Reposted by Tom Schenk JrTom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 14/06/2025Wonderful. The CityKey program is a safe, wonderful program that should be emulated. Unfortunately, we are in a climate where this user-friendly portal is risky. If you reside in Chicago, do take a look at getting one at one of the in-person sign-up events. 281
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 14/06/2025Wonderful. The CityKey program is a safe, wonderful program that should be emulated. Unfortunately, we are in a climate where this user-friendly portal is risky. If you reside in Chicago, do take a look at getting one at one of the in-person sign-up events. 281
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrHeather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 14/06/2025NEW: Chicago will no longer allow residents to apply online for a municipal ID card after ICE officials subpoenaed records identifying applicants for the ID, known as the City Key, City Clerk Anna Valencia announced @wttw.bsky.socialnews.wttw.comChicago to Stop Accepting Online Applications for Municipal IDs After ICE Subpoena, City Clerk SaysChicagoans can still make an appointment online to apply in-person for a City Key ID card, officials said. 17539
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 06/06/2025This is shocking. I directly worked on designing the integration and protections of CityKey. It was designed to provide an ID, be a transit card, library and discount card. It was to *never* create a digital record while being compatible with state and city laws. Subpoena-proof. 49037
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 02/06/2025We have been working to define how we'll scale bringing science into policies at state and local governments. Bringing MetroLab into the Federation of American Scientists means we'll be able to bring incredible amount of expertise for new and exciting programs. 252
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrFederation of American Scientists @scientistsorg.bsky.social · 02/06/2025🗣️We’re excited to announce that MetroLab Network is now officially a part of the Federation of American Scientists. We’re looking forward to improving the delivery of evidence-based policy into local government. Learn more about this new chapter ⤵️ fas.org/publication/...fas.orgThe Federation of American Scientists Brings MetroLab Network Into Organization - Federation of American ScientistsFAS is excited to announce it has acquired MetroLab Network (MLN), bringing together two teams with a shared commitment to harnessing science, technology and innovation to drive impact in new ways in ... 022
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrGovernor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 20/05/2025I've got my Chicago CityKey on me, do you? Proud to be one of the nearly 150,000 Chicagoans alongside @chicityclerk.bsky.social with one during the seventh anniversary of this incredible program that's eliminated barriers and increased access to all Chicago has to offer. 1058949
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 14/05/2025This is a solid bill. Some of the most skilled folks I’ve worked with didn’t have degrees—they had hands-on expertise that grads often take years to develop. We needn't treat diplomas as proxies for talent for every job. chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/20...chicago.suntimes.comCity Council committee OKs removal of college degree requirement for city jobsIf, as expected, the full City Council approves the switch to "skill-based hiring," Chicago would join the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Minneapolis-St. Paul, in “tearing the paper ceiling" tha... 000
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrAryn Braun @arynbraun.bsky.social · 07/05/2025Looking to talk to current or former federal workers at NOAA for a story for The Economist. Please share far and wide! I’m on signal at abraun.99 07080
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrRebecca Williams @rebeccawilliams.info · 05/05/2025I have a couple of speaking gigs coming up: - UIC Law Thursday to talk about DOGE & data privacy www.eventbrite.com/e/second-ann... - BPS in late June to talk about Digi ID & ACLU's guidelines www.btcpolicysummit.org I could talk about these topics forever.eventbrite.comSecond Annual Information and Privacy Law ProgramIn-Person Event 031
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrBarack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · 23/03/2025Figured I’d hop on here today for the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress. 48587272512613
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrMichael @donohoe.dev · 28/02/2025This is amazing. Harvard has amassed a 16TB collection covering more than 311K datasets and a complete archive of federal public datasets linked by data.gov - with ongoing updates. lil.law.harvard.edu/blog/2025/02...lil.law.harvard.eduAnnouncing the Data.gov Archive | Library Innovation Lab 6337132
Reposted by Tom Schenk Jrajp @popkulturekills.bsky.social · 26/02/2025last year, we stumbled upon chicago factbooks - the only source of historic chicago rent data, going back to 1930. without the resources for a larger digitization project, we took the simplest approach: manual data entry. once we adjusted the rents for inflation, the facts really came to life… 🧵 1257
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrDean Eckles @eckles.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Does anyone have a favorite field experiment (or A/B test) with public data where there is outcome data over time, ideally something like daily data or even timestamped events? This is a common format in industry, but few public data sets look like this. 2134
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrEric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 20/02/2025New: DOGE's spending has been secret. No longer. My colleagues have uncovered it. www.propublica.org/article/doge... 8114281216473
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Am I the only person where chatGPT reduces the number of em-dashes being used? 000
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrLake Michigan! Live! @lake-michigan.live · 14/02/2025Current* conditions near Chicago, IL: 0145
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrNick Ulivieri @nuphoto.com · 08/02/2025This is a very cool map that shows an overlay of the Chicago River as it was before the city expanded eastward via land reclamation 28625
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 05/02/2025This is absolutely right and the tension around USDS with existing departments was notable. The organizational structure was effective, but a gamble. 171
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrMike Sarasti @sarasti.bsky.social · 31/01/2025www.404media.co/archivists-w...404media.coArchivists Work to Identify and Save the Thousands of Datasets Disappearing From Data.govMore than 2,000 datasets have disappeared from data.gov since Trump was inaugurated. But analyzing exactly what happened and where it went is going to take some time. 021
