Happy almost-end-of-year, friends!
Last week, Noel wrote about joining Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s Transition Subcommittee on Technology and invited you to help shape the next administration’s public interest tech and gov tech agenda. Thank you to everyone who has already sent in ideas! We’ve added them to our growing list of community proposals, and it’s already a powerful snapshot of what you want excellence in government to look like. If you’ve submitted something and don’t see it reflected yet, don’t worry—we’re still processing responses and it will be there soon. We encourage you to take a look at the community ideas spreadsheet, and if inspiration strikes, keep them coming at the_message@beta.nyc. Right now, our shared task is to collect thoughtful, concrete proposals and make sure they reach the transition team.
We’re also closing out the year with two gatherings next Friday, December 19. In the morning, BetaBagels returns! This virtual edition brings together folks working at the intersection of government, technology, and policy for a candid breakfast conversation about what comes next for gov tech and public interest technology in New York City. If you care about how ideas move from “good concept” to actual policy, this is a space to listen, ask questions, and meet collaborators. Bring your bagels and beverage of choice!
Later that day, we’ll host the BetaNYC Civic Innovation Fellows Showcase at the NYC PIT Pop Up, where this year’s fellows will present the projects they’ve been building with city, data, open tools, and community partners. It’s a chance to see how they are tackling real-world questions, from mapping and public space to accountability and service delivery—and to cheer them on as they take their next steps in the PIT ecosystem.
We hope you’ll join us for one or both events, celebrate the work we’ve done together in 2025, and help us set the stage for what comes next. Thank you for being in this work with us!
— Gabrielle Langston and Duncan Ballantine
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What’s New at BetaNYC? 🚀
- Elected offices, are you hiring? Have an opening in policy, tech, data, or constituent services? Share your job postings with us so we can feature them in front of our civic tech and public interest community.
- NYC School of Data turns TEN in March 2026! We’re seeking sponsors to help us grow this conference into an even more accessible, community-driven gathering. If you or someone in your network can sponsor, we’d love an introduction.
Upcoming Events with BetaNYC 🎊
- December 15 at 11:59 pm School of Data and Open Data Week 2026 Call for Proposals are due!
- December 19 at 9 am BetaBagels 012: a breakfast GovTech Policy Conversation
- December 19 at 1:30 pm BetaNYC Civic Innovation Fellows Showcase (RSVP Required)
Election Corner 2025 🗳️
- What bills are on Governor Hochul’s desk? Rebecca C. Lewis runs through the 165 high-profile bills Governor Hochul hasn’t acted on yet, from medical aid in dying to prison oversight reforms.
- Think you know how many mayors NYC has had? Elizabeth Kim recaps a deep dive into archival records and finds the city has been miscounting its mayors for centuries, reshuffling the official tally.
- An exit interview with NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams: City & State’s Annie McDonough sits down with the outgoing NYC Council Speaker and covers her proudest wins, her mayoral run, and how she hopes her tenure will be remembered.
- New York gubernatorial updates: Shannon Ryan reports on President Trump privately telling Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman his bid to oust Rep. Elise Stefanik is unlikely to succeed, offering a glimpse into MAGA power dynamics.
- Updates on City Hall staffing: Katie Honan and Reuven Blau examine staff reshuffles between Mayor Adams and Mayor-elect Mamdani, and what they signal about shifting influence in the next administration.
- How will NYC will tackle child care? Madina Touré looks at how Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and presumptive City Council Speaker Julie Menin might team up on an ambitious child-care push, and where their agendas could align.
This Week’s Media Watchlist 🎥
- Next steps for SNAP in New York: Jie Jenny Zou explains how the shutdown, new work requirements, and data-sharing threats could disrupt food assistance for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.
- What’s next for safer intersections and daylighting? amNY covers NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ decision not to bring a universal daylighting bill to a vote, and the backlash from safe streets advocates.
- Secure bike parking updates: Kevin Duggan reports on Brooklyn bike-parking company Oonee’s protest after DOT passed them over, raising questions about public space, vendors, and bike infrastructure.
- Missing zines and analog internet culture? 404 Media’s podcast episode talks about why independent outlets are returning to print zines, new Instagram SEO behavior, and a lawsuit over ICEBlock.
Artificial Intelligence Roundup 🤖
- Wondering about the new executive order on AI? Cecilia Kang unpacks President Trump’s executive order aimed at limiting state-level AI regulations and what it could mean for states trying to set stronger rules. (Paywall)
- RAISE Act updates: Rebecca C. Lewis breaks down the showdown between Governor Hochul and state lawmakers over the RAISE Act and whether New York will copy California’s more industry-friendly AI law.
- Is AI the next dot-com bubble, or something stranger? Joshua Rothman considers whether AI is a classic bubble, a genuine productivity revolution, or a messy collision of hype, capital, and still-unsettled science. (Paywall)
Data Privacy Watch 🔐
- Big tech and private data concerns: David Gilbert reveals how doxers impersonating law enforcement are tricking major tech firms into handing over highly sensitive user data via fake emergency requests. (Paywall)
Jobs Alert and Announcements 💼
- Brooklyn Community Board #3 is hiring a Community Associate.
- The Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton University’s applications for the Siegel Public Interest Technology Summer Fellowship (PIT-SF) program are open until January 11.
- The Department of Design & Construction is seeking a College Aide (Design).
- Housing Justice for All and the NYS Tenant Bloc are hiring a NYC Organizer.
- The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI)’s applications for the Summer Research Fellowship are open until January 30.
- The Office of Council Member Shahana Hanif is recruiting a Kensington Community Liaison.
- The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) is seeking a Health Analyst.
- Proven is searching for a Director of Engineering.
- The Vilcek Foundation is hiring a Prize and Grant Associate.
- Wpromote is seeking an Associate Director, Data Analysis.
Upcoming Events 📅
Note: All times are listed in ET
- December 18 at 10 am Deliberating with the Public: Democratic Engagement Series Wrap up
- December 19 at 5 pm Holiday Tech Happy Hour
- December 23 at 3 pm Author Talk: Katy Börner of Atlas of Macroscopes
- January 28 at 6:30 pm Transit Techies #36: Colin Miller (Subway Builder) & Greg Feliu (Busiest Subway)
- January 27 at 2 pm Telling Public Stories with Data
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Take care of each other, and have a great weekend!