in today’s digital-first world. I’m pleased to continue supporting their critical work empowering our constituents to access open data and use technology for the public good.”
Council Member Justin Sanchez
District 17, the Bronx
“Knowledge is power, and BetaNYC is making that power more accessible to New Yorkers across our city. By helping people understand public data, build digital skills, and better navigate the information their government produces, they are giving communities the tools to play an active role in building stronger communities. I’m proud to support and fund the great work they are doing, and I look forward to seeing that work reach even more New Yorkers, especially in communities like the South Bronx.”
Thank you again to all who have funded us! The city we want in ten years is made from what we build today, and we’re glad to build it with you. Want to help sustain this work? Become a BetaBuilder.
BetaNYC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization via The Fund for the City of New York’s partner project program.
Header image credits: Grenoble17, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
