This guide was created for Open Data Week 2019. More information about Open Data week can be found at https://www.open-data.nyc/ , https://betanyc.forms.fm/nyc-open-data-week-2019/forms/5741and https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doitt/about/press-releases/kicks-off-nyc-open-data-week-2019.page.
Special thanks to Julia Marden of Tiny Panther Consulting and Fred Wolfe of Nature Based NY. Their workshops taught this guide's author what Open Data is, why it is important, where to find it, and how to use it.