Tech committee expected to approve NYC open data bill

A bill that would require city data to be made more accessible to the public online is expected to sail through the council's technology committee Tuesday.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Upper West Side), aims to make more city databases available on a single web portal, including information about permits and violations kept by agencies.

The bill "represents two policies I have been advocating on for many years: smart technology and government transparency," said Brewer, a member of the technology committee. "This legislation will make thousands of city government databases available to the public, and give the public insight for the first time into the universe of data maintained by New York City government."

The full council could vote on the bill as soon as Wednesday.

An amNewYork report last year found that several city agencies failed to provide certain records in a timely manner required by the Freedom of Information Law.