BetaNYC — the_message —

Testimony to the NYC Council for 2026 Preliminary Budget Hearing – Technology

BetaNYC testified before the NYC Council urging budget reforms for the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), citing severe staffing shortages that undermine open data and automation efforts. The testimony proposes moving OTI’s specialized units under the Deputy Mayor for Operations, modernizing procurement, and reallocating funds toward digital service design. It requests funding for eleven full‑time staff, including software developers, to restore the Open Data Team and clear a backlog of 353 datasets. Additional recommendations focus on open‑source adoption, shared data APIs, broadband equity, and digital‑literacy programs.