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David A. Lee

@davidalee.bsky.social
198 followers 782 following 109 posts

Oceanography, economics, AI / ML | Now: Budget + Economic Policy @ Center for NYC Affairs, Physical oceanography @ Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory| Past: NY State Assembly | 🏗️ 🇺🇸

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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Returning to the NYS Assembly chambers in the state capitol for the first time since leaving government, where it all began for me nearly six years ago to the day. Van Buren says hello.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
An exciting team, and one that I hope will work with the many enthusiastic climate scientists we have in NYC who are itching to strengthen our city’s weather intelligence and natural disaster predictive models. The future is collaboration between policymakers and scientists!
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NPR @npr.org · 30/11/2025
Meteorologists are surprised that the weather model that did the best job forecasting hurricanes this year was a new one, introduced by Google. AI may be the beginning of a new era of forecasting. n.pr/49MFa1M
n.pr
As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season ends, the future of forecasting is AI
Meteorologists are surprised that the weather model that did the best job forecasting hurricanes this year was a new one, introduced by Google. AI may be the beginning of a new era of forecasting.
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James Franklin @franklinjamesl.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Was happy to chat with NPR’s Greg Allen for this story. Not mentioned here but importantly, Google’s DeepMind AI model performed well not only this year, but similarly well in retrospective tests from previous seasons. It’s a really exciting step forward.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
At long last, a biography on former UN Secretary General U Thant — by his grandson no less — is published. Looking forward to reading.
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TypeScript.fm @typescript.fm · 12/11/2025
Community highlights ✨ - @marekhonzal.com on immutability patterns in TS - @davidalee.bsky.social on flash floods and TypeScript - @mastrojs.bsky.social showcases the simplest web framework - Marc Dahmen created a sorted-tree UI library in vanilla TS
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
We can all agree New York will have come a long way in our mayors and their Spanish-speaking ability.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Yesterday, I had the idea to look at FloodNet, a joint collaboration between the New York City government, NYU, and CUNY to collect real-time flood sensor data and quickly detect urban flash flooding situations.
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Justin Gerdes @justingerdes.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Mamdani "inherits a world-leading experiment in retrofitting buildings to slash emissions, open questions about how to transition to cleaner power sources, and a patchwork of adaptation efforts," writes @alexckaufman.bsky.social: www.canarymedia.com/articles/pol... 🔌💡
canarymedia.com
NYC’s next mayor Zohran Mamdani has a big climate policy to-do list
The mayor-elect did not talk a lot about climate change on the campaign trail. But the city has major electrification plans that he can help accelerate.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
If you have scientific, engineering, or tech expertise, please apply. There is never a shortage of need for top talent in understanding how the physical world and our infrastructure is built.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
It is somewhat poetic that Dick Cheney dies on the day Zohran Mamdani will be elected mayor.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Throwback to the pumpkin I carved for the @aoc.bsky.social 2018 campaign during spooky season that year. Astonishing to witness how much New York’s political landscape has metamorphosed since.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
As governor, Andrew Cuomo shut down Indian Point, a three-unit nuclear power plant in Peekskill, NY. Consequently, median electricity prices in the state nearly doubled from $24.70 / MWh to $45.39 / MWh in 2023. Do not vote for Cuomo. freopp.org/whitepapers/...
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Looking back at old materials I created during my tenure at the New York State legislature, with the purpose of training the incoming chiefs of staff and legislative directors of the democratic socialist lawmakers elected in 2020 — including Zohran Mamdani’s staff.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
☀️ NEW PIECE ☀️ Today's writing on my Substack, Alphabet Agency, is an analysis of New York City Emergency Management Department, the city's chief agency for coordinating disaster relief efforts.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
If you're looking for work in New York State / City policymaking and are motivated to help understand why the current labor market is so awry, my organization is hiring a full-time Labor Market Analyst. We have a wonderfully talented and kind team, and we'd love for you to work with us.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Perks of having jobs in universities: getting surprised by free books I never asked for
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
It is true that Trump is far from the first to overtly treat the Fed as an extension of the presidency (see LBJ & Martin, Nixon & Burns). Miran once advocated for granting the president legal authority to fire Fed governors. What’s certain now is the end of post-Volcker central bank independence.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
DC Circuit rejects Trump’s blatantly illegal attempt to remove Governor Cook from the Federal Reserve Board. Timely result as the Federal Open Markets Committee convenes over the next two days in a much-anticipated meeting on setting the federal funds rate.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
I’ve penned some personal words on September 11th, the impact of that day on my life and family, and a thought on working through the fear and precariousness of our time. alphabetagency.substack.com/p/twenty-fou...
alphabetagency.substack.com
Twenty-Four Years
September 12th, 2001
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LEAP-STC @leapstc.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
📣 Check out LEAP's lineup of Fall 2025 Lectures in #Climate #Data Science! 📣 More details are forthcoming but you can RSVP *now* at leap.columbia.edu/events/2025-... We look forward to welcoming you at the @columbiaseas.bsky.social Innovation Hub and/or via Zoom!
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
when your city getting flooded inspires you to study and work even harder to build infrastructural and institutional resilience against extreme weather 😤
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
building my personal website and learning some pixel art along the way. can’t wait to launch in a few weeks 🙂
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Europe: *History happens again* Metternich: hur-durrr
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Please read: what the Trump administration is doing is a criminal assault on humanity itself. 👇
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Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 05/03/2025
Hi - I'd like to share this story of what is happening at NOAA GFDL, where some of my colleagues and I worked until the mass firings at NOAA last week. "...the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting"
science.org
