Jorge Valens 🚀
@jorgevalens.com
Government Geek 🤓 | Avid Indoorsman | Innovation Manager, Miami-Dade County IT 🌴☀️ | All about product management, policy development, and gov innovation. | Opinions = Mine (and can be discussed over brunch).
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
for years, I've wanted a Form Corps to fix all the badly designed government forms at every level...but a Form Corps to help people deal with the bad forms & processes is a good idea too - fwiw, civic tech at its best is pretty good at coordinating parts of this & a lot of civic tech folks need work
I haven't been able to stop thinking about how much it would mean to have even 25% of Dems in Congress (and state houses!) put together helplines and distributed volunteer clinics in neighborhoods, shelters, and community centers to help people navigate the paperwork burdens. Lives saved.
Given how much of this is supposed to be done through imposing administrative burdens on the overburdened, my hopelessly utopian dream is for a minor civil society revival of organizations and trained volunteers working to help the victims navigate the system, building social connections so doing.
July 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
for years, I've wanted a Form Corps to fix all the badly designed government forms at every level...but a Form Corps to help people deal with the bad forms & processes is a good idea too - fwiw, civic tech at its best is pretty good at coordinating parts of this & a lot of civic tech folks need work
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
A new project launched!
congressMCP. An MCP server allowing AI agents and MCP clients to interface with the Congress.gov API
Check it out: congressmcp.lawgiver.ai
congressMCP. An MCP server allowing AI agents and MCP clients to interface with the Congress.gov API
Check it out: congressmcp.lawgiver.ai
June 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
A new project launched!
congressMCP. An MCP server allowing AI agents and MCP clients to interface with the Congress.gov API
Check it out: congressmcp.lawgiver.ai
congressMCP. An MCP server allowing AI agents and MCP clients to interface with the Congress.gov API
Check it out: congressmcp.lawgiver.ai
Public schools in FL need to lean in hard to the idea that they are now competing in a hostile market and embrace tech and innovation to be lean and keep resources (money, people, time) as close to students as possible. www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/05/10/b...
Broward schools to slash budget by $65 million. Here’s what may be cut.
Broward schools plan to make cuts to security staff, administrators and other expenses in an effort to slash the district budget. The district has been facing enrollment drops as more families choo…
www.sun-sentinel.com
May 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Public schools in FL need to lean in hard to the idea that they are now competing in a hostile market and embrace tech and innovation to be lean and keep resources (money, people, time) as close to students as possible. www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/05/10/b...
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
No greater joy exists than taking in a good public transit map.
Say hello to a new subway map! 🗺️
Today, the MTA unveiled a new subway diagram that provides riders with essential travel information in an easily readable, bright, and orderly manner.
Today, the MTA unveiled a new subway diagram that provides riders with essential travel information in an easily readable, bright, and orderly manner.
April 2, 2025 at 6:22 PM
No greater joy exists than taking in a good public transit map.
All of YouTube right now: "Watch me use Cursor to parent my children for me, for free!"
March 26, 2025 at 1:45 AM
All of YouTube right now: "Watch me use Cursor to parent my children for me, for free!"
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
I AM FORTY FUCKING FOUR I HAVE BEEN AN ADULT FOR DECADES DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT A MILLENNIAL IS
March 5, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I AM FORTY FUCKING FOUR I HAVE BEEN AN ADULT FOR DECADES DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT A MILLENNIAL IS
A person truly dedicated to efficiency would be laying flat under the desk in this picture surrounded by zip ties and testing different cable management options in real time.
The preparations meant Musk could hit the ground running on Jan. 20. Lately, he's been working from the Secretary of War Suite in the Eisenhower Building, where he's installed a gaming PC. Here's what the setup looks like:
March 1, 2025 at 8:08 PM
A person truly dedicated to efficiency would be laying flat under the desk in this picture surrounded by zip ties and testing different cable management options in real time.
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
if your state or city doesn't have a digital services group or office of innovation, one thing you can do is start advocating for one.
To anybody in leadership at the state or municipal level: 18F’s destruction makes this *the perfect time* to hire experienced technologists, which you all need very badly. Most 18Fers would love to stay in public service. They are spread throughout the country.
Go go go!
Go go go!
March 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
if your state or city doesn't have a digital services group or office of innovation, one thing you can do is start advocating for one.
I still can't believe this incredible writing came from a Star Wars show: "Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction." youtu.be/-asb8zTiuZ4?...
Andor | Karis Nemik’s Manifesto | Disney+
YouTube video by Star Wars
youtu.be
February 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I still can't believe this incredible writing came from a Star Wars show: "Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction." youtu.be/-asb8zTiuZ4?...
