Bloomberg Signs Law to Release City Data by 2018

Many of the facts and figures officials use to track the status of New York City will be available to the public online by 2018.

A law signed Wednesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg requires agencies to place their numerical data online over the next six years. The agencies must use an open format that will allow others to perform independent analyses of the information.

Whatever information agencies already keep online will have to be reposted in the new, spreadsheet-friendly format within 12 months.

The measure has been welcomed by transparency advocates, some of whom have voiced frustration that much city data remains difficult to access.

The bill doesn't apply to information the government is already allowed to withhold from the public. Information that is not regularly updated is also excluded.