Welcome to NYC School of Data — a community conference that demystifies the policies and practices around open data, technology, and service design. This year’s conference kicks off NYC’s Open Data Week & features 30+ sessions organized by NYC’s civic technology, data, and design community! Our conversations & workshops will feed your mind and empower you to improve your neighborhood.
To attend, you need to purchase tickets via eventbrite. Venue is accessible and content is all ages friendly! If you have accessibility questions or needs, please email us at < schoolofdata@beta.nyc >.
If you can’t join us in person, tune into the main stage via zoom < schoolofdata.nyc/live >. Follow the conversation #nycSOdata on twitter.
The recently-approved proposal to rezone Gowanus was accompanied by the City’s first Racial Equity Report to assess the potential impact of the proposed zoning changes on the neighborhood’s demographic makeup. We used this unique opportunity to critically analyze this first-of-its kind study by examining data from the Decennial Census, American Community Survey, and NYC Open Data. In this session, we will present our counter-analysis of the Gowanus Racial Equity Report and open up the conversation surrounding data manipulation, critiques of the racial equity report, and recommendations for future reports.
Our analysis reveals that the boundaries within which data are analyzed significantly impact the demographic and economic profile produced. Interviews with Gowanus residents indicated contestations over the definition of the neighborhood’s boundaries. In its analysis of the demographic composition of Gowanus, we find the Racial Equity Report inflates white residents’ predominance and erases residents of color. In addition, the Report’s characterization of Gowanus as a wealthy neighborhood erases the substantial proportion of the population who may not be able to afford increasing rent as the area becomes more densely developed or who may not qualify for the affordable housing built.
