MESSAGE
| DATE | 2005-10-10 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] [Fwd: My last E-Update for the Committee on Technology in
|
-----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Bruce Lai
> Subject: My last E-Update for the Committee on Technology in
> Government of the New York City Council.
> Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:27:22 -0400
>
> Hello All,
>
> <>As some of you may know, I was recently named Chief of Staff for
> Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Chair of the Committee on Technology in
> Government. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as the Legislative Policy
> Analyst on the Committee on Technology in Government, and I am proud
> of what the Committee have accomplished so far. Many of you on this
> list has been instrumental in the Committee's successes. Gale and I
> thank you for your help. We also know that much more needs to be
> done. We have identified a successor, Michael Santorelli, and he will
> start work this week. I would like to especially thank Jeff Haberman,
> Deputy Director of the Infrastructure Division, New York City Council,
> for helping bring Michael aboard so expeditiously as well as being a
> great supervisor. As Gale's Chief of Staff, I will still be
> substantially involved with technology and telecommunications policy
> at the Council so feel free to contact me re: these issues.
>
> Soon after Michael starts, I will ask him to introduce himself to
> all of you. He will be sending out the fall / early winter hearing
> schedule for the Committee on Technology in Government very soon.
> Some potential hearing topics include:
> * The technology needs of senior citizens. We would like to
> hold a hearing to discuss the other "digital divide"-- that
> is, the lack of understanding and use of technology by senior
> citizens to improve their quality of life.
> * Related event: Recently, on Oct. 6th, 2005, Council
> Member Gale A. Brewer held the first of two senior
> "touch tanks." These events, organized with Older
> Adult Technology Services or OATS
> (http://www.oatsny.org/), brought 21st century
> technology such as iPods, digital cameras and laptop
> computers to senior citizens on the Upper West Side in
> an exploratory, hands-on setting. See attached press
> release.
> * A second hearing on Int. No. 625. Int. No. 625 creates a
> broadband task force. I have been working with Fredy Kaplan,
> Counsel to the Committee on Technology in Government, to
> revise this legislation make the proposed task force,
> permanent, public and transparent, reporting to the Mayor and
> the City Council as well as the general public.
> * The roll out of 211 in New York City. Recently, the United
> Way of New York City in conjunction with the Department of
> Information Technology and Telecommunications released a
> business plan to get 211 started in New York City. 211
> (http://www.211.org/) is similar to the City's 311 system
> except that it would be focused on referring people to social
> service programs run by both government agencies and nonprofit
> organizations. We plan to do an oversight hearing on this
> exciting new system.
> *****
>
> ANNOUNCEMENTS
>
> Council Member Gale Brewer is proud to announce a new program
> called One-to-One in Ten
> (http://www.nysia.org/special_features/article.cfm?pid=193). This
> pilot program will completely immerse seven Region 10 middle schools
> with technology, including laptops, servers, educational software and
> professional development. We are working very closely with private
> sector partners, the Department of Education and, of course, the
> participating schools, toflesh out this project as well as get it off
> the ground soon. Crains New York recently wrote an article on this
> exciting new initiative.
>
> Computers part of school program
>
> Laptops for Upper W. Side, Harlem students
> By Amanda Fung
> Published on August 08, 2005
>
> More than 1,000 sixth grade students on the Upper West Side and
> in Harlem will receive brand-new laptops under a program to be
> announced later this month by City Councilwoman Gale Brewer. The
> pilot program is funded with $411,000 from the City Council and Ms.
> Brewer is seeking to raise another $375,000 from private businesses.
> The program is called One-to-One in Ten, referring to Region 10. The
> money will be used to pay for tech support, training for teachers and
> the computers. "It is a model project to address the digital divide
> in the City," says Ms. Brewer. The students in seven participating
> middle schools will get a Mac or PC. The schools were identified by
> the City's Department of Education. They boast broadband access, which
> allows the students to make wireless connections. The City Council
> has been working with the City Department of Education, Region 10 and
> Fordham University's Regional Educational Technology Center for about
> a year to roll out the project in time for the first day of school.
> During the summer, about 70 teachers attended professional development
> classes to familiarize themselves with the computers. "Middle school
> is a critical point in a student's academic career," says Mary Moss,
> principal of Mott Hall II School, one of the pilot schools. "Computer
> use makes learning interesting and gives students skills needed to be
> successful in high school and the work world."
>
> For further commentary, please see the following blog posting:
> * http://www.corante.com/newyork/archives/2005/08/29/bridging_the_digital_divide_with_free_apple_and_dell_laptops_for_manhattan_school_kids.php
>
>
> *****
>
>
> On Tuesday, November 1st at the Waldorf Astoria, One Economy
> Corporation is celebrating its 5th Anniversary. One Economy is a
> national non-profit organization created to be a catalyst for
> innovation and change. They help bring access to technology into the
> homes of low-income people around the country so that low-income
> people can use technology to build assets and improve their lives. To
> learn more about this event, go to the following link:
> * http://www.one-economy.com/oe5/
> FYI, Council Member Brewer and I are on the host committee. One
> Economy was instrumental in working with the Committee on passing
> Reso. No. 669
> (http://www.nyccouncil.info/issues/report_act.cfm?mtfile=Res%200669%2D2004), which supports the idea of wiring all new and gut-renovated affordable housing developments with broadband.
>
> *****
>
> We are pleased to announce that NYC's Department of Youth and
> Community Development (DYCD) has designated the Nonprofit Help Desk as
> its citywide Technical Assistance provider in the area of Fiscal
> Management. If you are aware of any DYCD funded nonprofit
> organization in need of technical assistance in this field, they may
> consult with DYCD's website for procedures on how to apply for
> assistance (http://www.nyc.gov/html/dycd/html/cbo-ta.html). The
> Nonprofit Help Desk may be contacted by calling 718-449-5000 ext. 4 or
> at www.nphd.org (http://www.nphd.org).
>
> *****
>
>
> About the New York City Councilÿs Committee on Technology in
> Government
>
>
> The primary goals of the Committee on Technology in Government are
> (1) to expand digital equality by increasing access to broadband in
> underserved communities of New York City (2) to increase the strategic
> use of technology in government, thereby, increasing efficiency in
> government and enhancing the quality of public services, and (3) to
> promote the openness and transparency of government by making sure
> that public information is accessible to every New York City
> resident. Through its ability to hold oversight hearings over City
> agencies and introduce and hear legislation, the Committee on
> Technology in Government works to achieve its goals in partnership
> with the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
>
> More information about the Committee and the Chair of the
> Committee, Council Member Gale A. Brewer, can be found at the
> following link:
> http://nyccouncil.info/issues/committee.cfm?committee_id=106<sbdkey=5121. All Committee briefing papers from the current session (beginning in January 2004) are also available at this link.
>
>
> If you know of people who would be interested in the Committee on
> Technology in Governmentÿs activities, please feel free to forward
> this e-mail to them. If you know of anyone who would like to receive
> these e-mails, just have them e-mail me, and I will be put them on the
> list. Finally, feel free to post this information on any listserve
> you may belong to or on any website you are affiliated with.
>
>
> Thank you. I look forward to seeing you at one of Committee's
> hearings or events.
>
> Regards,
> Bruce Lai
>
> --
> Bruce Lai
> Chief of Staff
> Office of Council Member Gale A. Brewer
> New York City Council
> 250 Broadway
> New York, NY 10007
> Work: 212.788.9109
> Fax: 212.788.9168
> E-mail: mailto:bruce.lai-at-council.nyc.ny.us
|
|
