San Francisco's Open Data Legislation
Last week, Mayor Gavin Newsom signed a first-of-its-kind open data law requiring San Francisco's City departments and agencies to post certain types of data sets to a publicly accessible portal at DataSF.org.
This cements progress made under an executive directive in 2009 and marks a significant expansion of San Francisco's Open Data policy.
Mayor Newsom said:
San Francisco once again demonstrates what it means to be on the cutting edge of government openness and transparency
By making data sets publicly available, we’re forging valuable public-private partnerships with app developers and making City services easier to access for our residents.
San Francisco’s open data policy builds on President Obama’s call for more open and transparent government. Newsom explained how this leadership, at the Executive level, is a guide for elected officials around the country:
President Obama’s leadership in pressing for easier access to government data should be a wake-up call to elected officials around the country. Open data is quickly becoming the gold standard of accountability and transparency that all citizens will come to demand..
I’m proud that here in San Francisco, we’re ahead of the curve on this important government 2.0 initiative.
