From: GISMO News <gismonyc@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2019 7:21 PM
To: Joy <joy53@earthlink.net>
Subject: 2019 Proposal To Amend the NYC Charter
An effort is currently underway to amend the NYC Charter (https://www.charter2019.nyc (https://gismonyc-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1Tv21ye-dcgKOimwFZgX93nEW5DGmfXJxpSS4z6TPAc0-0&key=YAMMID-88889460&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charter2019.nyc) ) Attached is Chapter 48 of the City Charter, which pertains to the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DOITT). The edits appearing in red constitute proposals, submitted to the Charter Commission, which if adopted would improve the way City government manages geospatial information systems. The proposed changes reflect language in GISMO’s Principles and Policies Statement (https://www.gismonyc.org/news/nyc-geospatial-arch/ (https://gismonyc-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1Tv21ye-dcgKOimwFZgX93nEW5DGmfXJxpSS4z6TPAc0-0&key=YAMMID-88889460&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gismonyc.org%2Fnews%2Fnyc-geospatial-arch%2F) ).
To quickly summarize, the GISMO amendments provide for:
* The appointment of a Deputy Commissioner for Geospatial Information Systems
* The formation of a GIS steering committee composed of City agency GIS managers and outside experts
* A requirement for the development and maintenance of a GIS strategic plan
* Responsibility for ensuring that spatially enabled open data is interoperable and easy to use
* The formation of an underground utility data interoperability steering committee composed of representatives of public and private utility companies and agencies
While, in the past, New York City government has been a great champion of geospatial information systems, we believe that current management of spatial data, systems and technology does not fully leverage the power of GIS for more efficient and effective public services and improved public safety.
We welcome any comments you have about these proposed amendments and any recommendations you might have to improve them. At the appropriate time we will ask for your participation in actions in support of the GIS Amendments such as appearing and speaking at public hearings of the 2019 City Charter Commission (https://www.charter2019.nyc/upcoming-meetings (https://gismonyc-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1Tv21ye-dcgKOimwFZgX93nEW5DGmfXJxpSS4z6TPAc0-0&key=YAMMID-88889460&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charter2019.nyc%2Fupcoming-meetings) ); and sending emails and signing petitions in support. Since Charter amendments are expected to be put on the ballot in November, 2019, should our GIS amendments come up for a citywide vote, we will ask you to work politically for their passage.
This effort represents a new level of public engagement for GISMO and for the NYC GIS Community. We are excited to be entering this new phase of our evolution as an organization. We feel obliged to take these steps because we feel it is the only way to ensure that the benefits of GIS are fully realized by City government and by the City as a whole. We also feel that these Charter changes will enhance the careers of GIS professionals working in NYC and create new opportunities for GIS students.
Best regards, Alan
Alan Leidner, President
NYC GISMO
917-455-2834
(https://gismonyc-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/FireBase?ukey=1Tv21ye-dcgKOimwFZgX93nEW5DGmfXJxpSS4z6TPAc0-0&key=YAMMID-88889460)
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