Tom Smith
@yotommy.bsky.social
Ex-USDS, ex-Google, ex-AT&T/Bell Labs
Reposted by Tom Smith
Want more affordability? Build more housing!
Housing markets are complex. There are many confounding factors at play beyond simple supply and demand, but the research is clear. More supply is needed to make housing more affordable in the midst of our regional housing shortage.
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Housing markets are complex. There are many confounding factors at play beyond simple supply and demand, but the research is clear. More supply is needed to make housing more affordable in the midst of our regional housing shortage.
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Want Lower Rent? Build More Housing
All of us in Jersey City share a desire for housing policy that creates broader affordability, increased urban vitality, better economic opportunities for residents, and setting the city…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/12/15/want-lower-rent-build-more-housing/
All of us in Jersey City share a desire for housing policy that creates broader affordability, increased urban vitality, better economic opportunities for residents, and setting the city…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/12/15/want-lower-rent-build-more-housing/
December 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Want more affordability? Build more housing!
Housing markets are complex. There are many confounding factors at play beyond simple supply and demand, but the research is clear. More supply is needed to make housing more affordable in the midst of our regional housing shortage.
1/4
Housing markets are complex. There are many confounding factors at play beyond simple supply and demand, but the research is clear. More supply is needed to make housing more affordable in the midst of our regional housing shortage.
1/4
Reposted by Tom Smith
Giving money directly to people in poverty can boost local economies 2.5x GiveDirectly.org/multiplier 🧵
October 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Giving money directly to people in poverty can boost local economies 2.5x GiveDirectly.org/multiplier 🧵
Reposted by Tom Smith
What happens when a team turns a failure into a dramatic success? Sometimes, their hard work and courage earn them a GAO nastygram. That's because the GAO holds them accountable to the wrong operating model. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/gao-gets-s...
GAO gets schooled by the Department of Education
The FAFSA team stands up for itself, and for everyone operating in the product model
www.eatingpolicy.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
What happens when a team turns a failure into a dramatic success? Sometimes, their hard work and courage earn them a GAO nastygram. That's because the GAO holds them accountable to the wrong operating model. www.eatingpolicy.com/p/gao-gets-s...
Reposted by Tom Smith
See how government teams across America are modernizing the way they serve their communities through digital services 🏛️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
How communities and government partners are building a better future together | 5 Years of USDR
YouTube video by US Digital Response
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
See how government teams across America are modernizing the way they serve their communities through digital services 🏛️✨
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtz...
Reposted by Tom Smith
“Like their four-year counterparts, community colleges are grappling with disappearing federal grants, shuttered D.E.I. offices, eliminated programs… many of the grants that fund financial aid for low-income students and the staff that support them have been eliminated or threatened”
Trump Went to War With the Ivies. Community Colleges Are Being Hit.
www.nytimes.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
“Like their four-year counterparts, community colleges are grappling with disappearing federal grants, shuttered D.E.I. offices, eliminated programs… many of the grants that fund financial aid for low-income students and the staff that support them have been eliminated or threatened”
Reposted by Tom Smith
Before there was DOGE, there was civic tech, an Obama-era movement to try to improve government with technology.
Now DOGE has taken over not only key civic tech teams like USDS, but also the message of govt modernization. Here's a story about what's next
tinyurl.com/yhrz43ut
Now DOGE has taken over not only key civic tech teams like USDS, but also the message of govt modernization. Here's a story about what's next
tinyurl.com/yhrz43ut
Civic tech leaders worry DOGE is ‘tarnishing’ its tools to improve government
USDS, the White House team DOGE took over in January, was a flagship civic tech organization. Six months later, civic tech is figuring out what’s next.
tinyurl.com
June 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Before there was DOGE, there was civic tech, an Obama-era movement to try to improve government with technology.
Now DOGE has taken over not only key civic tech teams like USDS, but also the message of govt modernization. Here's a story about what's next
tinyurl.com/yhrz43ut
Now DOGE has taken over not only key civic tech teams like USDS, but also the message of govt modernization. Here's a story about what's next
tinyurl.com/yhrz43ut
LOL, my rep, Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7) is one of these brave patriots who are "deeply concerned" about the bill he voted for.
classic ass covering and setting a defense to point to when questioned about this during the midterms
a vote is a vote
a vote is a vote
NEW: 13 House Republicans urge Senate to scale back clean energy cuts in bill they voted for www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
June 6, 2025 at 10:33 PM
LOL, my rep, Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7) is one of these brave patriots who are "deeply concerned" about the bill he voted for.
