ASC's Intersections Newsletter — October 8, 2026
Nora's Note
Beyond the Screen: Two Days That Brought ASC Together. In a hybrid world, there's something powerful about being in the same room. Last month, the ASC team stepped away from our screens and daily deadlines for two days of big ideas, honest conversations, creative thinking, and a little fun.
Day One, Defining the ASC We're Building, was about our future, who we are, what we value, and what we want to become. Just as important, it was about giving everyone a voice in shaping that future. Day Two, Building Presentations That Move People, brought us back to the heart of what we do, turning good ideas into compelling stories that inspire action. And because connection isn't all about work, we capped things off with a dinner cruise around New York Harbor. It was a chance to relax, laugh, and enjoy each other's company.
My biggest takeaway? The strength of ASC isn't just in the work we produce. It's in the people, perspectives, and shared purpose behind it. We left with fresh ideas, stronger connections, and momentum for what's next.
There's a reason we make time to come together. Here's what Harvard Business Review has to say about why offsites matter and how to make the most of them.
Transportation
Last month, 700 One Metro New York (OMNY) cards, providing them with unlimited subway and bus rides between October 5 and December 25, 2026, for the fall semester. The 700 free OMNY cards are part of a pilot program launched by the New York City Council, funded through a $700,000 allocation in the city budget. Nine in ten CUNY students use public transportation to travel to classes. The City Council developed the pilot program to help cover commuting costs for students, especially those from low-income households. Learn more about the pilot program. (Source: amNewYork)
MassTransit: Airo trainsets to begin passenger service on Amtrak Cascades Sept. 30
Streetsblog NYC: Desperately Needed Bus and Bike Lanes Are Coming to Brownstone Brooklyn
AMNY: Brooklyn bus lanes: Mamdani admin breaks ground on project to boost bus speeds on pair of vital roadways
Climate
A Brooklyn-based startup has developed a cost-effective model that assists street vendors in replacing their fossil fuel-powered generators with swappable batteries. The startup is running an initial six-month pilot program in which ten vendors can replace dead batteries with charged ones through universal charging cabinets installed in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.Vendors can currently access the program thanks to grant funding from nonprofits and city partnerships, but the startup plans to sustain itself long-term by charging participants a monthly fee. Learn more about the startup and pilot program. (Source: Canary Media)
Canary Media: North Carolina food bank gets microgrid backup for future storms
Heatmap News: The Great Solar Repowering
Inside Climate News: ‘Nature-Based’ Solutions Could Save Insurers and Policyholders Billions.
Economic Development
New York City is advancing plans to transform a city-owned property near the Brooklyn Bridge into a major residential development featuring 4,000 homes, a fitness center and 40,000 square feet of neighborhood amenities. Approximately 25% of the apartments at 100 Gold Street will be permanently affordable and rent-stabilized. The proposal, now larger than the version introduced in 2025, reflects Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s strategy to address the housing crisis by repurposing underutilized public property. Two public hearings scheduled for October 29 will provide opportunities for community input on the project's development and its implications for the surrounding neighborhood. Read more about the proposed redevelopment. (Source: NYC Economic Development Corporation)
Smart Cities Dive: With its first office-to-housing project done, Chicago advances ‘next chapter’ for its downtown.
Planetizen: Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment.
Smart Cities Dive: $467M affordable housing funding round gets LA City Council sign-off.
Digital
The General Services Administration (GSA) is establishing new requirements for federal contractors using large language models (LLMs) to process government data. Effective October 19, the rules prohibit using government data to train AI models, inform advertising, or sell to third parties. Contractors with covered AI systems will also face new disclosure requirements, including a 120-day deadline to provide information about their systems, alongside stricter data security and incident reporting standards. The changes reflect a growing emphasis on transparency and accountability as AI becomes more integrated into government operations. Read more in Government Executive. (Source: Government Executive)
StateScoop: How Vermont is leveraging AI across government, one “power tool” at a time.
Route Fifty: Centralization is an emerging digital identity trend for states, leaders say.
Public Sector Network: Why AI is the new stakeholder for policy and communications teams.
About Arch Street Communications
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