Open by default: Building San Francisco’s open data program

San Francisco was one of the first U.S. cities to commit to open data—but early success wasn’t guaranteed to scale. As the steward of the city’s open data program, I worked to evolve a patchwork initiative into a world-class platform and culture of data transparency.

We moved from compliance to collaboration, from policy to participation. What emerged became a blueprint replicated by cities around the world.

The Challenge

Open data policies had been adopted, but the infrastructure, workflows, and culture to support meaningful transparency weren’t yet in place. Departments were hesitant. Datasets were inconsistent. And the public wasn’t always clear how to engage or why it mattered.

The question:

How do you embed open data into the bones of city government—so it becomes muscle memory, not just a mandate?

My Role

I led the revitalization and expansion of San Francisco’s open data program across dozens of city departments. My work included:

• Updating the city’s Open Data Program and governance models
• Creating tooling and publishing standards for high-quality datasets
• Supporting citywide data literacy and capacity-building efforts
• Facilitating engagement between departments and the public
• Ensuring equity and accessibility were central to platform design

The Work

• Policy into practice:

We revised internal data sharing protocols and implemented department-specific playbooks to operationalize transparency.

• Platform development:

Collaborated with the city’s digital services team to enhance the usability, reliability, and discoverability of datasets on DataSF.

• Community engagement:

We engaged civic technologists, journalists, and residents to co-create priorities and shape new features.

• Internal enablement:

Worked across departments to embed open data liaisons, develop KPIs, and align data with program goals.

Impact

San Francisco’s open data program became one of the most respected in the country:

• Featured by the Sunlight Foundation and Harvard’s Data-Smart City initiative
• Adopted as a model by cities and states worldwide
• Provided critical data infrastructure that supported later public health and equity responses
• Sparked internal cultural shifts toward openness and trust

Reflections

Open data is often treated as a compliance checkbox. But done well, it’s a public service, a civic trust, and a feedback loop. We didn’t just open datasets—we opened doors. And in doing so, we helped government become more knowable, more navigable, and more accountable.