Hello BetaNYC family! This week marks the last before the federal government transition. Although we face a long road ahead, we will be the light. As we stated in last week’s newsletter, we are committed to being a communal place that provides you with accurate and reliable information. Optimism, faith, truth, service, and love are how we build a more perfect union.
This community is a safe space for EVERYONE. Here, you are welcomed, valued, and supported as you navigate the challenges and opportunities of this moment. Together, we will continue to foster an inclusive, respectful, and everlasting community. If there’s anything you need, please feel free to reach out to us. We’re all in this together.
Sending you love and light for the road ahead.
NYC Open Data Week 📣
If you missed it, the NYC Open Data Week team and Data Through Design are hosting a winter meetup event! Join us on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 5 to 8 pm at Randolph Beer in DUMBO.
Community Resources 📚
Our hearts continue to be with our public interest tech and open data friends in Los Angeles. In light of ongoing fire response and recovery efforts, here are a couple of resources. Please let us know if you see any others.
Resources Page – U.S. Digital Response
NBC News has vetted the following charities:
- California Community Foundation
- California Fire Foundation
- L.A. Fire Department Foundation
- Pasadena Humane Society
- Ventura County Community Foundation
- American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- Direct Relief
- World Central Kitchen
In other news:
- New Exhibit Explores NYCHA’s Open Spaces, Which Once Made Neighbors Jealous – Lauren Hakimi
- Fire-Related Mutual Aid Efforts to Support and Some Must-Reads – Kelly Hayes
- What Trump’s Election Tells Us About the User Experience of Government – Libby Schaaf
- The Ministry of Empowerment – danah boyd
This Week in NYC Civic Tech / Gov Watch 🏛️
- Governor Hochul delivered the State of the State 2025 address and introduced various policy proposals. NY focus highlighted family-centered policies, THE CITY touched on the education plans, and Hell Gate recapped the public safety proposals, among others.
- Congestion Pricing has been here for a week, and the results are coming in! The MTA released a recap highlighting fewer cars and faster trips. You can also view a rundown of the week one data. Gothamist also has a summary of week one results.
- Community board applications are currently open for Brooklyn and Queens and are open year-round in Staten Island. (Manhattan and The Bronx will open shortly. Need a refresher? Read last year’s primer from THE CITY.)
- Community and Citywide Education Council Elections (CEC) applications are open! If you need a rundown, read about this process in Chalkbeat NY.
Jobs Alert and Announcements (for more listings, check out #Jobs) 💼
- The College of Staten Island is hiring an Assistant Professor – Communication.
- Data Visualization Society Mentorship Program applications are now open!
- The New York County District Attorney’s Office is seeking an IT Procurement Manager.
- UPchieve is recruiting a Senior Software Engineer.
Upcoming Events 📅
Note: All times are listed in EDT
- January 25 at 12 pm Wikipedia:Meetup/NYC/Wikipedia Day 2025
- January 30 at 5 pm Winter Open Data Week Meetup
- February 5 at 6 pm Discovering NYC Open Data: Online Session
- February 10 at 6 pm Mayoral Candidate Forum on Culture and Arts
- February 19 at 10 am NYC Council Committee on Technology Hearing
- March 21 to April 6, 2025 Data Through Design’s Corpus: Bodies of Data
- March 22 to 30, 2025 NYC Open Data Week
- March 29, 2025 NYC School of Data
- June 19 to 21, 2025 State of the Map US, Boston
That’s all for today! Want to be featured in future newsletters? Share your community resources, projects, events, and anything else happening so we can feature them. Have a great weekend!