Socrata README: document current LADBS permit feed (pi9x-tg5x, live but no contractor names) + APN-owner recovery path

9cd4575538ea05fe895197dcf8b79ada0bc352e2 · 2026-08-10 22:04:38 -0700 · steve

Files touched

M ingest/socrata/README.md

Diff

commit 9cd4575538ea05fe895197dcf8b79ada0bc352e2
Author: steve <steve@designerwallcoverings.com>
Date:   Mon Aug 10 22:04:38 2026 -0700

    Socrata README: document current LADBS permit feed (pi9x-tg5x, live but no contractor names) + APN-owner recovery path
---
 ingest/socrata/README.md | 24 ++++++++++++++++++------
 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/ingest/socrata/README.md b/ingest/socrata/README.md
index 25282c9..a0aa8cc 100644
--- a/ingest/socrata/README.md
+++ b/ingest/socrata/README.md
@@ -21,10 +21,22 @@ python3 ingest.py --include-lessors     # also pull the 43k "Lessors of real est
 ```
 `SOCRATA_APP_TOKEN` (optional) avoids throttling on large pulls. Cost: $0 (keyless, local PG).
 
-## Known limitation / next step
-`d9aa-v8bm` is a HISTORICAL snapshot ending 2023-05-19, so the permit window is
-computed relative to the dataset's own max date (not today). For a live permit
-feed, source the current LADBS "Permit Information" dataset and swap `PERMITS_ID`.
+## Permit-dataset landscape (verified 2026-08-10)
+Two LADBS permit datasets exist, with a real trade-off:
 
-To keep this fresh automatically it should run on a schedule (launchd/cron) —
-that's a Steve-gated scheduled-job install, not auto-added here.
+| Dataset | Recency | Contractor/firm names? | Use for |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `d9aa-v8bm` (current `PERMITS_ID`) | historical, ends 2023-05 | YES — contractors_business_name + applicant | firm prospects (Contractor role) |
+| `pi9x-tg5x` "Building Permits Issued 2020→Present" | LIVE (to 2026-08-08) | NO — address/valuation/use/apn only | recent PROJECT SITES, not firms |
+
+**The current LADBS feed dropped contractor/owner names.** Swapping `PERMITS_ID` to
+`pi9x-tg5x` gains recency but LOSES the firm-name signal that made permits useful for
+prospecting. The permit window is computed relative to the dataset's own max
+`issue_date`, so `d9aa-v8bm` still yields its 2013–2023 contractors.
+
+**Recovery path for recent firm names:** `pi9x-tg5x` carries `apn` (assessor parcel #).
+A recent-commercial-permit pull → APN → LA County Assessor owner lookup would recover
+the OWNER on live projects (separate enrichment, not yet built). Meanwhile the
+**Active Businesses** dataset stays the primary current firm-prospect engine.
+
+Scheduled refresh is a Steve-gated launchd install, drafted to pending-approval.

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