Conference Presentation, Fireside Chat, Panel
The Open Data Opportunity: How Government Information Can Change the Way California Does Business
Milken InstituteKevin Cloud, Jason Barrett, Ben Welsh, Deep Varma, Alex Padilla, Alicia Ruo, Ted Ross
- Landmark legislation (AB 169 and SB 272) aims to shift government culture from information withholding to default availability, though success depends on a critical leadership mindset shift to prioritize effectiveness over mere transparency.
- Without specific legal directives, government departments are expected to continue withholding data due to fear of errors or lack of cultural change, while restrictive judicial interpretations and lack of frequency mandates may prevent automated, frequent crime data release from agencies like the LAPD for some time.
- Future data standards are predicted to evolve into a common language similar to 1990s HTML to ensure consistent rendering, with necessary definitions for data freshness and frequency to maintain relevance for consumers.
- Regional standardization is identified as essential for cross-jurisdictional comparability, particularly within Southern California, with large cities expected to lead in establishing these conceptual standards to create a consensus where non-participation becomes undesirable.
- Technology is projected to enable exponential growth in internal government decision-making and resource deployment over the next 20 years, while automation of business filings and the digitization of archival records like prison logs will enhance economic development and educational value.
- Private sector benefits include the elimination of manual file conversion costs, allowing firms like Trulia to focus on consumer-facing features such as crime and school data, with the expectation that the current benefits of open data represent only the surface level of a much larger potential.
- Economic development is expected to be facilitated by private sector participation where companies return value through data exchanges (APIs) without direct payment, alongside quantifiable financial returns from closing redundant systems that will outweigh implementation costs over time.
- Specific limitations remain where data regarding undercover officers and certain criminal investigations will stay unavailable to protect operational security, while crime data release may persistently face barriers regarding record age limits (e.g., six-month restrictions).
- Operational efficiency gains are anticipated through the identification of recurring complaints via 311 data, reduced call volumes, and the ability for citizens to report minor crimes via mobile apps without in-person visits, contingent on publishing data only after identifying a downstream audience.
- Implementation challenges include the perception of open data as an added burden during staff reductions and budget cuts, the difficulty of justifying immediate Return on Investment (ROI), and the tension where technological innovation outpaces public policy, requiring a "tipping point" where progressive leaders bring reluctant jurisdictions on board.
- Future success will be measured by local agencies' commitment to publishing enterprise systems rather than the existence of laws, with efforts to replicate the City of Los Angeles' success through documentation and policies, and a campaign finance website currently undergoing upgrades after remaining static since launch.
- The Code for America model of embedding Silicon Valley talent for one-year public service terms is considered the only feasible duration for high earners to commit to government roles, while future open data initiatives must balance innovative capitalist models with the ethical and non-corruptible requirements of civil service.