Mateo
@mateooo.bsky.social
Civic technologist, musician & aspiring adobero. NM | TX . Here for 🌎 climate action, 🏛️ public interest tech, 🧱 earthen building + architecture, ⚽ fútbol y más.
Reposted by Mateo
Imagine if serving in government was as prestigious as landing a job at Google.
In Finland and Singapore, it basically is. Public service is seen as a privilege, a place where the most ambitious people go to solve the biggest problems.
That’s the culture we should be striving for.
In Finland and Singapore, it basically is. Public service is seen as a privilege, a place where the most ambitious people go to solve the biggest problems.
That’s the culture we should be striving for.
December 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Imagine if serving in government was as prestigious as landing a job at Google.
In Finland and Singapore, it basically is. Public service is seen as a privilege, a place where the most ambitious people go to solve the biggest problems.
That’s the culture we should be striving for.
In Finland and Singapore, it basically is. Public service is seen as a privilege, a place where the most ambitious people go to solve the biggest problems.
That’s the culture we should be striving for.
Reposted by Mateo
This is the conclusion that I hope we will draw from the Zillow drama... that we need a gold-standard national data source for property-level risk to climate hazards that is transparent, accessible, and legally defensible. Private companies can help build it but the public needs to own it.
Zillow’s climate risk reversal looks like a setback. It’s really a wake‑up call.
When private models sow confusion, it’s a flashing warning sign that Washington needs to fix federal flood maps,
susanpcrawford.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This is the conclusion that I hope we will draw from the Zillow drama... that we need a gold-standard national data source for property-level risk to climate hazards that is transparent, accessible, and legally defensible. Private companies can help build it but the public needs to own it.
I’m proud to have worked on this initiative from the data and software side. 🦇💚
On paper, Austin has a long way to go towards Vision Zero. But there are some under-the-radar successes that could help other other cities weather the state and federal headwinds that virtually all locales will battle in the years to come.
Is Austin a Vision Zero Leader Hiding In Plain Sight? — Streetsblog USA
Changes have been slow in Bat City, but they are meaningful and starting to show success.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I’m proud to have worked on this initiative from the data and software side. 🦇💚
Reposted by Mateo
October 30, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Reposted by Mateo
New Mexico's economy is a fraction of the size of New York City's.
If they can enact universal childcare — and relieve working families of a crushing cost burden — surely we can too.
It's just a question of political will.
If they can enact universal childcare — and relieve working families of a crushing cost burden — surely we can too.
It's just a question of political will.
New Mexico will be the first state to make child care free
The program, which is expected to save families $12,000 per child annually, is available to all residents regardless of income.
19thnews.org
September 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
New Mexico's economy is a fraction of the size of New York City's.
If they can enact universal childcare — and relieve working families of a crushing cost burden — surely we can too.
It's just a question of political will.
If they can enact universal childcare — and relieve working families of a crushing cost burden — surely we can too.
It's just a question of political will.
Reposted by Mateo
Extremist murders by ideology, 2013 to 2022. www.pbump.net/o/reassessin...
September 13, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Extremist murders by ideology, 2013 to 2022. www.pbump.net/o/reassessin...
Reposted by Mateo
Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
Remember this before you order your next pumpkin spice latte.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
Remember this before you order your next pumpkin spice latte.
August 27, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
Remember this before you order your next pumpkin spice latte.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
Remember this before you order your next pumpkin spice latte.
Reposted by Mateo
please, please dive deeper than NWS/NOAA budget was deeply cut so that’s why what happened in Texas happened.
go a layer deeper like: theeyewall.com/chantal-make...
go a layer deeper like: theeyewall.com/chantal-make...
Chantal makes landfall near Myrtle Beach and now moving inland as a rainmaker
In brief: After yesterday’s post on Texas, we wanted to raise a couple additional points after some reactions. Plus, TS Chantal made landfall near Myrtle Beach and is now a flooding threat fo…
theeyewall.com
July 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
please, please dive deeper than NWS/NOAA budget was deeply cut so that’s why what happened in Texas happened.
go a layer deeper like: theeyewall.com/chantal-make...
go a layer deeper like: theeyewall.com/chantal-make...
Reposted by Mateo
Welcome to America, where protesting illegal kidnappings without due process is an insurrection, but attacking the nation’s Capitol is not.