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
oh cool I’ve been meaning to learn anxiety
February 24, 2025 at 9:51 PM
oh cool I’ve been meaning to learn anxiety
So many horrible things have started with a generic WordPress template.
February 15, 2025 at 10:03 PM
So many horrible things have started with a generic WordPress template.
One day someone will make a documentary on Netflix about Tom Holland’s performance as Rihanna on Lip Sync Battle. We need this.
Well *someone* hasn't seen Tom Holland dressed as Rihanna dancing to "Umbrella" I guess
counterpoint: geriatric millennials who listened to TV on the Radio and watched them on Dave were cool! Tom Holland doing anything never has been or ever will be* cool.
*pending Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY (2026)
*pending Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY (2026)
February 13, 2025 at 12:29 AM
One day someone will make a documentary on Netflix about Tom Holland’s performance as Rihanna on Lip Sync Battle. We need this.
Drake is down so bad after this halftime show that Canada is going to hit us with 200% tariffs and invade Buffalo.
February 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Drake is down so bad after this halftime show that Canada is going to hit us with 200% tariffs and invade Buffalo.
Hey. A lot is changing in the world. It's scary. But remember one thing: at least you're not Drake.
February 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Hey. A lot is changing in the world. It's scary. But remember one thing: at least you're not Drake.
The Spotify Home Screen is just pure chaos now. I just want to listen to Fat Joe’s Lean Back on loop for an hour while I crush emails. Come on.
February 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The Spotify Home Screen is just pure chaos now. I just want to listen to Fat Joe’s Lean Back on loop for an hour while I crush emails. Come on.
Y’all you can get a digital+print sub to @wired.com for $6 for the year for the first year. After that it’s $30 a year and that’s still a great price. www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
As the more mainstream press continues to flail on this story, Wired is all fucking over it.
NEW: The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk's Government Takeover
from @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
from @telliotter.bsky.social
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
February 3, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Y’all you can get a digital+print sub to @wired.com for $6 for the year for the first year. After that it’s $30 a year and that’s still a great price. www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
Okay, fine. I will start watching Severance.
February 1, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Okay, fine. I will start watching Severance.
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
The whole tech world needs more projects that aren't trying to become billion- (let alone trillion-) dollar ideas, but are happily shooting for success as million-dollar ideas (or less!).
Pebble Founder Eric Migicovsky Is Bringing It Back
The whole tech world needs more projects that aren’t trying to become billion- (let alone trillion-) dollar ideas, but are happily shooting for success as million-dollar ideas (or less!).
daringfireball.net
January 29, 2025 at 11:47 PM
The whole tech world needs more projects that aren't trying to become billion- (let alone trillion-) dollar ideas, but are happily shooting for success as million-dollar ideas (or less!).
Reposted by Jorge Valens 🚀
The IRS’ direct file service opened for 25 states today. It’s a historic example of how civic technology can work for good. civic-texts.ghost.io/direct-file-...
Direct File shows how civic tech can work for good
Good evening from Washington, where the news cycles are moving faster than rats on a hot tin roof.
Thanks to all of the news subscribers over the weekend and everyone whose become a member since soft...
civic-texts.ghost.io
January 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM
The IRS’ direct file service opened for 25 states today. It’s a historic example of how civic technology can work for good. civic-texts.ghost.io/direct-file-...
A huge component of the AI hype lifecycle is "this technology will live your life for you" and I can't underscore how dismal and bleak that is.
what a grim and honestly unimaginative idea of what the future could hold www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/o...
January 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A huge component of the AI hype lifecycle is "this technology will live your life for you" and I can't underscore how dismal and bleak that is.
TikTok went down like an hour ago and I’ve already read a full book.
January 19, 2025 at 5:21 AM
TikTok went down like an hour ago and I’ve already read a full book.
*walks outside for the first time in years*
January 19, 2025 at 3:52 AM
*walks outside for the first time in years*
Young Americans—millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen A—have faced economic hardship for decades, struggling to accumulate wealth like older generations. While the TikTok ban may have security merits, it removes a platform where young people generate significant wealth and value.
TikTok Stars and Marketers Brace for App’s Disappearance This Month
Billions in advertising flows through TikTok, which could be banned in the U.S. as soon as Jan. 19. Brands and creators are racing to prepare.
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Young Americans—millennials, Gen Z, and soon Gen A—have faced economic hardship for decades, struggling to accumulate wealth like older generations. While the TikTok ban may have security merits, it removes a platform where young people generate significant wealth and value.