Sebastian Hallum Clarke

Product manager working on Google Maps. Dreaming of more prosperous and vibrant New York at

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

@RossBarkan Your bank likely has a system to mail checks to payees on your behalf – this is a free online service (sometimes called “bill pay”) through many banks. Might save you the hassle of mailing the check yourself!

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

@sonyasupposedly My daughter started sleeping from 7pm to 6am (without overnight wakes) when she was 5 weeks old.

We’ve had a few regressions and bumps along the way since then, but it totally is possible!

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

I wrote a short guide on how to make public comments in NYC that actually move the needle.

➡️ Speak clearly.
➡️ Connect over shared values.
➡️ Signal warmth and credibility.

Read the full write-up here: https://t.co/lK2q3rBrGi

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Potentially unpopular opinion: many public comments at community boards and City Council meetings are muddled and low-quality.

Some comments even negatively polarize decision-makers against the speaker’s point of view.

Don’t be like these people!

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

I’ve listened to hundreds of public comments as a NYC community board member.

The gap between what speakers think is effective and what actually moves decision-makers is enormous.

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

@USArice420 @aarmlovi There are actually over 2 million IDNYC card holders! https://t.co/8qKfkhCZ3Q

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

@mattyglesias Even the City of New York (i.e. NYC’s municipal government) is technically a corporation!

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

@JohnSurico Property owners are required to clear curb cuts by 12:30pm today.

If you see a curb cut that needs attention after that time, report it! https://t.co/0DfSEvZcGo

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Great to see the Mayor and Speaker forming this commission to review the pay of NYC elected officials. Their salaries haven’t been increased since 2015, while inflation has taken a big bite out of their paychecks.

If you want good governance, you have to pay for it.

[Jeff Coltin @JCColtin]

Friday news dump: Mamdani and Menin are forming a pay raise commission, a step towards raising city politicians' salaries.
De Blasio and Adams both refused to convene these commissions, which are meant to happen every four years.

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Looking forward to seeing Ryder in New York’s state assembly.

He’s done incredible work organizing NYC’s abundance-focused community, and we’d be so lucky to have that same dedication in our legislature.

[Ryder Kessler @ryderkessler]

I’m running for Assembly in District 66!

Why? Because I love New York more than anything—and that means fighting for its future.

It’s time for leaders who aren’t just progressive, but aggressive. Not just resisting, but rebuilding. Not just demanding, but delivering.

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

A great plan for subway expansion, and an excellent opportunity to use value capture taxes to help the project pay for itself! https://t.co/Mcww0nLIN9

[Mark D. Levine @MarkLevineNYC]

Huge announcement from @GovKathyHochul:

Next phase of 2nd Av subway expansion would cross west on 125th St all the way to Broadway, connecting to busy stations on the 2/3, A/B/C/D, and 1 lines.

This would provide much needed crosstown access for 100s of thousands of uptown residents. Truly exciting.
https://t.co/K2HtQ6rxLN

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Increase the toll, create new congestion pricing zones, and tighten the rules for taxis/Ubers.

Full details + maps: https://t.co/3TEVMioVJn

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

With the widespread rollout of automatic license plate reader cameras (e.g. for tolls by mail on bridges and congestion pricing) it would be easy for the MTA/DOT/PANYNJ to identify out-of-state vehicles that spend an implausibly high number of days in NYC.

[Ben Furnas @bfurnas]

We disagree on a lot, but @BobHoldenNYC and @PhilWongNYC2025 are spot on about the importance of cracking down on “garage fraud” that makes our streets more dangerous and raises costs for everyone.

https://t.co/6BQ7pfeTsE

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Congestion pricing keeps winning. Now is the time to accelerate NYC’s congestion pricing, raise the toll, and fund better transit service.

https://t.co/3TEVMioVJn

[Adam Carlson @admcrlsn]

I’m a poll guy not a policy expert, but surely this has to be one of the most objectively successful policies in recent memory?

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

I’ve been saying this for years: NYC should pay our elected officials much more — and it wouldn’t cost a lot!

https://t.co/IBMbarazye

[City & State NY @CityAndStateNY]

Adjusted for inflation, pay for New York City Council members hasn’t gone up that much in the past few decades.
https://t.co/KfGIK4GBDd

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Calling all skiers: ski lifts and ski trails are now in @GoogleMaps!
🎿⛷️❄️

Just pull up the map of your favorite resort in Google Maps to plan where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around the mountain.

[Nick Fox @thefox]

Ski lift and trail information is back on @googlemaps -- get fresh info on the mountain, right in time for winter break! ⛷️ Check out an example from one of my fav areas to hit the slopes: https://t.co/vkhAEp44tz

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

I just donated to support @VitalCityNYC’s great work covering New York stories that matter.

[Vital City @VitalCityNYC]

That’s why we’re launching our first-ever fundraising campaign. We’re aiming for 700 inaugural supporters by December 31 to help us meet this moment.
If you appreciate our work, we hope you’ll make a tax-deductible gift to Vital City on this #GivingTuesday.
👉https://t.co/pi7UmoGZOy

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Read the full details: https://t.co/nAh0wWPHOR

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

New York’s next mayor has a powerful tool most people overlook: a Charter Revision Commission.

It’s the fastest way to deliver early wins on housing affordability, faster buses, and a more capable city government.

My latest on why Mamdani should start here:

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

And for a glimpse at how much your building pays in tax: https://t.co/cnAbsngB6Y

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

Tackling NYC’s deeply unfair property tax system would be an excellent achievement for Mamdani’s administration.

[Nick Garber @nick_garber]

Spoke yesterday with Dean Fuleihan, Zohran Mamdani's incoming first deputy mayor, who said, among other things, that the mayor-elect is serious about property tax reform.

"This is a problem that is growing and it can't continue to be ignored."
https://t.co/Aiqux5fMSW

[Sebastian Hallum Clarke @sebthedev]

For a reminder of how perverse our current system is: https://t.co/qBegqjywBW