June 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Welcome to America, where protesting illegal kidnappings without due process is an insurrection, but attacking the nation’s Capitol is not.
Reposted by Mateo
Direct File is now open source. Finally.
A short, personal post about why: chrisgiven.com/2025/05/dire...
Massive kudos to the Direct File team for pulling this off and showing their commitment to transparency and earning trust.
A short, personal post about why: chrisgiven.com/2025/05/dire...
Massive kudos to the Direct File team for pulling this off and showing their commitment to transparency and earning trust.
Direct File on GitHub
Personal blog of Chris Given, government technologist. These words are always written by a human; I have no one to blame but myself.
chrisgiven.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Direct File is now open source. Finally.
A short, personal post about why: chrisgiven.com/2025/05/dire...
Massive kudos to the Direct File team for pulling this off and showing their commitment to transparency and earning trust.
A short, personal post about why: chrisgiven.com/2025/05/dire...
Massive kudos to the Direct File team for pulling this off and showing their commitment to transparency and earning trust.
Reposted by Mateo
NEW: As ICE's raids stoke fear, La Brigada De Oro has paused its Nashville SC matchday involvement. Co-founder Abel Acosta spoke about a harrowing reality.
“Our community is being terrorized right now. It’s in shambles. ... we’re being hunted. That’s how we feel.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...
“Our community is being terrorized right now. It’s in shambles. ... we’re being hunted. That’s how we feel.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...
‘We’re being hunted. That’s how we feel.’ ICE activity puts an MLS fan group on pause
For members of Nashville SC's Latin American supporter group, there's a fear of attending games amid local immigration-related raids
www.nytimes.com
May 14, 2025 at 2:35 PM
NEW: As ICE's raids stoke fear, La Brigada De Oro has paused its Nashville SC matchday involvement. Co-founder Abel Acosta spoke about a harrowing reality.
“Our community is being terrorized right now. It’s in shambles. ... we’re being hunted. That’s how we feel.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...
“Our community is being terrorized right now. It’s in shambles. ... we’re being hunted. That’s how we feel.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...
Reposted by Mateo
It's like they're speedrunning all the mistakes civic tech learned over the past 25 years.
SCOOP: DOGE is hosting a “hackathon” in DC next week with the goal of building one “mega API” for accessing all IRS data.
Palantir has been brought up as a potential partner.
www.wired.com/story/doge-h...
Palantir has been brought up as a potential partner.
www.wired.com/story/doge-h...
DOGE Is Planning a Hackathon at the IRS. It Wants Easier Access to Taxpayer Data
DOGE operatives have repeatedly referred to the software company Palantir as a possible partner in creating a “mega API” at the IRS, sources tell WIRED.
www.wired.com
April 5, 2025 at 6:03 PM
It's like they're speedrunning all the mistakes civic tech learned over the past 25 years.
Reposted by Mateo
Casar: You can quickly explain Doge with just two numbers.
First: $8 million a day. That’s how much Elon Musk collects in federal government contracts.
Second: $65 a day. That’s how much the average senior—someone who has worked their entire life—gets from Social Security.…
First: $8 million a day. That’s how much Elon Musk collects in federal government contracts.
Second: $65 a day. That’s how much the average senior—someone who has worked their entire life—gets from Social Security.…
March 22, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Casar: You can quickly explain Doge with just two numbers.
First: $8 million a day. That’s how much Elon Musk collects in federal government contracts.
Second: $65 a day. That’s how much the average senior—someone who has worked their entire life—gets from Social Security.…
First: $8 million a day. That’s how much Elon Musk collects in federal government contracts.
Second: $65 a day. That’s how much the average senior—someone who has worked their entire life—gets from Social Security.…
Reposted by Mateo
Hi, I'm the guy who used to oversee the federal government's agency IT telecommunications contracts. This is extremely bad. There is absolutely no need for this. Not only is it a huge security exposure, but the simplest explanation for this is that it is meant to be a security exposure.
Elon Musk’s Starlink Expands Across White House Complex
Trump administration officials said the company donated the internet service, saying the gift had been vetted by the lawyer overseeing ethics issues in the White House Counsel’s Office.
