Rebooting NYC
Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Hub Releases Final Rebooting NYC Report
In January 2022, the Jacobs Institute’s Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech released the final Rebooting NYC report, which proposes new and existing urban tech solutions to some of New York City’s biggest challenges.
After releasing a draft of the report in May of 2021, the Urban Tech Hub consulted with hundreds of tech, civic and community leaders, including current and former city council members and state senators, other elected officials, local business improvement districts and chambers of commerce. The team of 13 researchers, including several Cornell Tech students and alumni, was led by Rohit T. Aggarwala, a Senior Urban Tech Fellow at the Hub.
Two of the report’s authors, lead author Aggarwala and co-author Michael E. Bloomberg, Cornell Tech ‘18, served on the transition committee for Mayor Eric Adams. Aggarwala served as a lead on the Infrastructure, Climate, and Sustainability committee, and Bloomberg served on the technology committee. Aggarwala also served on the transition committee for Comptroller Brad Lander.
The final report covers three topics that were not included in the draft: the need for price transparency among ride-hail and other new mobility companies, the opportunity for technology to improve sanitation and recycling, and the potential for in-building battery storage to facilitate a transition to a clean electric supply.
Since the report was initially released in draft form in May, the team solicited feedback through a concerted effort designed to ensure that a wide range of New Yorkers — representing different backgrounds, neighborhoods, and perspectives — could influence the report. Those consulted included local government leaders, economic development organizations, business improvement districts, nonprofits and community based organizations, industry leading companies and other local organizations and initiatives.
In addition, the Cornell Tech team participated in the People’s Tech Assembly, a series of outreach events and efforts led by BetaNYC, NYC Public Advocate Jumanne Williams, and then-Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.