Hello New York City!

I want to introduce you to my new project: OpenCitizen.

What is OpenCitizen?

OpenCitizen is a newsletter and website that shares specific information about how government policy and budget changes affect you and your community. In addition, we’ll cover how different people and activist groups are working to make positive change in New York’s neighborhoods. OpenCitizen is a dedicated space to evaluate what is happening in local and state politics, consider proposed solutions to address specific problems, and share this information with you.

Why did you start this project?

I am interested in how communities come together to solve problems that directly affect their lives. People move to New York because it is a place of opportunity, but this city also faces many challenges: housing costs, healthcare, transportation systems, infrastructure, schools, childcare, and transparency in government.

How are New York City’s residents already solving problems?

Over the past few months, I have connected with many local activist groups to learn more about their organizing strategies, legislative action, and support systems. I met many dedicated individuals while canvassing in different neighborhoods, participating in Zoom calls, and visiting various organizations' offices. Each group is doing great work, and I was inspired to create this platform as a way to connect, share, and help inform the general public about current efforts to solve our cities biggest challenges.

What will the newsletter cover?

This is an election year! The mayoral election is well underway along with many other down-ballot races. However, there are few resources available to learn about the candidates' platforms and how their policies will affect our neighborhoods. So, instead of sifting through tons of different websites to find the information that will impact that city as a whole and your own neighborhood, you can visit OpenCitizen to:

• Meet the 2025 Mayoral Candidates

• Compare and contrast their policies

• Find community groups to join and support

• Learn how each candidate's policy platform would affect you and your neighborhood

Share your thoughts

Be sure to complete the new subscriber survey to help shape our content.

Looking to the future

I hope that OpenCitizen becomes a trusted resource for New Yorkers to learn more about the changes in their community, connect with their neighbors, and follow policy proposals from their representatives intended to solve our city's most important issues. My goal is to provide you with clear information and the resources you need to empower your voice and your community to take action on the causes you care about most.

So join me as we dive in and learn more about the candidates running for office, the biggest issues facing New York, and meet the people working together to solve the problems. I hope that the OpenCitizen platform will become a trusted resource where readers can access clear and accurate information about the civic systems that shape our lives.

Check out OpenCitizen now!

Jeremy

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