Discover the latest trends

Open Government stands for “the simple but powerful idea that governments and institutions work better for citizens when they are transparent, engaging and accountable, including principles such as transparency, participation, accountability, and inclusion,” said the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

Even though the concept has been around for centuries, it was not until the early 2000s, when a number of factors converged to create a growing demand for greater transparency and accountability in government, that it gained renewed attention and prominence.

We believe that there were two important factors that contributed to this renewed awareness. The first was the rise of the internet and digital technologies, which made it easier for governments to share information and for citizens to access it. The second was the growing recognition that corruption, fraud, and abuse of power were major challenges facing governments around the world and that greater openness and transparency could help to address these issues.

In response to these trends, a number of organizations and initiatives emerged to promote open government principles and practices. For instance, the Sunlight Foundation was founded in 2006 in the United States to promote transparency and accountability in government through the use of technology, and the Open Government Partnership was launched in 2011 to bring together governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to promote open government reforms around the world.

Regarding U.S. cities, many of them have launched open government programs and initiatives over the last two decades: San Francisco launched theirs in 2009, New York City in 2010, Chicago in 2012, and Boston in 2015. After 6 years working on an Open Data Program (ODP), the City of Seattle launched its Open Data Portal in 2016, which provides access to a wide range of datasets that are collected and maintained by the city, including information on everything from city budgets and expenditures to transportation, public safety, and environmental data. 

Let’s explore the City of Seattle’s Open Data Portal:

Open Data (OD): It offers over 200 datasets covering areas such as transportation, public safety, education, and finance; it also includes a number of tools and resources to help users analyze and visualize the data, including data visualization tools, data analysis software, and APIs that allow developers to build custom applications using the data.

Open Budget (OB): It provides access to the city’s budget and financial information in an easily accessible and transparent format. It is an easy and accessible way to explore Seattle’s operating budget and find out how the city is spending the money. 

Open Performance (OP): It is a comprehensive platform that serves as a centralized dashboard for Seattle residents to monitor the city’s progress in improving their quality of life. This platform tracks the city’s performance on seven crucial priority areas that are of utmost importance to residents.

Capital Projects Explorer (CPE): It is an online tool developed by the City of Seattle that provides information about the city’s capital projects, which are major construction or renovation projects, such as the construction of new buildings, parks, or transportation infrastructure.

Open GIS Portal: This online platform was developed by the City of Seattle to provide access to geospatial data and mapping tools. It was designed to promote transparency in city government, collaboration with the public, and innovation in the use of geographic information systems (GIS). 

Seattle Police Department Data Maps: These interactive and real-time maps provide information about various types of crime, such as burglaries, robberies, and assaults, and they also provide data on public safety issues, such as traffic collisions and 911 response times. 

It is evident that the city has taken remarkable steps towards building and maintaining an open government, which is one of its top priorities. It is worth noting that, in addition to all of these efforts, the city has made the option to propose an Open Data Project available to the public, further promoting citizen engagement.

Would you like to know other cases of cities that are implementing open government public policies? Let us know in the comments!