Max Ghenis

A new report produced by the Center for New York City Affairs in partnership with the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School and the Center for Community Uplift The Brookings Institution reveals racial and economic inequities in New York City’s public transportation subsidies. Examining subsidies across the city’s ten transit systems by race and income, the report finds inequities between subsidies for the NYC Ferry service compared with the Fair Fares program for the MTC’s subway and bus riders, and underscores the importance of assessing policies and budgets through a #racialequity lens. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ekE6Y-R9 #FairFares #TransitEquity #NYCSubsidies #EconomicMobility #TransportationEquity

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A lot of attention will focus on the #UnitedNations General Assembly in New York this week. For digital, that's a one-two punch of a UN report on AI #governance and the long-awaited #GlobalDigitalCompact. Taken together, this is an overt effort by the United Nations to take the leadership on digital governance — something that is not as positive as that may sound. Sure, we need greater inclusivity in how everything from AI to social media platforms to data is governed, globally. Much of this conversation is currently dominated by Western countries — with so-called Global Majority countries not represented. But as I outline in this week's edition of Digital Politics, the UN's power grab over how the next generation of digital rules are created is a mistake. Here's why👇 "Where the UN missteps is the belief that the UN — and the UN alone – is the right venue for these digital policy discussions. We already have countless venues where these issues are discussed, including even many UN-sponsored efforts with its numerous agencies at a regional or specific policy level. "It would be a mistake to centralize these discussions into lengthy UN negotiations, especially as that would give the likes of China an opportunity to push its state-led approach to digital policy that does not respect democratic values, free speech and other fundamental values." "That is not how the internet started — and it definitely should not be how the next iteration of the digital world is created."

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My thoughts on the Senate AI Working Group's new AI Framework: “We have to wait and see what bills and roles are proposed based off of a lot of this but a lot of it is indeed promising. There's a strong emphasis on R&D, there's a strong emphasis on regulatory clarity, for example, and making sure that our existing laws are clear so that we can ensure easy, confident adoption of these technologies. There was clearly a thoughtfulness that went into this,” Mittelsteadt said. I'd estimate around 75% of the package is headed in the right direction: emphasizing engineering-based solutions, clearing up laws, and making targeted spending bets on talent and other discrete priorities. That said, elements such as AI export controls solutions in search of a problem and a recipe for policy failure. Too much is on the line to overzealously regulate. While action is needed on many fronts, with regard to export controls: “They've been there a broken record since at least 2016 about social media regulation, if not earlier. And when you cry wolf for going on 10 years about technology regulation, people stopped believing you,” said Matt Mittelsteadt, a research fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center. “That's exactly where Congress is, and I think the most likely thing that we can expect is nothing."

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Hot off the presses! Two New York City Independent Budget Office reports are out today: 📊 IBO’s analysis of the Mayor’s Executive Budget and economic and revenue forecasts show that the City’s fiscal health looks good for this fiscal year and next: IBO’s projected surplus for this year is $5 billion and for next year is $1 billion. The Administration’s tax revenue forecast, which was much more dire back in November, have come up substantially to match IBO’s levels all along (check out page 5). Check out the full report: https://bit.ly/3K2N1Kk 🌎 IBO’s updated cost scenarios for asylum seeker services remain lower than the Administration’s estimates due to differences in population estimates, partly as a result of the City’s exit requirements out of shelter for adults. New in this report, are estimates of the negative consequences of these exit policies that may be felt by not only the individuals forced to exit but also the larger NYC community, shifting the narrative from the Administration’s presentation of the policies as pure cost savers. Some negative consequences IBO includes are: 1. 💵 The opportunity cost of not receiving work authorizations. 2. 🏥 The potential healthcare costs associated with street homelessness 3. 🚌 The additional cost of busing students to their school from potentially farther locations. Check out the full report: https://bit.ly/4anGlRZ