NOAA firings hit the birthplace of weather and climate forecasting
Dismissed researchers were improving severe weather predictions
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
This is the most disgraceful moment in American foreign policy in recent times. Long live Ukraine, long live Europe, long live liberal internationalist democracy. May there be light at the end of this epochal calamity.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
An unfortunate-named company
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
I don’t know how else to interpret this EO other than the total destruction of the American administrative state as we know it. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
whitehouse.gov
Implementing The President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Workforce Optimization Initiative
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:     Section 1.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Fascinating passage from “Chip War” on how the Volcker shock (21.5% rates) screwed over American semiconductor firms facing massive capex financing requirements. By contrast, Japanese DRAM firms had much cheaper capital
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hilzoy @hilzoy.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Can you imagine being someone the CIA recruited as an asset in a foreign government right now? Or someone working for one of our intelligence services under deep cover? Or, for that matter, someone in the witness protection program?
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Should be an interesting event at @asiasociety.org for anyone interested in Arctic geopolitics. asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
asiasociety.org
Changing Geopolitics of China and Russia in the Arctic
Join us for an in-person panel discussion on the evolving cooperation and competition between China and Russia in the Arctic region.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Has anyone backed up the Congressional Research Service yet? Would be a catastrophic blow if the beltway’s premier research outfit got axed by the admin.
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JW Mason @jwmason.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
My former student David Lee has a new substack which looks very promising. His first post is a deep dive into the question of whether climate change is contributing to increased war. The 'stack is free, so why not subscribe? alphabetagency.substack.com
alphabetagency.substack.com
Alphabet Agency | David A. Lee | Substack
Building the future by bringing science and social governance together. Click to read Alphabet Agency, by David A. Lee, a Substack publication. Launched 9 days ago.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
In 2025, doomscrolling is out ❌, and growing our curiosity and understanding of the world is in ✅ In my inaugural piece on Alphabet Agency, I investigate a less-discussed topic: what relationship do climate change and war have? alphabetagency.substack.com/p/does-extre...
alphabetagency.substack.com
Does extreme weather lead to war?
You thought weather was mere fodder for small talk? Enter great power conflict.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Although I am focusing entirely on my research this year, I’m pleased to say I was awarded a faculty highlight from the Adelphi University Faculty Center for Professional Excellence — receiving the honor after my very first semester as an adjunct to boot. m.youtube.com/watch?v=gS4S...
m.youtube.com
Spotlight on David Lee: Bridging Economics, Climate, and Policy
YouTube video by FCPEAdelphi
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The USDA is projecting egg prices to surge by at least 20 percent this year, thanks to bird flu outbreaks. With the Trump administration’s full-scale assault on the Nation’s health and disease surveillance apparatuses, expect this prediction to pan out. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...
usatoday.com
Egg costs predicted to rise in 2025, despite Vance saying 'prices are going to come down'
The price of eggs is expected to rise throughout 2025 due to the bird flu outbreak that killed 17.2 million egg-laying hens in November and December alone.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Happy Monday everyone! I’m excited to launch my latest project: my new Substack called Alphabet Agency. alphabetagency.substack.com
alphabetagency.substack.com
Alphabet Agency | David A. Lee | Substack
Building the future by bringing science and social governance together. Click to read Alphabet Agency, by David A. Lee, a Substack publication. Launched 7 days ago.
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Sabin Center for Climate Change Law @sabincenter.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
🚨 🚀🌍 Today, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law is launching three online tools – the Climate Backtracker, the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker & the Silencing Science Tracker – to keep tabs on the Trump administration’s climate rollbacks & anti-science actions: buff.ly/4jsf5HJ 🧵⤵️
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
A year ago, I was a participant in the @leapstc.bsky.social Momentum Winter Bootcamp at @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, beginning an incredible journey into the world of climate modeling using machine learning. Now for 2025, I’m excited to be back as a coach for this year’s participants!
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
SideQuest w/ @fractaltechnyc creating a new universe :)
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Eric Roston @eroston.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
Lots of great questions and discussion today about commercial flood-risk modeling. Here's the thread I did when our story ran in August, below, and here's a fresh gift-link that'll last a week. More tomorrow or next year! Or both! www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
bloomberg.com
The Risky Business of Predicting Where Climate Disaster Will Hit
Climate tech companies can calculate the chances that a flood or wildfire will ravage your home. But what if their odds are all different?
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Between Fred Rogers and Jimmy Carter I’m absolutely rocking the cardigan in 2025.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
A life spanning the ages. Our final titan of the 20th century, a link to the era of old. An American patriot, and a servant to humanity and God, now departed.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
cannot wait for my latest project to drop in 2025
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
cannot wait for my latest project to drop in 2025
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 23/12/2024
Super interesting article by @chrisbaraniuk.com on the impact of climate change on the operating of armed forces (including good links to longer studies) www.thereengineer.pro/p/militaries...
thereengineer.pro
Militaries can’t ignore climate change – it could cripple their tech
Armies, air forces and navies are some of the world's biggets emitters but global warming is now forcing them to reengineer how they do things.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
For anyone who goes “well you don’t drive in New York City, so you don’t get to support congestion pricing” — I drive in NYC, and wholeheartedly support congestion pricing. Governor Hochul is in serious disobedience of the will of the state legislature and federal law by not implementing it.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
My Goodreads this year. What’s your favorite book that you read in 2024?
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