@donmoyn.bsky.social details the huge gap between the practices of responsible, effective civic tech and the wreckage caused by the hubris of DOGE. I lived this myself during my time at the US Digital Service, pre- and post-DOGE.
New, from me:
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
The DOGE project was sold as tech disruptors who would revolutionize government. To try to understand why DOGE has failed, I point to lessons that other technologists who worked in government learned, but DOGE ignored. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/what-doge-...
What DOGE gets wrong about tech and government
Lessons learned by civic tech, forgotten by DOGE
donmoynihan.substack.com
May 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
@donmoyn.bsky.social details the huge gap between the practices of responsible, effective civic tech and the wreckage caused by the hubris of DOGE. I lived this myself during my time at the US Digital Service, pre- and post-DOGE.
Reposted by Tom Smith
This is a really great real time demonstration that a) there is very little fraud in most government services, and b) building systems around fraud paranoia has real costs for the vast majority of users.
(Also follow @almsnatalie.bsky.social for great govt coverage)
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
(Also follow @almsnatalie.bsky.social for great govt coverage)
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
May 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
This is a really great real time demonstration that a) there is very little fraud in most government services, and b) building systems around fraud paranoia has real costs for the vast majority of users.
(Also follow @almsnatalie.bsky.social for great govt coverage)
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
(Also follow @almsnatalie.bsky.social for great govt coverage)
www.nextgov.com/digital-gove...
Reposted by Tom Smith
The DOGE vision for government technology involves centralizing Americans’ private data. But this isn’t a new idea: it’s one that has been considered, reconsidered, and left alone many times over the years—for good reasons.
Keeping your personal data safe
Why government agencies don’t just share everything they know about you with every other government agency.
18f.org
May 1, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The DOGE vision for government technology involves centralizing Americans’ private data. But this isn’t a new idea: it’s one that has been considered, reconsidered, and left alone many times over the years—for good reasons.
This should be enlightening --- and fun!
🚨It's happening, people!🚨
We built the tools, they broke the tools. You’ve got questions, we’ve got receipts (and some solid sarcasm). Join us for our our first AMA tonight at 8pm Eastern.
Non-bsky friends can submit Qs to submissions@wethebuilders.org and we'll do our best to answer those too!
We built the tools, they broke the tools. You’ve got questions, we’ve got receipts (and some solid sarcasm). Join us for our our first AMA tonight at 8pm Eastern.
Non-bsky friends can submit Qs to submissions@wethebuilders.org and we'll do our best to answer those too!
May 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This should be enlightening --- and fun!
Reposted by Tom Smith
Wow! Thanks to your support, we just crossed 14,000 followers. 😍
How about this? Help us get to 15,000 and we'll do an AMA for you.
How about this? Help us get to 15,000 and we'll do an AMA for you.
a baby is sitting in a high chair making a surprised face and saying wow .
ALT: a baby is sitting in a high chair making a surprised face and saying wow .
media.tenor.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Wow! Thanks to your support, we just crossed 14,000 followers. 😍
How about this? Help us get to 15,000 and we'll do an AMA for you.
How about this? Help us get to 15,000 and we'll do an AMA for you.
Beautifully stated.
A federal worker reflects on being pushed out by DOGE’s dismantling of public service.
Their work was taken, but their belief in people — and in service — remains.
🧵 Read their farewell letter: https://www.wethebuilders.org/posts/the-resignation-i-wish-i-could-submit
#WTB #AltGov #PublicService
Their work was taken, but their belief in people — and in service — remains.
🧵 Read their farewell letter: https://www.wethebuilders.org/posts/the-resignation-i-wish-i-could-submit
#WTB #AltGov #PublicService
April 22, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Beautifully stated.
Reposted by Tom Smith
The literal opposite of the goals of civic tech
DOGE is trying to layer on administrative burden to prevent disabled people and older adults from accessing Social Security benefits to which they’re entitled. People in rural communities will be hit especially hard. Field offices are already overwhelmed.
