A change in New York City’s technology leadership is unfolding as the former Mayor Eric Adams administration has come to a close, a transition reflected in an internal message and an update to the city’s website.
Matthew Fraser has stepped down from his role as New York City’s chief technology officer (CTO), a move disclosed through a resignation letter surfaced on X via a City & State New York reporter. Addressed to “members” of the Office of Technology and Innovation and originally shared internally, the letter marked the end of Fraser’s four-year tenure overseeing the city’s technology strategy and explained the timing behind his decision.
“With the Adams administration coming to a close and this strong foundation firmly in place,” Fraser wrote, “I have decided to step down from my role as Chief Technology Officer for the City of New York, effective Wednesday, December 31.” Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in Jan. 1.
The city’s website has also been updated to reflect the leadership change. Fraser is no longer listed as CTO, and Ruby Choi now appears as acting chief technology officer and deputy commissioner, strategic initiatives.
Fraser joined the Adams administration back in 2021 with what he described as “a clear mandate: to use technology to improve the lives of New Yorkers and make city government work better for the people it serves.” In the resignation letter, he focused less on his departure and more on the results of that mandate, outlining several initiatives completed during his tenure that Fraser said were designed to “endure well beyond any one administration.”
These include expanded access to free broadband, devices and digital skills training; improvements to digital services such as MyCity, NYC311 and NYC Open Data; and the establishment of governance frameworks for emerging technologies, including AI and blockchain, according to the former CTO.
Closing his message to staff, Fraser noted that these systems, programs and initiatives developed during his tenure are positioned to continue guiding New York City’s technology efforts moving forward, even as he steps away.
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