In a bold move to modernize public services, New York City has announced the launch of five Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crews. These teams, composed of technologists, will collaborate with city agencies to develop in-house digital solutions aimed at addressing public challenges efficiently. The initiative, unveiled by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Chief Technology Officer Lisa Gelobter, marks a significant step towards making government services more accessible and user-friendly.
The first PIT Crew will partner with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to create an online portal. This tool will enable New Yorkers to easily file complaints against companies that make it difficult for customers to cancel costly subscriptions. This project supports the city’s implementation of the nation’s first ‘Click to Cancel’ protections, a law designed to protect consumers from predatory practices.
The PIT Crew Initiative: A New Approach to Public Services
The PIT Crew initiative is part of a broader effort to make government services more responsive and innovative. Each team will consist of product managers, designers, engineers, user researchers, and data experts who will work alongside city agencies and New Yorkers to design, build, and launch digital solutions on accelerated timelines. This approach aims to reduce the traditional wait times for new technology, allowing agencies to move from idea to implementation in a matter of months.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, ‘Government should be as responsive and innovative as the people it serves.’ He highlighted that the PIT Crews will work quickly and deliberately to solve real problems, make city government easier to use, and advance the agenda of affordability and public excellence. The first project, enforcing the ‘Click to Cancel’ law, is a fitting start as it aims to hold companies accountable for predatory practices that squeeze working people.
Support from The Rockefeller Foundation
One of the five PIT Crews is being developed with support from The Rockefeller Foundation to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. The Rockefeller Foundation has a history of supporting efforts to help governments harness the latest technologies to improve processes and systems for underserved communities across the United States. Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, expressed pride in supporting the PIT Crew initiative, which he believes will serve as a model for harnessing technology to solve problems and expand opportunity for everyone.
Chief Technology Officer Lisa Gelobter noted that in the twenty-first century, every government service is, in some way, a digital service. She stressed that technology is no longer just how government operates behind the scenes but how people experience government. Simplifying processes and interactions strengthens trust and makes government more navigable for New Yorkers.
Community and Political Support
The initiative has garnered support from various community leaders and politicians. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez commended the PIT Crews for deploying good government technology and providing the best possible digital experience for New Yorkers. Council Member Carmen De La Rosa highlighted the potential of technology to solve issues for everyday New Yorkers, such as housing and affordability, if deployed responsibly and strategically.
Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC, praised the investment in strengthening the city’s capacity to deliver on housing, child care, worker and consumer protection, and affordability. He emphasized that government technology should always serve people first and that the PIT Crews are a step in the right direction.
Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, noted that New York is modeling an approach to public innovation that other local governments can build on. She emphasized that the future of technology is not just about better code but about deeper relationships, broader participation, and institutions that are equipped to learn from the people they serve.
Alondra Nelson, former Acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighted that the Mamdani administration is getting it right by using technology as a tool to serve people. She noted that digital government can help millions of people save time and money if done right.
Katherine Jin and Ajeet Singh MD MPH, NYC-DSA Tech Action OC, emphasized that the initiative is a clear choice to build public interest technologies that will address the material needs of New Yorkers. They commended the administration for launching tools like the Click-To-Cancel rule and other future PIT Crew projects.
Experienced product managers, software engineers, designers, user researchers, service designers, and other technologists committed to public service are encouraged to learn more and apply to join a PIT Crew at nyc.gov/pitcrew.
