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a HUGE win for NYC’s legislative data.
For the last four years, we have been working with various City Council members to get the City’s “source code” online — we’re talking about the City’s charter, laws, rules, and daily record. The City’s charter is equivalent of the city’s constitution. According to the City’s law department, “the charter is the document that defines…
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Testimony for Intro 1696-2017 (Open Algorithms Bill)
“We […] want to ensure that New York City leads the way in ethical algorithmic government. We want transparency around data tools, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and tracking. We want New York City to be the thought leader in smart, ethical, algorithmic government.” – 4 Jan 2016 – http://bit.ly/BetaNYC-2016-YearInReview To: NYC Council – Committee on Technology…
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How to improve NYC’s open data law 2.0?
Last week, we had the chance to join with members of the NYC Transparency Working Group and provide feedback on the future of NYC’s open data law (video). As this bill is under discussion we encourage all to provided your thoughts via councilmatic. Intro 1525-2017 This bill would require updates to the agency compliance plan, to…
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2016’s written testimony for NYC #opendata oversight hearing
Wednesday, 21 September 2016 To the NYC Committee on Technology & Chairperson Vacca, Introduction. BetaNYC is a civic organization dedicated to improving all lives in New York through civic design, technology, and data. We envision an informed and empowered public that can leverage civic design, technology, and data to hold government accountable, and improve their…
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BetaTalk – Affordable Housing: Data, Policy, People (report back)
Affordable Housing: Data, Policy, People Introductory remarks: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC Moderator: Lucio Tolentino, Co-organizer of BetaNYC; Data scientist and Civic hacker Panelists: Caitlyn Brazill, CAMBA; Moses Gates, Regional Plan Association; Emily Goldman, Cornell U & BetaNYC; John Krauss, Carto & Accursed Ware Introduction to the Event: On July 8th BetaNYC hosted a…
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Give feedback on NYC’s proposed geospatial #opendata standards
Since 2013, members of BetaNYC have advocated for the City’s open data to conform to open standards. Through our work trying to scrape the City Record, we unearthed headaches trying to define what is where. In a city as complex as the one beneath our feet, there are at least three ways to describe that location. Last…
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On the release of alpha.nyc.gov
Today, NYC.gov launched a new digital front door. We welcome this experiment known as AlphaLabs, civic tech office hours, and, all the other things that the Mayor’s Office of Digital Strategy is doing to make government more accessible. ALSO – We love that Alpha.nyc.gov is built on BetaNYC’s award winning ReinventNYC.gov hackathon idea! Back when…
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Statement of support for NYC’s Digital Services Playbook
Today is a great day to be a New Yorker. With a straight forward vision of intentional inclusion, iterative design, transparency, flexibility, & mobility, New Yorkers have a Mayor and City Council who fundamentally support the use of technology, data, and design to build governments that work for the 21st century. “With the launch of…
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In Support of Int 0564 – 2014
Dear Chairperson Vacca and members of the Technology Committee, We are supportive of Intro 0564 – 2014. We strongly believe that New York City needs an internal technology and design team to help accomplish the goals of this legislation. Similar to the US Federal Government’s 18F or US Digital Services, New York City is at…
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VIDEO – John Kaehny on the future of NYC’s Open Data Law
As part of Noel Hidalgo’s fellowship at Data & Society Research Institution, he hosted the co-chair of the NYC Transparency Working Group and the Executive Director of Reinvent Albany, John Kaehny. If you ever wonder why NYC has a great ecosystem around cycling advocacy, civic technology, & open data advocacy, you must know John Kaehny’s history. …
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MBP Gale A. Brewer’s announces a data science & digital civics curriculum for NYC High School at NYC School of Data
At “School of Data” conference, B.P. Brewer announces she will bring data science curriculum to NYC high schools. NEW YORK – Today at BetaNYC’s NYC School of Data conference, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer announced she will bring data science classes to New York City high schools, making public that her office is forming…
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Testimony in support of Free and Open Source Software Act and Civic Commons Act
To: NYC Council – Committee on Contracts From: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC Re: Int 365-2014 & Int 366-2014 Tuesday, 22 February 2016 Dear Chairperson Rosenthal and the NYC Committee on Contracts, It is an honor to have this opportunity to represent New York City’s civic technology, design, and data community. I am the…
