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This week in NYC #civictech – May 22, 2026
Today, we’re launching four new digital democracy tools for AI. New York’s fight for public access to government information goes back to 1649 — when a Dutch lawyer named van der Donck went door to door in New Amsterdam collecting…
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New digital democracy tools for AI — MCPs for the Charter/Laws, Council, the City Record, and Checkbook
New Amsterdam’s Open Government History The argument about who controls what the public knows about its government is not a recent one in New York. It goes back to 1649. That year, Adriaen van der Donck — a Dutch lawyer…
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This week in NYC #CivicTech – May 14, 2026
We’re launching a new class series at a scale we haven’t attempted before, throwing our doors open because this is the moment for it.
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This week in NYC’s #CivicTech – May 7, 2026 (Week 19)
If you’ve watched as many YouTube videos on agentic software development as I have, you’ve been told we’re in a new world. So far that new world looks a lot like the old one: same oppression, same inequality, same distrust…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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