📘 JSA2026 FY2026 Commonwealth Budget – Volume VIII: Technology, Transparency & Civic Access Plan

Prepared by the Office of Jason S. Arnold – 2026 Gubernatorial Candidate, State of New York
This volume establishes a full blueprint to modernize New York State’s digital infrastructure, data transparency, and citizen service access — including the rollout of the NY Digital Civic Hub, open-source government tech policies, and anti-censorship safeguards for the public square.

🌐 NY Digital Civic Hub (NYDCH)

• One secure login portal for all residents to access DMV, education, Medicaid, benefits, tax filings, and court updates
• 24/7 digital assistant line for benefits access, appeals, and crisis support referrals
• FOIL dashboard for filing and tracking Freedom of Information requests statewide
• Built-in neighborhood engagement feeds for polls, announcements, alerts, and school/board meetings

🔒 Data Privacy & Security Mandates

• No biometric surveillance by state agencies without informed written consent
• All data collection must be opt-in with user override access in every system
• Third-party contractors must meet NYDCH open-source transparency standards or be ineligible for state IT contracts
• Launch independent Data Ethics Board to review all state tech deployments annually

💬 State-Run Social Civic Platform: NY Social

• Non-partisan, censorship-free public platform run by the Office of Public Tech & Civic Innovation (OPTCI)
• Used for livestreams, feedback, public hearings, and citizen polling
• Fully separated from political advertising or private data brokers
• Community moderation, not algorithmic suppression

💡 Open-Source Government Tech

• Transition all state software to open-source alternatives within 3 years (email, case mgmt, CMS, etc.)
• Create the NY OpenGov Dev Corps — hiring state-based engineers and civic technologists to build custom tools for public use
• Ban closed-source lobbying contracts from tech vendors who refuse code review or public auditing

📊 Transparency Infrastructure

• Budget Risk Dashboard – Tracks inflation, debt, revenue trends, labor, and climate costs in real time
• Capital Project Map – Real-time map of infrastructure timelines, contractors, and project status
• SEZ/LEZ Performance Index – Public metrics tied to school and economic zone progress

📈 Fiscal & Access Outcomes

• Projected $640M in IT savings over 4 years through open-source transition
• Expected 27% reduction in FOIL request backlog via automation and live status tracking
• 98% of state-managed services accessible 24/7 online within 3 years

🔚 Conclusion from Jason S. Arnold

We can’t fix the public’s faith in government if they can’t access it, question it, or see where the money goes. This volume guarantees that power. No more dark data. No more digital walls. No more platforms that punish voices while protecting insiders.

Volume IX will focus on Public Safety, Emergency Readiness, and Border Integrity under the Commonwealth model.

🗽 Jason S. Arnold, Candidate for Governor
📍 https://jsa2026.com
☎️ (516) 586-0660
✉️ jaysarnold@icloud.com