Regular public consultation is a well-established practice for government in the U.S. at all levels. Technology has changed how governments collect feedback online and by providing a more open forum for participation to solicit feedback and integrate the public in the policymaking process. But, even when done with the best intentions, public consultations can provide mixed results.
Continue readingBalancing the books – how transparency can support good financial stewardship in cities big & small
Cities are responsible for the allocation of public funds to improve infrastructure, provide key services to residents, and attract businesses and tourists. To do so effectively, governments must practice good financial stewardship of these funds to the benefit of residents. But in small cities, seemingly small oversights in the distribution of funds can have far-reaching consequences for constituents. With rising suburban poverty and increasingly sparse federal funds for rural communities, cities depend on fiscal transparency and accountability to invest in residents’ quality of life.
Continue readingTackling inequities with transparency & community
In these times of growing economic and political inequality, cities are often on the frontlines of dealing with the consequences... View Article
Continue readingHow technology vendors see the future of open cities
At Sunlight, we’re accustomed to crafting open data programs alongside city governments and the communities they serve. In February 2019,... View Article
Continue readingImpactful open data through user research
This blog was originally posted on the Laserfiche ECM blog. Over the past four years, the Sunlight Foundation’s Open Cities team has... View Article
Continue readingWhat makes a good open data use case?
Planning with use cases can ensure that open data will be used to productive and potentially impactful ends.
Continue readingTactical Data Engagement will help Norfolk, VA make its fledgling open data program better, faster
One way Norfolk is building for a more resilient future is with a new open data program. In March we selected Norfolk to pilot Tactical Data Engagement. Here’s where we started on that work, and where we are planning to go.
Continue readingMemphis, TN uses a crowdlaw approach for its new open data policy
The City of Memphis unveiled a new open data policy earlier today, and we’re particularly excited about it because the city created the policy using crowdlaw, a relatively new part of our standard recommendations for cities.
Continue readingHow opening city data can support racial justice
Cities collect, store, analyze and disclose many different kinds of government data that are critical to understanding and addressing social inequality and racial justice. Advocates for equity can and must do more to demand more transparency from local authorities by working with cities to open up, close information gaps in their communities, and end data poverty.
Continue readingBuilding community around Durham’s open data
Open Cities analyst Noel Isama traveled to North Carolina to participate in Civic Spark Day, one of the ways Durham is incorporating community members’ feedback into its ongoing work opening data. This is what he learned.
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