Page 12 - The Indian EYE 122625

Community Op-ED DECEMBER 26, 2025 | The Indian Eye 12

Inclusive and Truly Accessible City:

Using Technology to Better

Communicate with All New Yorkers

To start, the city is planning to install language apps on all city-owned smart devices — more than

100,000 in total — to make city services more accessible to New Yorkers. We are also updating the NYPD

Patrol Guide Policy to allow officers to use translation apps while interacting with the public

type of technology can be used to as-
sist our families and children.

New York City Public Schools
has begun development on
“Hello,” a new app to help
bridge language gaps that

will be rolled out in the spring
of 2026.

ERIC ADAMS By using speech-to-text and text-
to-speech interactions, Hello will be
rom the very start, I have been able to give real-time translation and
a tech mayor, and our adminis- interpretation in the top 12 languag-
Ftration has continually expand- es spoken by public school families.
ed our use of technology to keep New There have been many dramatic
Yorkers safer, stronger, and more developments in technology in recent
informed. From linking our public years, and we are headed into a new
schools to the NYPD so we can re- era where tech will be integrated into
spond more rapidly to any school our lives in all kinds of new ways. We
emergency, to deploying safety want to make sure that this technol-
drones and expanding broadband to ogy is implemented safely and fairly,
our neighbors in NYCHA, we have protecting New Yorkers and their
embraced the power and possibility privacy even as we make it easier for
of new technology to make life better New Yorkers from every corner of
for all New Yorkers. the globe to navigate life in our city.
But to be an inclusive and truly From finding housing and employ-
accessible city, we must also be the ment, to opening a small business
most language-friendly city on the or enrolling their children in school,
globe. This is a global city, where language should never be a barrier
you can hear hundreds of languages New York City Public Schools has begun development on “Hello,” a new app to help bridge to safety or access to city services.
spoken on every street, in every store, language gaps that will be rolled out in the spring of 2026 (File photo) This announcement further
and on every stoop, and we want to builds on the work we have done to
make sure that, no matter what lan- improve service delivery and make
guage you speak, you can communi- tions with all New Yorkers, including translation apps while interacting New York City government more in-
cate with your city and learn about non-English speaking communities. with the public. This will give our clusive and accessible because when
the services you are eligible for. To start, the city is planning to in- officers on the beat addressing New we embrace technology, we are
That is why, last week, I issued stall language apps on all city-owned Yorkers’ concerns about safety and able to deliver every part of our vi-
a directive to city agencies to evalu- smart devices — more than 100,000 quality of life another tool at their sion more effectively — making our
ate how they can further incorporate in total — to make city services more disposal to communicate with com- city safer, more affordable, and the
language technologies into their day- accessible to New Yorkers. We are munities in addition to Language best place to live and raise a family.
to-day interactions with the public. also updating the NYPD Patrol Line, which has been used since 1992. Eric Adams is the Mayor of
Our goal is to improve communica- Guide Policy to allow officers to use We are also making sure this New York City, NY

www.TheIndianEYE.com