Jon Berroya

🇵🇭🇺🇸 Made in NY. Tech Policy & Law (@Google). Hoyas. Yankees.

[Arnold Schwarzenegger @Schwarzenegger]

Happy Independence Day!

There’s a story from the end of the Revolutionary War I want to tell as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and it’s one everyone in the world can learn from.

George Washington, at that moment, after commanding the American forces to victory, was the most powerful man in the new country. Many people talked about making him King of America.

Across the ocean, King George was sitting with an American painter, and asked what he thought Washington would do now that the war was ending. The painter said he believed he would go back to his farm.

The King said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”

As the war officially ended, Washington came to speak to Congress and said, “Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action.” He returned his commission they’d given him in 1775 - after more than 8 years of leading the Americans to victory without pay, and he was home at Mount Vernon for Christmas.

Of course, he was elected as our first President a few years later, and after two terms, showed the same selflessness again when he willingly gave up his power and went back to Mount Vernon again.

That’s true greatness. He had all the power in the world. But power, alone, does not make you great.

Washington’s greatness came from being a true servant - to a cause much bigger than himself. His greatness was his complete lack of selfishness.

The whole story of American Independence is a story of selflessness. It’s a story of people who set their self-interest aside and worked for each other.

We’ve all heard the line about “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Apparently, Ben Franklin might have actually never said that.

But that’s fine, because the same mentality is right there in the last line of the Declaration of Independence, published on this day 250 years ago:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

We mutually pledge to each other.

No one was in this alone. No one was in it for themselves. This was a group of people with different backgrounds who were in it for each other.

Today is a reminder: greatness comes from what we do for each other, never what we do for ourselves.

That’s a lesson that applies no matter what country you call home.

It’s a lesson that doesn’t require any law passed by a politician, because, let’s be honest, if you’re waiting for selfless politicians, I really hope you are not holding your breath.

All of us have the power to be there for the people around us. For our families and friends. For our neighbors. For everyone.

All of us can reach for greatness.

It’s as simple as looking beyond yourself, seeing past the mirror, picking your eyes up from your phone, and pledging to be there for each other.

Happy Fourth. May you all find your own version of greatness today by lifting each other up.

Lift up your neighborhood. Lift up America. Lift up the World.

[Chuck D @MrChuckD]

Yo ⁦@DeLaSoulsDugout⁩ ⁦@WeAreDeLaSoul⁩ ⁦@rockhall⁩ please

[National League of Cities @leagueofcities]

Atlanta is one of many cities embracing the possibilities of AI – from using computer vision to detect illegal dumping and roadside debris, to analyzing signal timing so that traffic flows more efficiently.

“I like thinking about how technologies can improve cities,” says @CityofAtlanta Mayor @andreforatlanta on our latest episode of CitiesSpeak with @ceanthony50.

This Thanksgiving Weekend, take a minute to listen to Mayor Dickens and @jonberroya, @Google's Government Affairs and Public Policy Director, on potential areas for integrating AI into municipal services and ensuring it is used ethically and equitably.

Listen now at https://t.co/gQAzI3nHkQ.

[The Associated Press @AP]

BREAKING: Yusef Salaam, one of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” has won a Democratic primary, all but assuring him a seat on the New York City Council. https://t.co/XzHYSgsEz4

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

It’s so great to see ⁦@sesamestreet⁩ welcome a Filipino American muppet into the neighborhood! ✊🏼🇵🇭 https://t.co/jvnZfasLbp

[Google Public Policy @googlepubpolicy]

Applications to become a Summer 2023 Google Public Policy Fellow are now open! If you're a student interested in the Internet and tech policy, apply today: https://t.co/AZtHP7WLx8

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

Your worth is not defined by what you achieve or acquire. It’s a question of who you become and how you contribute to others.

Self-esteem should come from character, not success or status. The highest accomplishment is to be a person of generosity, curiosity, and integrity.

[Leah Goodridge @leahfrombklyn]

Earlier this week, NYPD arrested Jazz Ajilo, a beloved subway musician. New Yorkers were outraged.

In response, Mayor Adams said the subway is out of control and he was elected to fix it. It’s “not the place for disorder.”

So…here’s a thread of that…“disorder”.🧵

[Georgetown Hoops @GeorgetownHoops]

Congratulations to Otto Porter Jr. and the @warriors on the @NBA Championship!!!! 🏆 💍

#HOYASAXA | #NBAHoyas | #NBAFinals

[Wanda Sykes @iamwandasykes]

When Lunar New Year and the first day of Black History Month fall on the same day

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

@GTeninbaum

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

@mmasnick

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

Great 🧵, regardless of your perspective on this issue.

[L.A. Public Library @LAPublicLibrary]

Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.

Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR

[Preet Bharara @PreetBharara]

I’m Asian American and I belong here. RT if you are too or you agree.

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

🚀🚀🚀🚀

[Casual Hoya @CasualHoya]

GEORGETOWN IS THE GAMESTOP OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

@GTeninbaum With all due respect to BP & the CK5 for having a hit that came back from the 💀, I vote no. Having said that, if a COVER cracks the top ten, then I’d count it as a hit for the band that recorded the cover.

[Jon Berroya @jonberroya]

IA’s member companies and its partners @HBCUCaucus, @tmcf_hbcu, @AnitaB_org, and @NatUrbanLeague, are working to connect diverse jobseekers with opportunities in our industry. Learn more and check out the website👇🏼

[Bo Jackson @BoJackson]

Sometimes I still do this when grilling in the backyard