def date_str2csv_date(date_str):
    """Utility function to convert a JSON date string into a date that
    is consistent with the representation in the csv files we work with.
    Args:
        date_str - the Python date string
    Returns:
        A date string formatted for csv
    """
    return ''.join([date_str[:4], date_str[5:7], date_str[8:10]])