Seattle open data policy will improve public access to city information
Seattle is the next city to follow in the footsteps of open data reforms implemented by San Francisco, New York City, the District of Columbia, and other cities. Data.Seattle.gov is planned as a Web site that will publish city data sets to be downloaded by citizens, or used by citizen programmers to build Web-based applications that serve city information. “We believe that information belongs to the people of Seattle,” said Mayor Mike McGinn in a news release.
The first data sets available are those published on My Neighborhood Map — including aggregated crime statistics, schools, farmer’s markets, public facilities, museums, light rail and ferry stops, and public infrastructure repairs.
Seattle CIO Bill Schrier said that Seattle will publish police and fire 911 data sets next, to liberate a new generation of city information services designed and maintained by citizen programmers, not city contractors. Schrier plans to seed those independent efforts with a $25,000 Apps for Seattle contest in June or July.
The inventory of data published on Data.Seattle.gov will grow as city departments release their data sets. The site will be open to comments or suggestions to improve and expand published data sets.
In addition to spurring the independent development of information services at low cost to the city, the release of data will reduce Seattle’s burden of responding to public records requests. “If you’re spending a lot of time getting people Freedom of Information Act information on employee salaries or building permits, those are the ones you ought to ship over first to Data.Seattle.Gov and then you’ll free up all of that time,” Schrier said.
Furthermore, Seattle officials aim to improve the responsiveness of government operations by making performance metrics independently verifiable. “I’m looking forward to seeing people interpret and apply this data to improving our city services for their neighborhoods and businesses. I expect to see a more responsive and cost efficient city government as a result,” said Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata in a statement.
