parse_csv.py

#!/usr/bin/env python


import csv

potholes_by_block = { }

def make_block(address):
    '''
    Rewrite an address to strip address to 1000's\
        (10 blocks)
    '''
    parts = address.split()
    # For numbers like '5412' this makes '5XXX'
    parts[0] = parts[:-3] + 'XXX'
    return ' '.join(parts)

f = open('potholes.csv')
for row in csv.DictReader(f):
    status = row['STATUS']
    if status == 'Open':
        address = row['STREET ADDRESS']
        # Change address to block ???

        num = row['NUMBER OF POTHOLES FILLED ON BLOCK']

        # Tabulate
        block = make_block(address)
        if block not in potholes_by_address:
            # This is the first occurance of address

            potholes_by_block[block] = 1
        else:
            potholes_by_block[block] += 1