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2018 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York
Institute for Public Knowledge
The Future of Democracy Working Group at the Institute for Public Knowledge and the GovLab at NYU invite you to a conversation between Audrey Tang and Beth Simone Noveck. The discussion will explor…
BetaNYC
NYC Charter Revision Commission and You!
While NYC might not have direct democracy, it does have a Charter Revision Commission. This commission gives the people the power to rewrite the City’s constitution — aka the City Charter. I…
Eventbrite
#BetaBagels 001 — a breakfast briefing on #govtech innovation in Amsterdam
BetaBagels is an experimental breakfast salon for change-makers and do-ers who have an interest in government & civic technology, data science, and service design. While this is our first one, we are looking to host monthly conversations with change-makers and do-ers who are transforming government from the inside out. We are inspired by our friends in LA who host Data + Donuts <https://datadonuts.la/> > BetaBagels is open to all and hosted by BetaNYC and the Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. Inaugural Speaker: Tamas Erkelens “Tamas Erkelens has been Program Manager of Data Innovation at Amsterdam Municipality since 2016 and is a true believer in creating public value through data. His work focuses on using data to improve citizen services and connecting business, academia, and local government to citizen’s most pressing needs.” <https://whitehallmedia.co.uk/blog/2018/02/08/interview-tamas-erkelens-amsterdam/> > Amsterdam was awarded European Capital of Innovation in 2017 by the European Commission for its Digital Social Innovation approach. In Amsterdam’s government agile in house software developmers are creating solutions with policy experts and citizens. Overcoming barriers in a traditional organization, Tamas explains how Amsterdam in the past 3 years has created a tech savvy government (>200 civic tech staff) from scratch, why many great ideas have failed too, and what is yet to be done to solve more of citizens real problems. Data science can deliver results for social good, if applied correctly. Time series modeling to address over tourism in the city, machine learning to distribute 311 reports faster, and image recognition to prevent parking nuisance, are a couple of examples in Amsterdam. Combining data science with user centered front ends, teams of in house agile developers create products and services that respect people’s privacy and digital rights. After the presentation there’ll be a discussion how civic tech communities and local governments across the world can unite to create solutions together. This presentation will give us a snapshot of what is happening in Amsterdam and lessons we can bring to New York City. This presentation will be recorded. About Tamas Erkelens Aiming to add public value using data in Amsterdam, Tamas Erkelens heads the Program of Data Innovation for the City of Amsterdam. The program aims to kick start innovation projects, set the conditions for tech innovation, create a fertile civic tech community, and open policy challenges to partners. With a new progressive city government Tamas’ team aims to realize a very ambitious digital program. Previously, Tamas – graduated with honors as Research Master of Quantitative Social Sciences – has worked for ING as a Product Owner. Missing a moral balance in his life, he then started working for a better society, first as co-founder of Data Mission connecting nerds to societal problems, and since 2014 as a public servant. You can find Tamas in his spare time as a stereotypical ‘Dutchie’ riding his bicycle through the city. Location: Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer’s OfficeThe David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building1 Centre St, 19th Floor, Manhattan Agenda: 8:50 AM - Please cue up at the South Tower's security entrance9:00 - Networking Breakfast — BAGELS, fruit, juice, and coffee9:30 - Presentation10:15 - Question and Answers and/or Additional Networking11:00 - Event Ends About Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer: Gale A. Brewer is the 27th Borough President of Manhattan. Since she took office in 2014, she has successfully passed legislation to reform the deed restriction process, add ‘caregivers’ to the city’s anti-discrimination law, remove criminal history questions from initial employment applications (the “Fair Chance Act”), and enforce requirements for street numbers on buildings in Manhattan (to aid emergency workers). She has also spearheaded community planning initiatives at the South Street Seaport, in East Midtown, and in other neighborhoods to address development and zoning issues. Brewer previously served on the City Council for 12 years, serving as the founding chair of the Technology Committee and leading the Government Operations Committee. There, the Council passed her legislation guaranteeing paid sick leave for most hourly employees, requiring all City data be published online, and protecting domestic workers from abusive practices. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff to Council Member Ruth Messinger, NYC Deputy Public Advocate, Director of the city's Federal Office, and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women. About BetaNYC: BetaNYC is a civic organization dedicated to improving 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 economic opportunity. Founded in 2008 as a “meetup” to discuss open government in NYC, we have evolved to be a key local leader and national partner in civic technology, open data, and open government. Our work empowers individuals and local communities to build a civically engaged technology ecosystem and provide for an honest and inclusive government. We want New York’s governments to work for the people, by the people, for the 21st century. BetaNYC demystifies design, technology, and data to the point where anyone can use it, create it, and participate in the decision making process. RSVP via <https://betabagels001.eventbrite.com>
Union Square Partnership
Participatory Budgeting Launch in District 2
Share your ideas for improving your community with Participatory Budgeting, launching for the first time in District 2 this September.
