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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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Reposted by David A. Lee
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
In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be building a suite of data tools, alongside my writing on Alphabet Agency, to help prepare policymakers and the new administration confront the extreme weather crisis. 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 10 months ago.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Why do I overlay the elections data? To impress on everyone the fact that Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa voters alike are beset by extreme weather crises, and that it is incumbent on our new mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social to prioritize weather intelligence and infrastructural resiliency for all NY'ers
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
one in Hollis, Queens, at the cross-intersection of 204th St and 100th Ave, and the second in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at Kingston Ave and Rutland Rd.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Lastly, I animated my map to cover the late evening of the 30th into the early morning of the 31st. Over this period, the maximum water depth recorded was in excess of 23 inches, from two sensors:
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Red columns, and their heights, indicate relative water depth at that sensor location.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
I built a pipeline for the FloodNet data — which has a fantastic, quickly responsive team — and unofficial mayoral election data from the NYC Board of Elections. Blue and white areas denote a greater and lower percentage of Mamdani voters, respectively.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
To observe where flooding was most severe, I learned kepler.gl, an open-source TypeScript library for GPU-rendering of geospatial data.
kepler.gl
Large-scale WebGL-powered Geospatial Data Visualization Tool
Kepler.gl is a powerful web-based geospatial data analysis tool. Built on a high performance rendering engine and designed for large-scale data sets.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Last Thursday, October 30th, NYC experienced one such event, in which two of our fellow New Yorkers tragically died. (Source: @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/n...)
nytimes.com
2 Men Die in Basement Flooding as Sudden Downpour Hits New York Area
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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
Especially to friends in climate science, hydrology, and civil and energy engineering who specialize in extreme weather disaster mitigation: the new administration will be best served with you!
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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
Some of these folks would go onto become key figures in Zohran Mamdani’s astounding victory this year. It still is beyond surreal for me to witness former colleagues ascend to the apex of municipal power in New York.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
The minutiae of legislating are those the public never sees: how to navigate the Intranet, edit and file a legislative bill draft (LBD), navigate the Consolidated Laws, and where to go to claim a government employee discount at the Downtown Albany Holiday Inn.
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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
cc: @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Please read and share widely! alphabetagency.substack.com/p/new-york-c...
alphabetagency.substack.com
New York City is Too Hot (in a bad way): Thoughts for Mayor Mamdani on a Heat-Resilient City, Part I
The summer that brought us Taylor Swift’s engagement, Zohran Mamdani, and triple-digit temperatures is over. What’s next?
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
☀️ Although NYCEM has had a surge of hiring in recent years, most of these hires are driven by the City's delegating the response to the influx of asylum seekers to the city to NYCEM. Deliberate efforts must be made to increase the City's governmental capacity to address extreme weather hazards.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
City and State policymakers should be prepared to account for funding cuts *when* they come. Disaster relief functions cannot be at the mercy of oscillating and turbulent politics.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Some insights I found: 💵 The contours of funding for NYCEM are enormously driven by grantmaking from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
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David A. Lee @davidalee.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
I also discuss some of my thoughts on how our almost-certain-to-be Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his administration should prepare to protect New Yorkers from extreme heat in summers to come.
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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
Knowledge of NYS / NYC policymaking and strong quantitative skills are welcome. Apply here: newschool.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job...
newschool.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
Labor Market Analyst | CNYCA
The Center for New York City Affairs seeks a full-time Labor Market Analyst to support the Economic and Fiscal policy team. The Center for New York City Affairs at The New School is an applied policy ...
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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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