David A. Lee
@davidalee.bsky.social
Oceanography, economics, AI / ML | Now: Budget + Economic Policy @ Center for NYC Affairs, Physical oceanography @ Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory| Past: NY State Assembly | 🏗️ 🇺🇸
We can all agree New York will have come a long way in our mayors and their Spanish-speaking ability.
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
We can all agree New York will have come a long way in our mayors and their Spanish-speaking ability.
Why do I overlay the elections data? To impress on everyone the fact that Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa voters alike are beset by extreme weather crises, and that it is incumbent on our new mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social to prioritize weather intelligence and infrastructural resiliency for all NY'ers
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Why do I overlay the elections data? To impress on everyone the fact that Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa voters alike are beset by extreme weather crises, and that it is incumbent on our new mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social to prioritize weather intelligence and infrastructural resiliency for all NY'ers
one in Hollis, Queens, at the cross-intersection of 204th St and 100th Ave,
and the second in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at Kingston Ave and Rutland Rd.
and the second in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at Kingston Ave and Rutland Rd.
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
one in Hollis, Queens, at the cross-intersection of 204th St and 100th Ave,
and the second in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at Kingston Ave and Rutland Rd.
and the second in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, at Kingston Ave and Rutland Rd.
Yesterday, I had the idea to look at FloodNet, a joint collaboration between the New York City government, NYU, and CUNY to collect real-time flood sensor data and quickly detect urban flash flooding situations.
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Yesterday, I had the idea to look at FloodNet, a joint collaboration between the New York City government, NYU, and CUNY to collect real-time flood sensor data and quickly detect urban flash flooding situations.
Throwback to the pumpkin I carved for the @aoc.bsky.social 2018 campaign during spooky season that year. Astonishing to witness how much New York’s political landscape has metamorphosed since.
October 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Throwback to the pumpkin I carved for the @aoc.bsky.social 2018 campaign during spooky season that year. Astonishing to witness how much New York’s political landscape has metamorphosed since.
As governor, Andrew Cuomo shut down Indian Point, a three-unit nuclear power plant in Peekskill, NY.
Consequently, median electricity prices in the state nearly doubled from $24.70 / MWh to $45.39 / MWh in 2023.
Do not vote for Cuomo.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
Consequently, median electricity prices in the state nearly doubled from $24.70 / MWh to $45.39 / MWh in 2023.
Do not vote for Cuomo.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
October 17, 2025 at 1:06 AM
As governor, Andrew Cuomo shut down Indian Point, a three-unit nuclear power plant in Peekskill, NY.
Consequently, median electricity prices in the state nearly doubled from $24.70 / MWh to $45.39 / MWh in 2023.
Do not vote for Cuomo.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
Consequently, median electricity prices in the state nearly doubled from $24.70 / MWh to $45.39 / MWh in 2023.
Do not vote for Cuomo.
freopp.org/whitepapers/...
Looking back at old materials I created during my tenure at the New York State legislature, with the purpose of training the incoming chiefs of staff and legislative directors of the democratic socialist lawmakers elected in 2020 — including Zohran Mamdani’s staff.
October 15, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Looking back at old materials I created during my tenure at the New York State legislature, with the purpose of training the incoming chiefs of staff and legislative directors of the democratic socialist lawmakers elected in 2020 — including Zohran Mamdani’s staff.
☀️ Although NYCEM has had a surge of hiring in recent years, most of these hires are driven by the City's delegating the response to the influx of asylum seekers to the city to NYCEM. Deliberate efforts must be made to increase the City's governmental capacity to address extreme weather hazards.
September 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
☀️ Although NYCEM has had a surge of hiring in recent years, most of these hires are driven by the City's delegating the response to the influx of asylum seekers to the city to NYCEM. Deliberate efforts must be made to increase the City's governmental capacity to address extreme weather hazards.
Some insights I found:
💵 The contours of funding for NYCEM are enormously driven by grantmaking from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
💵 The contours of funding for NYCEM are enormously driven by grantmaking from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
September 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Some insights I found:
💵 The contours of funding for NYCEM are enormously driven by grantmaking from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
💵 The contours of funding for NYCEM are enormously driven by grantmaking from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
I also discuss some of my thoughts on how our almost-certain-to-be Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his administration should prepare to protect New Yorkers from extreme heat in summers to come.
September 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I also discuss some of my thoughts on how our almost-certain-to-be Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his administration should prepare to protect New Yorkers from extreme heat in summers to come.
☀️ NEW PIECE ☀️
Today's writing on my Substack, Alphabet Agency, is an analysis of New York City Emergency Management Department, the city's chief agency for coordinating disaster relief efforts.
Today's writing on my Substack, Alphabet Agency, is an analysis of New York City Emergency Management Department, the city's chief agency for coordinating disaster relief efforts.
September 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
☀️ NEW PIECE ☀️
Today's writing on my Substack, Alphabet Agency, is an analysis of New York City Emergency Management Department, the city's chief agency for coordinating disaster relief efforts.
