Cleveland’s public records department, with just five full-time staff members, was overwhelmed last year by approximately 33,000 requests ranging from police body cam footage to homicide statistics and building permits. This volume is comparable to that of Washington, D.C., a much larger city, which only received about 11,000 requests.
Liz Crowe, director of Quality Control at Cleveland’s Department of Urban Analytics & Innovation, and Mayor Justin Bibb introduced a groundbreaking solution to this deluge of inquiries: Cleveland’s inaugural Open Data Portal.
This digital treasure trove houses vast “overtime, trend-type, map-type” data that was previously accessible only through formal public records requests.
Mayor Justin Bibb (Credits: Cleveland.com)
This portal streamlines access to crucial city data, including traffic studies, property surveys, and water quality reports. It enhances transparency by giving skeptics and inquirers direct access to once-concealed information.
“By proactively releasing information…we can increase transparency. We can increase trust,” Crowe emphasized during the announcement. While leveraging his experience as a Smart Cities expert in D.C., Mayor Bibb highlighted the portal as a stride towards modernizing City Hall, noting that Cleveland joins 84 other U.S. cities with similar open data initiatives.
The portal, launched on Tuesday, features an array of user-friendly maps and statistics, from neighborhood census data to detailed city planning goals. However, some of the more complex maps might require expert interpretation.
Mayor Bibb (Credits: Spectrum News)
Despite the wealth of accessible data, requests for traditional public records are still required for audio and video materials, like bodycam footage.
Public safety data stands out as particularly sought after, with Assistant Law Director Amy Hough noting important demand from media, including frequent requests from Fox 8’s investigative reporter Ed Gallek.
Looking ahead, Cleveland plans to expand the portal’s offerings further, adding real-time tracking for 311 complaints and a searchable database for city cemetery plots, ensuring that Cleveland’s data “belongs to the residents of Cleveland.”
This digital initiative represents a crucial step in alleviating the burden on the city’s public records department and fostering a more transparent and informed community. It empowers Clevelanders with immediate access to a wide range of essential information.
