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BetaNYC joins 13 groups to fight for better freedom of information appeals – memo of support
MEMO OF SUPPORT S9607 (May) / A11143 (Kassay) Requires agencies to allow FOIL appeals be done electronically TITLE OF BILLAn act to amend the public officers law [POL], in relation to certain reforms for agencies subject to the freedom of information law [FOIL]. STATEMENT OF SUPPORTOur groups strongly support this bill because it is absurd…
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – April 30, 2026
We’re getting ready for one of our favorite moments of the year, a celebration of growth, impact, and the future of public interest tech in NYC.
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – April 23, 2026
Three epic community things this week! First, we named Data Vandals our Public Interest Technologist of the Month for April. Their work exemplifies what it looks like when civic technology refuses to be polite about the systems it’s holding to account — Jen Ray (artist) and Jason Forrest (dataviz expert) are driven by the conviction…
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Statement on Annie Levers’ appointment to the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations
“Annie Levers understands that effective government is built on accountability, transparency and improving how public systems serve people. As Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, she will ensure Ops is a true engine for data-driven management, public trust and better service delivery. Her record reflects a clear appreciation for how public interest tech, oversight…
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Data Vandals – PiTech’ers of the Month – April 2026
Data Vandals, Jen Ray (art) & Jason Forrest (dataviz) Can you share a bit about yourself and your work? Our artwork transforms data into experiences that invite curiosity and create conversations, turning passive observers into active participants.Data Vandals is Jen Ray (artist) and Jason Forrest (dataviz expert). Driven by the conviction that meaningful change happens when…
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – April 16, 2026
“Open Data Week reminds us of the beauty, power, and possibility contained within New York City’s 6.3 billion rows of public data… This vast public resource tells the story of who we are as a city — and where we must focus our attention to build something better.”— Mayor Zohran Mamdani Over the weekend, I…
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Testimony to the NYC Council for 2026 Preliminary Budget Hearing – Technology
To: NYC Council – Committee on TechnologyFrom: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC Re: Testimony to the NYC Council for Preliminary Budget Hearing – Technology Wednesday, 18 March 2026 Dear Chair De La Rosa, fellow Council Members, and Staff, Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony regarding the Preliminary Budget for the Office…
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – March 13, 2026
Happy PI Day Weekend to our North American readers! Orthodox PI Day observers, yours comes at the end of the month. 😉 Our Joy is Heavy. Many of you are feeling the weight of this moment. Anthropic’s Claude Cowork launched on the verge of the illegal war on Iran, and this week the Financial Times…
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – February 12, 2026
We are thrilled to congratulate Lisa Gelobter on her appointment as New York City’s Chief Technology Officer.
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This week in NYC’s #civictech – 29 Jan 2026
We hope all of you are doing as well as you can. Are you ready to serve your community?
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – January 16, 2026
This week in NYC’s #CivicTech Week 3 of 2026 Dr. King on “Public Interest Technology” Thank you CM Gutiérrez! NJ AI + Designing for Care + Crypto Mayor Crashes Tool preview: Privacy focused LLMs Event alert: Fri, Jan 30, PIT, Power, & Community Boards!!
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – December 23, 2025
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…
