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New Yorkers Deserve Full Transparency About the COVID-19 Emergency and State Response
Full data transparency — including 121 specific data sets,comprehensive oversight hearing, NTSB-style independent assessment Nine major state watchdog groups wrote to New York’s elected leaders urging full transparency about all aspects of the COVID-19 emergency, including the state’s response. The letter was signed by groups across the political spectrum, from the Empire Center to Reinvent…
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Testimony on NYC’s COVID-19 vaccinations, service design, and their websites
To: NYC Council – Joint committee hearing with Health, Technology, and AgingFrom: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director Re: Covid-19 vaccinations and their websites (link to hearing) Wednesday, 17 February 2021 On behalf of the BetaNYC community, we would like to say thank you for hosting this open conversation. Thank you Council Members for all of your…
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BetaNYC’s Testimony at City Council Technology Committee Oversight Hearing on the Smart City
To: NYC Council – Committee on Technology, Chair Holden From: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director Re: Oversight – Smart CityTuesday, 19 January 2021 On behalf of the BetaNYC community, we would like to say thank you for hosting this open conversation. First, BetaNYC would like to acknowledge this Administration’s involvement in the Cities for Digital Rights coalition.…
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Statement on Intro 1894-2020, a bill that would regulate the use of automated employment decision tools.
BetaNYC has signed onto a collective letter that flags a number of concerns within Int. 1894-2020, a bill that would regulate the use of automated employment decision tools. November 11, 2020Hon. Laurie A. CumboNew York City Council Majority Leader via email RE: Int. 1894-2020 – Sale of Automated Employment Decision Tools. Dear Council Member Cumbo:…
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Re: Oversight hearing of Internet Master Plan and Resolution T2020-6730
Important quotes to note from the NYC Internet Master Plan: “The private market has failed to deliver the internet in a way that works for all New Yorkers. Citywide, 29% of households do not have a broadband subscription at home. The same percentage of households are without a mobile broadband connection.” “…more than 1.5 million…
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Statement from 7 Leading Civic and Journalism Groups on Legislature’s Repeal of Police Secrecy Law 50-a and Modification of FOIL
Statement on Legislature’s Repeal of Police Secrecy Law 50-a and Modification of FOIL Our groups thank Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell and Jamaal Bailey, Speaker Carl Heastie, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and the Assembly and State Senate for passing S8496/A10611. Our groups strongly support this bill and ask Governor Cuomo to sign it immediately, without modification or chapter…
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WE & Seven Other Watchdogs Urge Mayor to Publish COVID-19 Data as Open Data
Bill de Blasio VIA EMAILMayor, City HallNew York, New York 10007 April 30, 2020 Re: Please Publish the City’s COVID-19 Data as Open Data Dear Mayor de Blasio: We write to ask you to publish as open data the tabular information the City has gathered about the COVID-19 emergency. This valuable…
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WE & Six Other Watchdogs Urge Governor to Publish COVID-19 Data as Open Data
Open Government Boosts Public Confidence in Government and HelpsResearchers Get Fullest Possible Picture in Fight Against COVID-19 Seven government watchdogs sent a letter to Governor Cuomo today asking that the state place as much COVID-19 data as possible on the state’s open data portal. The groups lauded the Governor’s daily briefings on the state of…
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Advocacy Groups Demand that Mayor DeBlasio Fulfill Commitment to NYC Voters and Fund Citywide Participatory Budgeting Initiative
The Civic Engagement Commission’s citywide participatory budgeting initiative is at risk due to slow follow through — it needs strong commitment now to right the course, comply with the Charter, and establish a successful legacy program for the Administration.
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Re: Oversight hearing of Local Law 49 of 2018 (Open Algorithms Law) & Int 1806-2019 (aka ADS transparency) & Int 1447-2019 (aka data inventory)
To: NYC Council – Committee on Technology From: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC Re: Oversight hearing of Local Law 49 of 2018 (Open Algorithms Law) & Int 1806-2019 (aka ADS transparency) & Int 1447-2019 (aka data inventory) Thursday, 22 January 2020 “We […] want to ensure that New York City leads the way in ethical…
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Statement on the appointment of Jessica Tisch as Commissioner of DoITT
“NYC’s civic technology community congratulates Jessica Tisch on her appointment as DoITT’s Commissioner” said Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC. “We are excited to see someone who has experience working across agencies take the helm of the beleaguered DoITT. We hope Commissioner Tisch’s experience at NYPD has prepared her to lead NYC’s digital transformation —…
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Council Member Peter Koo Introduces Bill to Require Reporting on Automated Decision Systems (ADS) used by City Agencies
City Hall – City Council Member Peter Koo today introduced legislation that would bring greater transparency and understanding to the automated decision systems used by city agencies to make mission-critical decisions affecting the daily lives of New Yorkers. Intro 1806 would require annual reporting on Automated Decision Systems (ADS), or the computerized implementation of one or more…
