Tech:NYC Digest: April 11

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Monday, April 11, 2022 

Happy National Pet Day to all our four-legged colleagues out there! In today’s digest, assessing Mayor Adams’s first 100 days, New Yorkers are facing a rent reality check, and why some workers are getting weary of WFH. 

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By the numbers:  

• New positive cases statewide: 4,060    

  • New positive cases, NYC: 1,603

• NYC Positivity Rate: 2.8 percent (no change)

• NYC Hospitalizations: 328

• Statewide Vaccine Progress: 

  • New Yorkers with at least one dose: 89.8 percent 

  • New Yorkers who are fully vaccinated: 76.4 percent  

In today’s latest:

• Dr. Fauci said that while the uptick in new coronavirus cases is concerning, it is not yet cause for alarm and officials are monitoring it “very, very carefully.” (New York Times)

  • One month ago today, NYC’s seven-day average positivity rate was 1.0 percent, compared to today’s 2.8 percent. Tracking the true number of positive results has been nearly impossible due to more widespread access to at-home tests. (NBC New York)

• In his first 100 days in office, Mayor Eric Adams has presented his $98.5 million city budget plan, accepted his first paycheck in cryptocurrency, consolidated the city’s tech agencies under the inaugural Chief Technology Officer, and more. (City & State)

  • He also marked his 100th day by testing positive for COVID-19. (POLITICO)

• Mayor Adams announced Juneteenth, observed on June 19, would be officially designated as a paid New York City holiday for the first time in the city’s history. (NBC New York)

• In a warning to other cities experiencing rising case counts, Philadelphia will reinstate its indoor mask mandate just a month after lifting it, the first major US city to do so. (CBS Philly)

• About a year after many New Yorkers scored deep pandemic-era deals on rent, many of them are now facing sticker stock for their lease renewals: Rents rose 33 percent between January of 2021 and January this year. (New York Times)

• With the legalization of to-go cocktails, the state has clarified what the mandatory “substantial food” accompaniment means. Sandwiches, soups, and salads: yes. A bag of chips or nuts: nope. (NY State of Politics)

In other reading:

• How Long Do Symptoms Last? When Should You Test? An Updated COVID Timeline. (New York Times)

• The Home Test Is Negative, but Could I Still Have COVID? (New York Times)

• The next leap in coronavirus vaccine development could be a nasal spray (Washington Post)

With more workers back in the office (at least for part of the week), they’re now experiencing remote and in-person options side-by-side for the first time in years — and enthusiasm for WFH may be waning. (Axios)

• For many, flexible work has led to longer hours and more time meeting about work versus, well, working.

• Most major executives, including longtime in-person devotee Jamie Dimon, have softened their approach in favor of hybrid work, but employees are now beginning to evaluate the tradeoffs.

So it’s no surprise that, according to Asana’s 2022 Anatomy of Work report, some of the more negative pandemic-era work trends we’ve seen — burnout, isolation, etc. — remain persistent. Among the report’s findings:

• Almost two-thirds of US workers are checking emails outside of working hours, more than workers anywhere else.

• Remote workers are more productive, but also more isolated. 50 percent of US workers say it's easier for them to concentrate remotely, but 43 percent say they feel more isolated doing so.

It’s still early enough into most tech companies’ RTO strategies that preferences around hybrid or remote work could possibly swing back in the other direction. Wherever workers’ preferences settle, office culture will remain an important component in retaining top talent.

That’s why the Washington Post asked 22 readers about what their ideal workplace would look like, and the answers weren’t fancy espresso machines and Ping-Pong tables. Instead, workers want:

• More natural light, fresh air, and plants, and less assigned windowless cubicles.

• On-site or subsidized child care options.

• Pets, pets, and more pets allowed in the office. 

In other reading:

• This is what happens where there too many meetings (The Atlantic)

• Get ready to beg: Executive recruiters are too busy for you (Protocol)

• Sure, Work Makes Us Want to Swear. But Should You? (Wall Street Journal)

• Branch, a NYC-based office furniture startup, raised $10 million in Series A funding. Springdale Ventures led the round and was joined by Maywic, Group RMC, Agya Ventures, and others. (TechCrunch)

• Warp, a NYC-based coding terminal developer, raised $23 million in combined seed and Series A funding. GV led the seed round and was joined by Neo and BoxGroup, while Figma CEO Dylan Field led a group of individuals for the Series A. (TechCrunch)

• April 12: Virtual: Smart Cities and the Emergence of Innovation Districts, with Tech:NYC executive director Jason Myles Clark, National Landing BID president Tracey Sayegh Gabriel, and others. Hosted by Commercial Observer. Register here.

• April 12: Virtual: Silicon Valley Bank April Fundraising Workshop, with Rarebreed VC managing partner Mac Conwell and Silicon Valley Bank director of startup banking Bo Ren. Hosted by Silicon Valley Bank. Register here.

• April 21: Virtual: How is the Infrastructure rollout going — and what does it means for tech?, with US Dept. of Commerce assistant secretary Alan Davidson, National Digital Inclusion Alliance executive director Angela Siefer, and others. Hosted by Protocol. Register here.

• April 21: Virtual: Women In Product: Challenging Gender Inequity in Funding, with Forum Ventures DEI strategist Steph Jones, Calico founder and CEO Kathleen Chan, and Innovatemap growth manager Ashley King. Hosted by Innovatemap. Register here.

• April 29: Virtual: Creating a Culture of Data Sharing, with NYC chief analytics officers Martha Norrick, NYC Council Technology Committee chair Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, and others. Hosted by City & State. Register here.

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