Meetup
Sat, Sep 22, 2018, 1:00 PM: Join us for our yearly Awesome Foundation event, where we showcase the exciting work our grantees have been doing. This year, we'll be having an Awesome Exhibition, showcas
BetaNYC
NYC Charter Revision Commission and You!
While NYC might not have direct democracy, it does have a Charter Revision Commission. This commission gives the people the power to rewrite the City’s constitution — aka the City Charter. I…
BetaNYC
Community Board Technology Needs Report – 2018
Note — This report is one of two reports we are releasing this Fall, and a follow up to our 2015 report. Please read our executive summaries of both reports, and read our workflow report we will be…
#BetaBagels 001 — a breakfast briefing on #govtech innovation in Amsterdam
BetaBagels is an experimental breakfast salon for change-makers and do-ers who have an interest in government & civic technology, data science, and service design. While this is our first one, we are looking to host monthly conversations with change-makers and do-ers who are transforming government from the inside out. We are inspired by our friends in LA who host Data + Donuts <https://datadonuts.la/> > BetaBagels is open to all and hosted by BetaNYC and the Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. Inaugural Speaker: Tamas Erkelens “Tamas Erkelens has been Program Manager of Data Innovation at Amsterdam Municipality since 2016 and is a true believer in creating public value through data. His work focuses on using data to improve citizen services and connecting business, academia, and local government to citizen’s most pressing needs.” <https://whitehallmedia.co.uk/blog/2018/02/08/interview-tamas-erkelens-amsterdam/> > Amsterdam was awarded European Capital of Innovation in 2017 by the European Commission for its Digital Social Innovation approach. In Amsterdam’s government agile in house software developmers are creating solutions with policy experts and citizens. Overcoming barriers in a traditional organization, Tamas explains how Amsterdam in the past 3 years has created a tech savvy government (>200 civic tech staff) from scratch, why many great ideas have failed too, and what is yet to be done to solve more of citizens real problems. Data science can deliver results for social good, if applied correctly. Time series modeling to address over tourism in the city, machine learning to distribute 311 reports faster, and image recognition to prevent parking nuisance, are a couple of examples in Amsterdam. Combining data science with user centered front ends, teams of in house agile developers create products and services that respect people’s privacy and digital rights. After the presentation there’ll be a discussion how civic tech communities and local governments across the world can unite to create solutions together. This presentation will give us a snapshot of what is happening in Amsterdam and lessons we can bring to New York City. This presentation will be recorded. About Tamas Erkelens Aiming to add public value using data in Amsterdam, Tamas Erkelens heads the Program of Data Innovation for the City of Amsterdam. The program aims to kick start innovation projects, set the conditions for tech innovation, create a fertile civic tech community, and open policy challenges to partners. With a new progressive city government Tamas’ team aims to realize a very ambitious digital program. Previously, Tamas – graduated with honors as Research Master of Quantitative Social Sciences – has worked for ING as a Product Owner. Missing a moral balance in his life, he then started working for a better society, first as co-founder of Data Mission connecting nerds to societal problems, and since 2014 as a public servant. You can find Tamas in his spare time as a stereotypical ‘Dutchie’ riding his bicycle through the city. Location: Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer’s OfficeThe David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building1 Centre St, 19th Floor, Manhattan Agenda: 8:50 AM - Please cue up at the South Tower's security entrance9:00 - Networking Breakfast — BAGELS, fruit, juice, and coffee9:30 - Presentation10:15 - Question and Answers and/or Additional Networking11:00 - Event Ends About Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer: Gale A. Brewer is the 27th Borough President of Manhattan. Since she took office in 2014, she has successfully passed legislation