What are the sustainable business models that successful civic startups are using, whether they use legislative data or other reuse of public sector information? What are the real costs associated with opening up government data to make it usable, both for government and entrepreneurs? And how does it balance against what datasets, at the federal, state or local levels, are the most valuable? Are they open and usable? If so, who’s using them and to what effect? If not, why not?

Brooklyn CB 1 hearing on Waterfront Greenway – Dec 19th

Dear Williamsburg and Greenpoint Residents!

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, when it is completed, will create a continuous recreational and transportation path along the entire Brooklyn waterfront. It will be for Brooklyn residents what the Hudson River Greenway is for Manhattan residents. This comprehensive plan for public space along the Brooklyn waterfront has gone through years of community input and now it is time to get it built in Greenpoint!

Next week, Community Board 1 will vote on whether they support the completion of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway along West Street in Greenpoint. Your voice in the room will ensure that their answer is a resounding YES. 

What: Community Board 1 Transportation Committee Meeting
When: Wednesday, December 19th, 6:30 pm
Where: 435 Graham Avenue

The Bloomberg administration sees crowdfunding as complementing, rather than supplanting, government services to Sandy victims. “Our low-interest loans can serve different needs,” a spokeswoman said. “Crowdfunding sites generally work best for highly consumer-facing businesses, [such as] a dynamic brand that consumers would want to contribute money to. The emergency loan requires no competition to meet a target.”

Mayor Bloomberg has brought more openness to all areas of city government than anyone else,” Benjamin Branham, a spokesman for the corporation, said. “E.D.C. is pleased to work with the comptroller to provide additional transparency to its operations so that New Yorkers can better understand the resources being committed to increase economic development and job creation throughout the five boroughs.