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 31/01/2025Hey folks - anyone have seen good tracking on any public data that has been removed? Similarly, seeing any efforts to mirror data? 165
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrHansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 24/01/2025In my latest @npr.org story, officials and data users warn that the reliability of the U.S. government statistics used to track the country’s economy and population is under threat because of budget concerns. That's before any new funding cuts by President Trump and Congress.npr.orgExperts warn about the 'crumbling infrastructure' of federal government dataUnstable federal funding puts at risk the government statistics used to track the U.S. economy and population, officials and data users warn. That's before any cuts by President Trump and Congress. 14279107
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrSam Thielmonster @samthielman.com · 12/01/2025“I don’t understand what produce in the Central Valley has to do with fires in LA” this is the subject of one of the most famous movies ever made, in which it is explained to Jack Nicholson at length by the director of The Maltese Falcon 21192621248
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrJer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 03/01/2025I'm co-leading some birding + diving trips to Indonesia this year. The 1st ones will be in Raja Ampat, home to pristine reefs & some wonderful endemic birds. We'll be on a four cabin catamaran w/ a dive instructor and a local bird guide. First trip in late Feb! DM me if you're interested. 🪶 2285
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrDavis Vaughan @davisvaughan.bsky.social · 25/12/2024My wife secretly hand painted a number of wooden hex logos of #rstats packages I’ve created / worked on over the years, I love them so much!! Each is roughly the size of an open hand. 1222611
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrAlexander Howard @digiphile.bsky.social · 16/12/2024My colleague Daniel @americalabs.org sheds light on what has happened to open government nonprofits in the U.S.A. over the past decade — which has been my sector of work. It’s been a hard era, at the worst time. www.thebulwark.com/p/open-gover... I hope funders read this, & act.thebulwark.comOpen-Government Nonprofits Are Dying Off Just When They’re Needed MostWhy it’s happening and what can be done about it. 32920
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 13/12/2024I'm disheartened to hear that Raed Mansour will be leaving the city. During my tenure he was an excellent partner and bridge to Department of Health. Predictive food inspections and predicting elevated blood lead levels were greatly improved by his participation. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...chicago.suntimes.comCity Hall ouster exposes rift in Johnson’s environmental missionChicago’s point person on air pollution and extreme heat was pushed out, raising questions about the mayor's commitment to neighborhoods choked by pollution. 010
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrMark Headd @mheadd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024I wrote this post on residency requirements for working in city government a while back, and I'm re-sharing it now because I think it will be important for state and local governments to meet the moment that is coming. 1/2 civic.io/2015/10/10/r...civic.ioRethinking Residency RequirementsAs we move further and further into the digital age, the governments that are most successful at exploiting technology to improve performance and efficiency will be those that are built to attract … 111
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 11/12/2024I had a chance to work with Gia back when she was at Chicago Parks District. She's wonderful and innovative; always looking outside the proverbial box. This is great news. 010
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrMike Sarasti @sarasti.bsky.social · 20/11/2024First starter pack. I assembled a collection of innovation / data professionals who work / have worked in and around municipal government. Let it be a reminder that there are talented, passionate people working to make communities better. go.bsky.app/2F5V9bS 33510
Reposted by Tom Schenk Jrmatty @mattio.bsky.social · 04/11/2024Folks in #datavis, #opendata, and #civictech - my bookmarks folder is woefully out of date. What are your favorite government websites where gov agencies publish, visualize, and communicate data? Any country, any level of government. Thanks in advance! 657
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrArpit Gupta @arpitrage.bsky.social · 31/10/2024Note that Alain Bertaud was skeptical of this sort of pedestrianization. Order without Design thought has taken over urbanism; but cities are not just job markets; they are also about consumption, especially in a world with remote work. 131
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 26/10/2024I was just reminded that ISO 37120 exists and it is still unbelievably bad. 000
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 24/10/2024We are in the proto-phase of arcologies. Density built with nature overflowing from the frames www.designboom.com/architecture... 000
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrAlexander Howard @digiphile.bsky.social · 24/10/2024NB: the new WH.gov/open isn’t linked to its own disclosures or the USA page on Open Government Partnership, just USGSA. There is no Open Government Memorandum or Directive, nor dashboard of updated agency #OpenGov plans, like NARA or Commerce. www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/six-... 011
Tom Schenk Jr @tomschenkjr.bsky.social · 16/10/2024I'm hiring for more roles! DevOps Engineer (senior) www.kpmguscareers.com/jobdetail/?j... GIS Developer (specialist) www.kpmguscareers.com/jobdetail/?j... Power BI Developer (specialist) www.kpmguscareers.com/jobdetail/?j... Fullstack Developer (senior) www.kpmguscareers.com/jobdetail/?j... 120
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrArpit Gupta @arpitrage.bsky.social · 14/10/2024Remote work-fueled migration and plummeting demographics mean that cities are going to empty out of children, and are then at risk of further population declines unless they get migration. This may not yield affordability, depending on how demand for space evolves 2131
Reposted by Tom Schenk JrJared Rutecki @jaredrutecki.bsky.social · 19/10/2023Demand for a Chicago CityKey skyrocketed during the past year. City officials have issued 150% more municipal ID cards so far in 2023 than in all of 2021 and 17% more than in all of 2022.news.wttw.comMunicipal ID Program Being ‘Crushed’ by Demand From Migrants, CityCity officials have issued 150% more municipal ID cards so far in 2023 than in all of 2021 and 17% more than in all of 2022, according to city data. 053