Several major cities like Seattle, San Francisco, NYC, and DC are leading the way in publishing open data to increase government transparency. Making data available in open formats encourages more developer engagement and app creation, giving citizens more choices. As more apps are created that use open data, it leads to more data being collected and available, creating a virtuous cycle of increased civic participation through technology. Existing examples include a multi-channel bill status app for the New York State Senate and a transit location finder accessed through instant messaging.