JSA2026 Commonwealth Budget – Volume XIX

Digital Infrastructure, AI Governance & Citizen Engagement Strategy

Date: May 12, 2025
Contact: Jason S. Arnold
Email: jaysarnold@icloud.com
Phone: (516) 586-0660
Campaign Site: https://jsa2026.com

In Volume XIX, we expand the New York Commonwealth Budget into the technological future by outlining a plan to digitize state operations, govern artificial intelligence, and empower residents through real-time, transparent government interaction.

Core Objectives

• Upgrade New York’s internal digital systems to reduce redundancy, automate processes, and boost transparency.
• Create a public-facing civic portal to monitor all spending, projects, agency reports, and FOIL requests in real time.
• Establish an AI Governance and Ethics Board to oversee public sector use of machine learning and AI tools, ensuring accountability, fairness, and civil rights protections.
• Require open-source development for taxpayer-funded software wherever feasible, eliminating bloated contracts and backroom deals.
• Develop the first state-run social media and alert platform for verified local updates, emergency messages, public hearings, and participatory polling—offering citizens a BETTR way to be heard without federal interference.

Transparency Portals & AI Audits

Every government algorithm, AI system, and procurement process must be publicly disclosed and subject to independent audit. Black-box systems and non-transparent vendor contracts will be outlawed under JSA2026.

Digital Bill of Rights

We will pass a state-level Digital Bill of Rights that protects:

• Right to algorithmic transparency
• Right to opt out of behavioral data tracking by public systems
• Right to appeal any decision made or influenced by an automated system
• Right to access public data in a human-readable and downloadable format

Citizen Engagement Tools

Our proposal funds a centralized digital ecosystem built on secure, decentralized infrastructure. Features will include:

• Real-time project dashboards for state spending and infrastructure
• Public feedback loops on legislation and budget votes
• Encrypted personal records vaults for all New Yorkers (opt-in)
• Streamlined access to legal aid, case info, and municipal services

Estimated Budget Impact

• Initial Capital Investment: $275 million over 3 years
• Estimated Savings by Year 5: $3.2 billion/year through automation and fraud prevention
• Job Impact: 10,000 new public-private tech jobs statewide

This volume affirms that technology must serve the people—not control them. We reject the merger of corporate and government surveillance and build a BETTR digital future rooted in rights, not exploitation.

Final Thought

Just like we digitized our music, media, and money—we now digitize our state. But unlike Big Tech, we do it with full consent, transparency, and local control. It’s time for the **People’s Internet**.

“I’m not a good candidate. I’m the right one.”