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My new piece on why banning non-competes is an excellent move to improve us AI and tech competitiveness. If the FTC's move doesn't hold up, congress should get the job done. These restrictions needlessly bind talent and suppress possibilities. In a fast-changing industry that requires highly mobile talent to provide just-in-time hiring needs, non-competes don't make sense. What's more: our AI workforce is 63% foreign born, a population already made immobile by existing rules and one that cannot wait to time out a contract. For visa holders, non-competes make it that much more likely they return home - to their, and the U.S. economy's loss. https://lnkd.in/eT2cPxfN

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Yesterday the National Academy of Sciences held their "AI Day for Federal Statistics: CNSTAT Public Event in DC. #MindBlown Key Takeaways (for me): ✅ DOMINANT USE CASES There was a clear and dominant focus on #DataQuality!!!! > Classifying and coding (cleaning up dirty data) > Document processing (data extraction) > Record matching (data linkage for the purpose of data cleansing) > Data imputing (predicting missing data) > Meta data enrichment (structure cleaning, standardizing, etc.) > RAG queries to develop and test for more accurate GPT responses ✅ REGS, POLICIES, LEGISLATION, ETC. Legal parameters were mentioned in EVERY talk and session. > Information Quality Act > Foundations of Evidence Based Policy Act of 2018 > EO 14110: Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI > EO 13859: Maintaining AI leadership > M-24-10: AI Governance for Agencies > M-19-23 & M-21-27: Evidence-based evaluation, learning agendas > M-19-15: Information Quality > M-14-03: Administrative Data Security > M-19-18: Federal Data Strategy > A-130: Managing Information ✅ RESOURCES It's all about knowing where to find resources!! > Data.gov (293,975 datasets available) > NIST Collaborative Research Cycle Data & Tools: https://lnkd.in/dK8DTRwB ✅ BEST QUOTE And probably one of the best quotes I've heard to explain AI came from Ken Cunningham of Microsoft Federal when he said: #AI is to #Data + #Math as #Humans are to #Carbon + #Water. #NailedIt Event Link: https://lnkd.in/d2mNMmH7 {in case they offer a report out or recording of the sessions}

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In recent years, the executive branch has become an increasingly central focus for policymaking. 🏛️ In his new brief, K. Sabeel Rahman argues that the back-end processes and systems by which executive branch agencies structure their policymaking enormously shape their ability to conceptualize, design, and implement effective public policy. We need to focus on how reforms to the internal management of executive branch policymaking might enable policies that are better oriented toward structural inequities and more effectively implemented. https://lnkd.in/ephMTaYM

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We are all aging, and we all have a stake in addressing ageism in this year’s elections. Learn more from the National Center to Reframe Aging for tools to address ageism in the media as we approach tonight’s presidential debates: https://lnkd.in/gfD9GNC3

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The last day of a jam packed #NARUCANNUAL24! Bright and early this morning, we’re discussing cost-effective transmission investments with a panel of regulators, grid operators, and customer representatives. It just so happens RMI has a new report out - which Claire W. presented at yesterday's NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATES INC - that highlights how a regulatory gap allows billions of dollars to be funneled to local transmission projects, avoiding state and federal oversight. This lack of oversight comes at the expense of critically important, regional lines that could unlock gains in both reliability and affordability. Our report details 11 recommendations for reforms at the state, regional, and federal levels to better align transmission spending to deliver long-term cost savings and a reliable power supply to our communities! https://bit.ly/3UK9b9R 

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The #SBP must publish voting history of #MonetaryPolicy Committee publicly--who voted for what--for a more transparent decisions making. Importantly, analysis of #MPC voting records can help assess how are external and SBP members thinking about future course of #inflation.

