Key Takeaways From San Francisco's Updated Open Data Strategy
San Francisco, California Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com
The City by the Bay continues to expand its open data portal while looking for new ways to get residents to utilize it.
SF OpenData plans to release more municipal datasets on its transparency websites while aiming to get a broader range of San Franciscans to use them, according to the city’s updated Open Data Strategy, now in its second year.
The City and County of San Francisco published 264 datasets and inventoried 740 more in the open data portal’s first year, according to its tracking dashboard DataSF In Progress, but 64.3 percent of datasets remain unpublished while 30.8 percent are in progress.
San Francisco City Hall wants to improve decisionmaking through internal data and public data by inviting employees, local entrepreneurs and never-before-reached residents to use the information to improve services and create jobs.
“Data is driving the economy of the future,” said Mayor Ed Lee, announcing San Francisco’s new strategy. “Our goal is to position San Francisco as a City that both feeds and participates in the emerging data economy.”
Having completed a dataset inventory last year, SF OpenData plans to build an “Endorse a Dataset” feature so city employees and residents can weigh in on what data should be published next.
Another plan highlight is the city’s goal to allow use of private—but still protected—data for coordinated care:
Our most vulnerable individuals touch multiple systems—education, human services, and criminal justice—which have historically operated in silos. The transition to coordinated care will better meet the needs of our clients by tailoring care to meet the needs of each individual, rather than administering programs with a one-size-fits-all approach.
A coordinated care approach is best carried out when multiple jurisdictions are able to share data about the individuals they are jointly serving, so that efforts are not duplicated, and the dosage of services is based on the right mix of supports.
The shift will necessitate the amendment of data-sharing laws and policies, so San Francisco aims to establish a center that will standardize everything across departments.
Last year, the city started offering online and classroom training on data use—dubbed the Data Acadamy. This year, officials want to turn it into a professional development institution:
The demand for courses has been high with every course at capacity and with a waitlist. For Year 2, we want to add classes, bring in external trainers, and explore ways to leverage massive open online courses. Part of the curriculum extension will be to incorporate classes that are targeted at managerial and leadership roles. In addition, we want to explore integrating Data Academy courses into formal training venues or as part of job series.
Only by improving data literacy can the city increase its data capacity and create a citywide culture around the information, according to the strategy.
The full plan, with all of San Francisco’s data goals, is available through this Google Doc.
Dave Nyczepir is News Editor for Government Executive’s Route Fifty.
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