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, at GLASS, 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 a 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 is available in a variety of formats, including CSV, JSON, and KML, and can be downloaded for free. OD 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. The city states that “the 2023 Adopted Budget included approximately $7.4 billion in appropriations overall, including $1.6 billion for the General Fund (...) closing a $141 million revenue gap with making progress on the priorities identified in Mayor Harrell’s initial budget proposal: improving public safety, urgent action on housing and homelessness, and delivering the essential City services that residents expect and demand.” 

The OB Portal is an easy and accessible way to explore Seattle’s operating budget, and find out how the city is spending the money. For instance, it appears that over 40% of the budget –$2,410,500,648 – is apportioned to utilities, transportation, and the environment!

⚡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: Basic City Services, Safe and Healthy Communities, Affordability and Livability, Homelessness Response, Equity in City Contracting, Environment and Climate Change, and Future of Work.

⚡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, that are typically funded by long-term borrowing or dedicated revenue sources. People can easily search for projects by location, type, or stage, and can also view project details on an interactive map.

⚡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). The Open GIS Portal offers a wide range of geospatial data and tools, including maps, aerial imagery, and datasets related to transportation, land use, utilities, and other topics. 

⚡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. Users can explore the data by neighborhood, time period, and type of crime, and also view data in different formats such as maps, graphs, and charts. The Seattle Police Department Data Maps are updated regularly, providing residents with the most up-to-date information about crime and public safety in their neighborhoods. 

It is evident that the city has taken remarkable steps towards building and maintaining an open government, which is one of their 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.

At GLASS, promoting the development of open and continuously improving governments is of utmost importance to us. That’s why we’re dedicated to contributing to this common governmental goal through the creation of Glass Commerce, a tool designed to assist Local, State, and Federal governments in achieving greater openness and transparency in the realm of government procurement.

Would you like to learn more about our procurement work with Seattle? Are you interested in discovering how you can achieve greater openness in government when it comes to public procurement? Don't hesitate to reach out and let us know!

This blog was written by Gisela Montes, GovTech Community Lead at Glass.