Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City’s 311 call center has answered a record-setting 23.5 million calls in 2020. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office said the call count, which is the highest in the center’s 18-year history, was due to the unprecedented need for essential services and information.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Jessica Tisch as CIO and Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) on Dec. 5.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed John Paul Farmer as the city’s new Chief Technology Officer on April 23. Farmer’s first day in the role will be June 3.

New York City is introducing the NYC Benefits Screening Application Programming Interface (API), which will connect eligibility criteria data for social service programs to technology that will help residents learn about potential public benefits, such as SNAP, Cash Assistance, and the Housing Efficiency Assistance Program.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is setting his sights on cybersecurity this spring. His office recently launched NYC Secure, a cybersecurity initiative aimed at protecting New Yorkers online.

In 2014, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio launched Vision Zero to end traffic-related fatalities in the city. Three years into the initiative, the mayor’s office released a new report touting how data analytics has helped drop traffic accidents and fatalities to record lows.

New York City’s Tech Talent Pipeline was founded in 2014 to connect New Yorkers with tech jobs and training. Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio, who created the TTP, announced an expansion of the program with a $1 million investment and new partnerships.