So it appears DOGE has decreed that Social Security administration will no longer provide phone support. At all. This is in addition to shutting down a ton of local SSA offices. www.axios.com/2025/03/17/s...
March 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The literal opposite of the goals of civic tech
Reposted by Tom Smith
Fwiw one thing university faculty can do is provide simple explainers for their students on how federal funding works and how cuts to higher ed & endowment taxes will concretely damage their education and possibly spike tuition costs
Many students don’t know how university finances work!
Many students don’t know how university finances work!
March 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Fwiw one thing university faculty can do is provide simple explainers for their students on how federal funding works and how cuts to higher ed & endowment taxes will concretely damage their education and possibly spike tuition costs
Many students don’t know how university finances work!
Many students don’t know how university finances work!
Reposted by Tom Smith
This is flatly illegal. The plain text of the law says that any person who works for any 501(c)(3) nonprofit is eligible. There is ZERO authority for limiting eligibility based on the work such nonprofit does. They WILL lose the lawsuit. Even so, this is making so many people’s lives harder.
In a move that could upend a popular federal program, President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday directing his education secretary to revise eligibility requirements for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Trump signs order to limit who gets public service student loan forgiveness
The president says some nonprofit organizations that qualify for the program are engaging in illegal activity, without offering any proof.
wapo.st
March 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM
This is flatly illegal. The plain text of the law says that any person who works for any 501(c)(3) nonprofit is eligible. There is ZERO authority for limiting eligibility based on the work such nonprofit does. They WILL lose the lawsuit. Even so, this is making so many people’s lives harder.
💪❤️🦀
When isolation, trauma and despair are weaponized; building community, helping people heal, and bringing hope are acts of resistance.
Connect people. Resist bullies. Protect the vulnerable. Shine light on the fighters. Give yourself and others grace.
We are in this together. You are not alone.
Connect people. Resist bullies. Protect the vulnerable. Shine light on the fighters. Give yourself and others grace.
We are in this together. You are not alone.
March 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
💪❤️🦀
Such great talent, wantonly dismissed. An intentional hollowing out of effective government.
18F was doing exactly the type of work that DOGE claims to want – yet we were eliminated shortly after midnight. Read our letter to the American people:
18f.org
18f.org
We're not done yet | 18F
18f.org
March 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Such great talent, wantonly dismissed. An intentional hollowing out of effective government.
Reposted by Tom Smith
🥰🙏 I don't promote my book as much now that I work in government, but I did write one & I believe it's still pretty useful as we enter a time of major shifts & messy information in both government & tech
www.goodreads.com/book/show/55...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/55...
January 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
🥰🙏 I don't promote my book as much now that I work in government, but I did write one & I believe it's still pretty useful as we enter a time of major shifts & messy information in both government & tech
www.goodreads.com/book/show/55...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/55...
Reposted by Tom Smith
Another media outlet’s account of this significant ruling in the federal court in Arkansas.
Arkansas book-censorship law ruled unconstitutional (UPDATED) - Arkansas Times
The book censorship law had already been put on temporary hold.
arktimes.com
December 24, 2024 at 3:09 PM
Another media outlet’s account of this significant ruling in the federal court in Arkansas.
This is a great victory. Thanks for spearheading the fight, @dncoulter.bsky.social!
This is a great victory for the first amendment, public libraries, librarians, bookstores, authors, and readers; and a defeat for censorship and those who would seek to have the government limit access to what other people and their children can read.
Federal judge declares sections of Arkansas' library obscenity law unconstitutional • Arkansas Advocate
The law's vague language could lead to viewpoint-based restrictions on library content, violating the First Amendment, Judge Timothy Brooks ruled.
arkansasadvocate.com
December 24, 2024 at 12:44 PM
This is a great victory. Thanks for spearheading the fight, @dncoulter.bsky.social!
Reposted by Tom Smith
Good government digital services are possible. But they take time, expertise, and dedicated public servants. (Among other things, for sure.)
Y’all, I filled out the FAFSA for my kid in FIVE MINUTES. Once my account was created and verified, it was one of the smoothest government services experiences I’ve had in ages. Great work FAFSA team!
November 26, 2024 at 3:39 AM
Good government digital services are possible. But they take time, expertise, and dedicated public servants. (Among other things, for sure.)