Tech:NYC Digest: September 29

Tech:NYC Digest: September 29

September 29, 2022 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Thursday, September 29, 2022

In today’s digest, how to get the bivalent booster, the sandwich created for the die-hard straphangers, and tech leaders weigh in on how New York can charge ahead with EVs. 

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  • FDA authorization for the updated bivalent COVID-19 boosters could be expanded to younger age groups as soon as early October. (CNN)

  • The NYC Dept. of Education will end a pandemic-era policy that loosened selection criteria for the city’s public middle schools, allowing specialized schools to to once again use students’ grades to help determine admissions decisions. (New York Times)

  • As NYC makes its way through the City Council redistricting process, a judge ruled today that the New York State Assembly maps will also need to be redrawn by April 2023 so that they will be in effect for the 2024 election cycle. (City & State)

  • And let us introduce you to “The 1904,” a new sandwich developed by Katz’s Delicatessen and Alidoro — two of NYC’s most well-known sandwich shops — in collaboration with the MTA to mark the subway system’s 118th birthday. (Gothamist)

In other reading:

  • Michelin’s 2022 Affordable Restaurants List Is Here (Eater NY)

  • Slow post-pandemic return to work is hammering NYC street food vendors (New York Daily News)

  • How to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Ian (The Cut)

Earlier this week, the federal Dept. of Transportation gave the official thumbs up to New York’s plans (as well as those of every other state) for building out EV charging infrastructure statewide.

The momentum to go electric is growing: According to a new International Energy Agency report analyzing 55 systems comprising the energy sector, EV adoption is one of just two of those systems expected to hit 2030 climate targets. (Protocol)

With plans approved and funding soon flowing, we asked some tech leaders in our network about what comes next. Here’s what they had to say:

  • Frank Reig, co-founder and CEO of Revel: “New York is in desperate need of EV infrastructure and getting our NEVI plan approved is obviously a big win. But it’s not an end all solution, especially for accessible public fast charging in the five boroughs, which is far from equitable. If all car sales are going to be zero-emission by 2035, we need to make significant investments today toward fast charging, grid resiliency, and renewable energy pipelines in the densest part of our state so the folks who stand to benefit the most from cleaner air, green jobs, and electrification can actually get it.”

  • Jeff Prosserman, founder and CEO of Voltpost: "We must accelerate the transition to electric transportation in order to achieve a pathway to net-zero emissions. The US DOT announcement is a pivotal step to increase public electric vehicle charging across the country. Voltpost is on a mission to decarbonize mobility by providing convenient lamppost charging access. We look forward to collaborating with the US DOT to empower drivers across all communities.” 

  • Ruth Fasoldt, Director of Government Relations at Lyft: "We commend the DOT on their forward-looking approach to the electrification of our transportation system and helping ensure the benefits of EVs are accessible to everyone. We look forward to continuing to work with the state to ensure equitable investment in charging for all New Yorkers, including those in our disadvantaged communities and urban centers."

  • Moshe Cohen, founder and CEO of Gravity: "This could be a big step forward for New York, but only if we do it right. How well this works will depend on speed and convenience for drivers. Charging should never be less convenient or slower than the experience at a gas station. That means charging stations on highways should meet a minimum capacity of 350kW, capable of charging a car in minutes. Every site should have multiple charging terminals that share power so that at any given time, no single car or cars can block available power from other EV owners. Anything slower than 350kW is already obsolete. All sites should be easily upgradeable to higher capacity with a contractual commitment by the site hosts to do so.  We must not waste precious public dollars on obsolete technology.”

In other reading:

  • Women are returning to (paid) work after the pandemic forced many to leave their jobs (NPR)

  • UiPath had a rocky few years. Rob Enslin wants to turn it around. (Protocol)

  • The Office Gym Is Finally Back, and So Is Your Sweaty Boss (Wall Street Journal)

  • Pigment, a NYC-based business planning platform, raised $65 million in extended Series B funding. IVP and Meritech Capital Partners co-led the round. (TechCrunch)

  • October 3: In-person: Accelerating Equity: Universities Sparking Systems Change, with Cornell Tech dean and vice provost Greg Morrisett, Break Through Tech founder Judith Spitz, The New School provost Renée T. White, and others. Hosted by Cornell Tech. Register here.

  • October 4: Virtual: The Future of How and Where We Work, with NYC Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer, Daybase CEO Joel Steinhaus, and others. Hosted by Savills. Register here.

  • October 7: In-person: Latinx in Tech: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, with Tech:NYC, Mastercard, Google for Startups, and Inicio Ventures. Register here.

  • October 24 – 25: In-person: SCNY Urban Tech Summit, with Tech:NYC executive director Jason Myles Clark, NYC Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung, JustAir co-founder and CEO Darren Riley, and others. Hosted by Cornell Tech. Register here.

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