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NYC to Release 135 Data Sets by 2014

The data sets are intended for use by citizens, businesses, non-profit groups and entrepreneurs, and complement the city’s current archive of more than 1,300 data sets.

This week, New York City officials released a new report chronicling past and present open data efforts since the passage of its open data by default law in 2012.

In the report, the city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) announced that 135 data sets -- information taken from city departments for public use -- are scheduled for release by the end of 2014, and 100 more will be released in 2015.

The data sets are intended for use by citizens, businesses, non-profit groups and entrepreneurs and, according to the release, complement the city’s current archive of more than 1,300 data sets that reside in the city’s open data portal.

Since the open data law’s adoption and subsequent NYC Open Data Plan implementation in 2013, city agencies have been required to methodically categorize and release data in open formats and without cost to citizens.

The report represents New York’s first annual update.

Additionally, the data sets complement the city’s current archive of more than 1,300 data sets that reside in the city’s open data portal and are intended to engage citizens, spur entrepreneurial activity and support the city’s services. Acting Chief Open Platform Officer Nicholas O’Brien, described the report as one that showed both a commitment to open data, as well as a testament to just how far the city has come since its start.

“This update demonstrates New York City’s commitment to government transparency and openness,” O’Brien said. “New York is a national pioneer in open data, and this plan provides a road map for our continued leadership in this area,” O’Brien said.

The city listed a number of “highly sought-after” open data sets in its release, and they can be found below. However, access to the compete list can be found here.

New York’s Most Requested Data Sets

  • Motor Vehicle Collision Data (published by the New York City Police Department) – details collision data from July 2012 to the present.
  • Lost property contact information (Taxi and Limousine Commission) – allows individuals to trace individual taxi cabs to their base locations. The data set includes the phone number of each base, allowing users to immediately contact bases and retrieve lost items.
  • Flu shot locations (Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) – provides individuals with information on facilities in the city providing seasonal flu shot vaccinations. Facility locations, contact information and vaccine prices are among the data provided.
  • Farmers market locations (Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) – provides information on city farmers markets, including locations and times that each market is open. The data set also includes whether each market accepts EBT and Health Bucks, allowing residents to purchase affordable, fresh produce from local farmers.
  • Monthly tonnage reports (Department of Sanitation) – allows users to sort by district the monthly values of refuse; paper recycling; and metal, glass and plastic recycling.
  • Graffiti information (Department of Sanitation) – lists information on reported incidents of graffiti, including the location and outcome of each incident.
  • Permitted event information (Office of the Mayor) – includes details of approved event applications up to one month in advance.
  • Multiple data sets published by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Included among these crucial data sets are a list of buildings registered for multiple-family dwelling and information on violations within rental dwelling units.
 

Jason Shueh is a former staff writer for Government Technology magazine.