Work · Public Data
DataCuse
Building Syracuse's first open-data program: not simply a portal, but a more durable way to make public information useful.
The problem
Public datasets were scattered across systems and departments. That made it harder for residents to find information, and harder for the city itself to build on what it already knew.
What we tried
We paired a public portal with the less glamorous work behind it: a data inventory, publishing standards, a privacy policy, and a process that departments could actually use.
My role
As Syracuse's first Chief Data Officer, I led the program's creation and worked across city agencies to make open data a shared practice rather than a one-time launch.
What happened
DataCuse gave Syracuse its first open-data program and established the city's first open-data policy. It created a reusable public capability, with a clearer path from information held by government to information people could use.
What I learned
“Open by default” only becomes real when it comes with enough structure. The policy and the operating habits matter as much as the public-facing website.