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Hi, I'm the guy who used to oversee the federal government's agency IT telecommunications contracts. This is extremely bad. There is absolutely no need for this. Not only is it a huge security exposure, but the simplest explanation for this is that it is meant to be a security exposure.
Reposted by Mateo
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 Mateo
You should know that a big part of 18F's work was to make sure multi-million to multi-*hundreds*-of-millions dollar contracts at fed *and* state level didn't go to shitty enterprise IT consultancies that *repeatedly* delivered tech that didn't work, was late, or didn't even do what it needed to
March 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
You should know that a big part of 18F's work was to make sure multi-million to multi-*hundreds*-of-millions dollar contracts at fed *and* state level didn't go to shitty enterprise IT consultancies that *repeatedly* delivered tech that didn't work, was late, or didn't even do what it needed to
Reposted by Mateo
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 11:38 PM
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
Reposted by Mateo
If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company.
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
March 2, 2025 at 12:34 AM
If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company.
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.
They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.
I’m happy to invest and/or help
Reposted by Mateo
Hello! I used my esoteric knowledge gleaned from my DC years to write about how Congress could EASILY defund DOGE:
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
How Congress Can Delete DOGE | TechPolicy.Press
Rebecca Williams explores how DOGE’s budget can be restricted—if Congress decides to act.
www.techpolicy.press
February 26, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Hello! I used my esoteric knowledge gleaned from my DC years to write about how Congress could EASILY defund DOGE:
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
www.techpolicy.press/how-congress...
Reposted by Mateo
Gregg is a former Marine and Forest Service ranger. He's saved the lives of hikers dangling off a cliff or going through cardiac arrest, and he's bravely fought forest fires to save small rural towns.
100% of his salary is paid by WA state.
Elon fired him. Share his story.
100% of his salary is paid by WA state.
Elon fired him. Share his story.
February 23, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Gregg is a former Marine and Forest Service ranger. He's saved the lives of hikers dangling off a cliff or going through cardiac arrest, and he's bravely fought forest fires to save small rural towns.
100% of his salary is paid by WA state.
Elon fired him. Share his story.
100% of his salary is paid by WA state.
Elon fired him. Share his story.
Reposted by Mateo
New, at Can We Still Govern: Rachael worked as a govt technologist, specializing in trauma-informed design of public services.
Then the Trump admin promised to put her and other public employees "in trauma."
She explains what this means.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-weapon...
Then the Trump admin promised to put her and other public employees "in trauma."
She explains what this means.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-weapon...
The Weaponization of Trauma
The human toll being being paid by public employees
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
New, at Can We Still Govern: Rachael worked as a govt technologist, specializing in trauma-informed design of public services.
Then the Trump admin promised to put her and other public employees "in trauma."
She explains what this means.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-weapon...
Then the Trump admin promised to put her and other public employees "in trauma."
She explains what this means.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-weapon...
Reposted by Mateo
Please stop saying it saved money until you understand the value of what was cut. They are downsizing, and if the stuff getting cut had real value, its not a saving.
DOGE says it has saved $55 billion in federal spending so far, but its website only accounts for $16.6 billion of that
DOGE Says It’s Saved $55 Billion, Itemized Data Show Far Less
The federal cost-cutting effort dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency says it has saved $55 billion in federal spending so far, but its website only accounts for $16.6 billion of that.
www.bloomberg.com
February 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Please stop saying it saved money until you understand the value of what was cut. They are downsizing, and if the stuff getting cut had real value, its not a saving.
Reposted by Mateo
Cada latido resuena.
February 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Cada latido resuena.
Reposted by Mateo
Hearing DOGE is cutting off access to EIA and NREL datasets 🔌💡
February 7, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Hearing DOGE is cutting off access to EIA and NREL datasets 🔌💡
Reposted by Mateo
@wired.com: “6 young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24 who have little to no government experience are now playing critical roles in Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” & are heading up Musk’s hostile takeover of our government
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover
Engineers between 19 and 24, most linked to Musk’s companies, are playing a key role as he seizes control of federal infrastructure.
www.wired.com
February 3, 2025 at 2:45 AM
@wired.com: “6 young men—all apparently between the ages of 19 and 24 who have little to no government experience are now playing critical roles in Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” & are heading up Musk’s hostile takeover of our government
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
www.wired.com/story/elon-m...