Census 2010
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By MARK FLEMING
Updated: 03.08.10
Census forms should begin arriving in mailboxes this week, and members of the North Pasadena Business Association heard in their Monday meeting why it is important to get everyone to complete the forms.
Yvonne Moore from the census bureau said every residential address in the country should receive one of the forms between the end of this week and March 23. The forms need to be mailed back in time to be received by April 17.
The census, which has been conducted every 10 years since 1790, is mandated by the U. S. Constitution. Its primary constitutional purpose is the allocation of representation in the House of Representatives between the states, but its importance has grown.
State and local governments use its population statistics to draw districts for representation at all levels of government.
Also, the federal government uses statistical information to determine the disbursement of billions of dollars in grant money. Each person counted in the census can lead to thousands of dollars of revenue lost or gained over the next ten years for a community.
Private businesses use census information on population and demographic characteristics to decide where they will locate and invest.
Moore said this year’s form, at 10 questions, is one of the shortest in history.
In addition to asking for each person’s name, age and date of birth, the form asks for information about sex, race and ethnicity. It also asks if the housing unit is owned, rented or lived in rent-free.
Moore said the census bureau will have assistance centers for people who cannot fill out the form on their own. One of those centers will be in Pasadena at the Cleveland-Ripley House on Fairmont Parkway.
Margie Pena, from Cleveland-Ripley, said that organization and other Neighborhood Centers are working with the bureau “to assure an accurate 2010 census.”
Both Moore and Pena stressed it is important for everyone to respond to the census.
The census needs to determine how many people live in the area, Moore said, regardless of citizenship status. When planning for services and business locations, she said, it is important to know the total number of people who are in the area.
The three requirements for someone to be counted, she said, are for a person to be human, alive, and living in the United States April 1.
The third speaker at the meeting, Patti Bodkins of the Drake Companies, introduced the association to the HUBZone program.
Many government agencies and even private companies, she said, give preference to Historically Underutilized Businesses. Often these are businesses owned by women or members of minority groups, but certain businesses also qualify based on their geographic location. Census data is used to determine if an area qualifies as a HUBZone, she said.
Parts of north Pasadena qualify currently, Bodkins said, but the new census will determine what areas qualify in the future.
Qualification as a HUBZone can not only benefit businesses already in the area, but can also provide an incentive for new businesses to locate there.
The March Meeting for NPBA will be on Monday, March 8th. Once again we
Randy Drake owner of Drake Printing and formally of Pasadena Second Century Board gave a presentation of a proposed Farmers Market. Drake told the group that is was just in the very early stages. City of Pasadena Economic Development Officer Paul Davis said the City was looking into whether it was feasible and would draw enough interest. Several locations were mentioned from Memorial Stadium, Pasadena Town Square and Shaw Street, but no location is set. Marilyn Wilkins, incoming President ” said the North Pasadena Business Association would assist in the project”.
State Representative Ken Legler will be the October 12th Speaker for the upcoming general meeting. He will give a update on proposed Constitutional Amendment’s for the November Election.