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📢 Introducing the NYC Jail Population Tracker! The Data Collaborative for Justice has launched the NYC Jail Population Tracker, a first-of-its-kind dashboard providing real-time data on New York City’s jail population and progress toward closing Rikers Island by 2027. This powerful tool equips policymakers, advocates, journalists, and the public with essential insights. It also underscores the power of data to inform and drive meaningful change in our justice system. Key features include: ￭ Daily updates on the total jail population, women’s population, racial composition, racial disparities relative to each group’s general population numbers, mental health status, and reason for incarceration (pretrial detention, jail sentence, parole violation, etc.) ￭ A population projection model forecasting trends for the next year based on real-time data (i.e., the projection updates regularly, integrating the most current crime, arrest, and jail population data) ￭ Interactive tools, including a timeline of close Rikers milestones and evidence-based strategies to safely reduce jail populations. ➡️ Key Findings NYC’s jail population is approximately 6,660, with 84% detained pretrial. Racial disparities remain significant: Black New Yorkers make up 59% of the jail population but only 23% of the general population. Relative to their general population numbers, Black New Yorkers’ jail incarceration rate is 12 times the rate for white people. 57% of those detained require mental health services. With transparency and actionable insights, this dashboard is designed to inspire data-driven reforms and help NYC meet its legal mandate to close Rikers by August 2027. ➡️ Explore the Tracker: https://lnkd.in/eSVjikCa Join us for a live webinar TODAY, November 21, at 2pm, for an in-depth walkthrough of the Dashboard and a chance to have your questions answered! ➡️REGISTER HERE: https://lnkd.in/eb64t99H

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Yesterday, International Center for Law & Economics and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation filed an amicus in the 8th Circuit opposing the FCC's new "digital discrimination" rules. "The Order will not only stifle new deployment to unserved areas, but also will delay network upgrades and maintenance out of fear of alleged disparate effects." A summary of our arguments are on Truth on the Market. https://lnkd.in/gu3d3jKC

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My thoughts quoted in Inside AI Policy on the GOP's stated intent to repeal the Biden AI Executive order and instead, in their words, "support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing." “Matt Mittelsteadt, also of Mercatus, said of EO repeal " The question is: what replaces it? The previous Trump administration pursued a light touch approach, but the AI context of 2020 is a far cry from 2024. While it's unclear what AI development promoting ‘human flourishing’ might mean to the Trump camp, known Trump policy priorities such as expanded tariffs, expanded border controls and a general ‘America first’ attitude could put the American AI industry at a competitive disadvantage and slow AI innovation and investment.” https://lnkd.in/dEG3C29X

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Implementing a portfolio of programs and policies to reduce intergenerational poverty would yield a high payoff for children and the entire nation. Our report examines the key drivers of intergenerational poverty in the U.S. and concludes that evidence-based policies—such as increasing K-12 spending for underfunded districts, expanding occupational training programs, increasing access to the Medicaid program, and expanding the earned income tax credit—appear likely to lessen the chances that children living in poverty will experience poverty as adults. Learn more: https://ow.ly/6zfj50SykLT #Poverty #Children #Equity

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Reinventing how we get and process public input is no longer a nice to have. When we allow public engagement processes to be captured by special interests, or just come to the wrong conclusions because we're asking the wrong questions in the wrong formats, we betray the democratic process. Inspired by OMB's RFI on PPCE (public participation and community engagement), I wrote a post about what PPCE can borrow from service design, product management, user research and the like. There's a lot more to say on this topic, and I'd love your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/giCC4TsH

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I look forward to our discussion about the power demands from AI.

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Patterns and Drivers of Medicare Advantage Enrollment Growth, 2017–2023 In a new paper we examine the county-level factors associated with Medicare Advantage enrollment growth. Overall, MA growth was driven by populations and in geographic areas that were not historically the primary source of MA enrollment. Areas with historically low MA penetration, higher shares of Medicare beneficiaries under age 65, and higher shares of dual-eligible beneficiaries all saw significant increases in MA enrollment over our study period. We find lower and even negative growth in counties with high baseline MA shares, suggesting that MA growth is maxing out in some areas. https://lnkd.in/e46ERtvp

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