Today's writing on my Substack, Alphabet Agency, is an analysis of New York City Emergency Management Department, the city's chief agency for coordinating disaster relief efforts.
Perks of having jobs in universities: getting surprised by free books I never asked for
September 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Perks of having jobs in universities: getting surprised by free books I never asked for
when your city getting flooded inspires you to study and work even harder to build infrastructural and institutional resilience against extreme weather 😤
July 15, 2025 at 11:10 PM
when your city getting flooded inspires you to study and work even harder to build infrastructural and institutional resilience against extreme weather 😤
building my personal website and learning some pixel art along the way.
can’t wait to launch in a few weeks 🙂
can’t wait to launch in a few weeks 🙂
March 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
building my personal website and learning some pixel art along the way.
can’t wait to launch in a few weeks 🙂
can’t wait to launch in a few weeks 🙂
Europe: *History happens again*
Metternich: hur-durrr
Metternich: hur-durrr
March 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Europe: *History happens again*
Metternich: hur-durrr
Metternich: hur-durrr
This is the most disgraceful moment in American foreign policy in recent times.
Long live Ukraine, long live Europe, long live liberal internationalist democracy.
May there be light at the end of this epochal calamity.
Long live Ukraine, long live Europe, long live liberal internationalist democracy.
May there be light at the end of this epochal calamity.
March 4, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This is the most disgraceful moment in American foreign policy in recent times.
Long live Ukraine, long live Europe, long live liberal internationalist democracy.
May there be light at the end of this epochal calamity.
Long live Ukraine, long live Europe, long live liberal internationalist democracy.
May there be light at the end of this epochal calamity.
An unfortunate-named company
February 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
An unfortunate-named company
Fascinating passage from “Chip War” on how the Volcker shock (21.5% rates) screwed over American semiconductor firms facing massive capex financing requirements.
By contrast, Japanese DRAM firms had much cheaper capital
By contrast, Japanese DRAM firms had much cheaper capital
February 7, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Fascinating passage from “Chip War” on how the Volcker shock (21.5% rates) screwed over American semiconductor firms facing massive capex financing requirements.
By contrast, Japanese DRAM firms had much cheaper capital
By contrast, Japanese DRAM firms had much cheaper capital
I'd love for you to read my latest piece, and if it resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a comment, and feel free to reach out!
alphabetagency.substack.com/p/does-extre...
alphabetagency.substack.com/p/does-extre...
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I'd love for you to read my latest piece, and if it resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a comment, and feel free to reach out!
alphabetagency.substack.com/p/does-extre...
alphabetagency.substack.com/p/does-extre...
As universal as weather prediction may seem, even weather cannot escape geopolitics. The US and China are likely to be embroiled in yet another front of great power conflict: becoming a weather superpower.
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
As universal as weather prediction may seem, even weather cannot escape geopolitics. The US and China are likely to be embroiled in yet another front of great power conflict: becoming a weather superpower.
His research broaches critical questions on how climate dynamics, such as ENSO and teleconnections, can influence regional geopolitical tensions, such as militarized fishing disputes in the East and South China Seas.
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
His research broaches critical questions on how climate dynamics, such as ENSO and teleconnections, can influence regional geopolitical tensions, such as militarized fishing disputes in the East and South China Seas.
One theme from Toal's book that particularly resonated with me is in the shared themes between the climate movement and historical framing of geopolitics: namely, the notion that strategizing on climate action and foreign policy is done so as a "struggle for existence."
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
One theme from Toal's book that particularly resonated with me is in the shared themes between the climate movement and historical framing of geopolitics: namely, the notion that strategizing on climate action and foreign policy is done so as a "struggle for existence."
Last year, I came across Gerard Toal's book "Oceans Rise, Empires Fall: Why Geopolitics Hastens Climate Catastrophe." It's the text that first motivated my foray into the intersection of climate change-induced extreme weather and foreign affairs.
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Last year, I came across Gerard Toal's book "Oceans Rise, Empires Fall: Why Geopolitics Hastens Climate Catastrophe." It's the text that first motivated my foray into the intersection of climate change-induced extreme weather and foreign affairs.
A year ago, I was a participant in the @leapstc.bsky.social Momentum Winter Bootcamp at @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, beginning an incredible journey into the world of climate modeling using machine learning.
Now for 2025, I’m excited to be back as a coach for this year’s participants!
Now for 2025, I’m excited to be back as a coach for this year’s participants!
January 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
A year ago, I was a participant in the @leapstc.bsky.social Momentum Winter Bootcamp at @columbiauniversity.bsky.social, beginning an incredible journey into the world of climate modeling using machine learning.
Now for 2025, I’m excited to be back as a coach for this year’s participants!
Now for 2025, I’m excited to be back as a coach for this year’s participants!
SideQuest w/ @fractaltechnyc
creating a new universe :)
creating a new universe :)
January 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
SideQuest w/ @fractaltechnyc
creating a new universe :)
creating a new universe :)