My Testimony to the New York City Council Tech Committee
A new era of technologists engaging with government is upon us
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To: NYC Council – Committee on Technology
From: Daniel Golliher, Founder of Maximum New York
RE: Preliminary Budget Hearing
Friday, March 8, 2024
Hello, everyone, my name is Daniel Golliher, and I’m the founder of the civics school Maximum New York. I want to thank the committee and the chair for hosting this hearing.
There’s such a rapidly increasing role for this committee’s work as we move into the 21st century. Not only are software-based capabilities expanding, but we seem to be entering a new era of American dynamism that’s driving a faster pace of innovation in hard tech capabilities.
Well ok, so why am I here talking to you?
Because, in my professional role as a civics instructor and in my personal role as a citizen, I’m seeing a sea change within (and adjacent to) the tech world that I want to highlight for the committee.
Far more individuals are interested in learning how their city government works, more specifically: how this committee works, what the Office of Technology and Innovation does, and how they can bring their staggering amount of talent to bear to help the city.
Specific to this hearing: they have high interest in city spending and resource allocation in tech. In the previous committee meeting as well as this one, you’ll notice interested members of the public more regularly attending.
A lot of them have taken time off work to be here, just to learn more, and they’re going to keep doing it! How many committees can claim that kind of trend? I’m looking forward to the near future when this committee is standing room only—and to helping integrate a wider swath of the tech world into the work and needs of the committee and the Council. There are a lot of excited people out there who are interested in becoming productively involved in a highly informed fashion.
Thank you.