to reform the deed restriction process, add ‘caregivers’ to the city’s anti-discrimination law, remove criminal history questions from initial employment applications (the “Fair Chance Act”), and enforce requirements for street numbers on buildings in Manhattan (to aid emergency workers). She has also spearheaded community planning initiatives at the South Street Seaport, in East Midtown, and in other neighborhoods to address development and zoning issues. Brewer previously served on the City Council for 12 years, serving as the founding chair of the Technology Committee and leading the Government Operations Committee. There, the Council passed her legislation guaranteeing paid sick leave for most hourly employees, requiring all City data be published online, and protecting domestic workers from abusive practices. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff to Council Member Ruth Messinger, NYC Deputy Public Advocate, Director of the city's Federal Office, and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women. About BetaNYC: BetaNYC is a civic organization dedicated to improving 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 economic opportunity. Founded in 2008 as a “meetup” to discuss open government in NYC, we have evolved to be a key local leader and national partner in civic technology, open data, and open government. Our work empowers individuals and local communities to build a civically engaged technology ecosystem and provide for an honest and inclusive government. We want New York’s governments to work for the people, by the people, for the 21st century. BetaNYC demystifies design, technology, and data to the point where anyone can use it, create it, and participate in the decision making process. RSVP via <https://betabagels001.eventbrite.com>
NYC Open Data 101 — Introducing Open Data w/out computers!
BetaNYC has designed trainings and tools specifically intended to help New Yorkers access, analyze, map and use government data to inform decision-making. We hope you can join us and learn about the data you create. These insights come from a three year partnership with the Manhattan Borough President’s Office Gale A. Brewer. This 101 workshop will introduce the fundamentals, key terms, and processes you need to understand NYC’s open data. This workshop will focus on NYC 311 open data and a few key datasets/tools. Come ready to learn and get right into datasets. Note — you will not need a computer for this class. This is an interactive workshop to build up your literacy in key terms. **Things to bring** a notepad, a pen, or a your laptop, power supply, and be prepared to take notes. **Date & Time** Monday, 1 October 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm **Location** Civic Hall 118 West 22nd Street, 12th FL, Manhattan RSVP - <https://opendata101-sept2018.eventbrite.com>
NYC Open Data 102 — Unlocking Open Data for Community Boards through data journeys
BetaNYC has designed tools and customized trainings specifically intended to help Community Boards access, analyze, map and use data to inform decision-making. These insights come from a three year partnership with the Manhattan Borough President’s Office. This 102 workshop will introduce an easy-to-use BoardStat tool to query 311- requests and explore trends in health, safety and quality of life concerns. Additional key datasets/ tools will also be reviewed. Come ready to learn and get right into datasets and graphs. Bring your laptop and be prepared to participate. **Things to bring** your laptop, power supply, and be prepared to participate. Note, some websites doesn’t work on tablets or phones with iOS or Android devices. We recommend a laptop with Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Safari.
Nathan Storey
As I write on September 27, 2018 democratic institutions are crumbling in Washington, D.C. So much attention (my own included) is focused on the painful circus of federal politics. I do not have anything to add to that discussion. Instead, I’d like to share my testimony to the 2019 NYC Charter Revis
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BetaNYC
BetaNYC’s Testimony to NYC Charter Revision Commission Civic Engagement Hearing – June 2018
To: NYC Charter Revision Commission From: Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC Subject: Civic Engagement and Independent Redistricting Thursday, 21 June 2018 Where we are now: The 1989 Chart…