Mr. Christopher,
I'm following up from my email sent to you last Thursday concerning me
not being able to sign on to the webinar. I see on the ctpp-news
Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1 that other MPOs are having the same difficulty.
Since this webinar defines the core area from which MPOs evolve, can
this webinar be rebroadcasted so that all MPOs can be a part of the same
questions/answer session? This would be an advantage over viewing a
recorded session.
Thanks for your consideration,
Stephanie Pedro
GIS Analyst/Planner
Regional Planning Commission
1340 Poydras Street, Suite 2100
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-568-6613
Fax 504-568-6643
-----Original Message-----
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net
[mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net] On Behalf Of
ctpp-news-request(a)chrispy.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:00 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: ctpp-news Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1
Send ctpp-news mailing list submissions to
ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of ctpp-news digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. RE: Planning for Urbanized Area boundaries (Jacqueline Stewart)
2. Urbanized area boundaries (Jonathan Lupton)
3. Re: Urbanized area boundaries
(Sabula, Julianne Ruth (Engineering-Const Planner II))
4. CTPP Webinar (Jonathan Lupton)
5. June 12 webinar on Urbanized Areas is FULL
(Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov)
6. RE: Planning for Urbanized Area boundaries (Hellums, Dewayne)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 10:34:55 -0400
From: "Jacqueline Stewart" <JStewart(a)richmondregional.org>
Subject: RE: [CTPP] Planning for Urbanized Area boundaries
To: <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Message-ID:
<7A018CAACA1E9444A1224E16B06C06E8D13B2E(a)rrpdc-exchange.richmondregional.
org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Unfortunately we were unable to sign up because all the space was taken.
Do you plan on broadcasting this session again? As a regional census
clearinghouse and MPO, we would greatly benefit from being able to
participate.
Thanks,
Jackie
Jackie S. Stewart, AICP
Director of Planning and Information Systems
Richmond Regional Planning District Commission
9211 Forest Hill Avenue, suite 200
Richmond, VA 23235
www.richmondregional.org
804-323-2033 phone; 804-323-2025 fax; 804-380-8301 wireless
-----Original Message-----
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net
[mailto:ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Ed Christopher
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 2:35 PM
To: ctpp-news maillist
Subject: [CTPP] Planning for Urbanized Area boundaries
On Friday, June 12, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern, FHWA will host
a webinar on the Census Bureau's plans for "new" Urbanized Areas (UA)
boundaries. The UA boundaries are extremely important for
transportation planning and programming because they begin to define the
area and population counts used for many of the Federal funding
programs. Simply put, the UA population means money. The UA boundary
is also important as it begins to define the core area from which MPOs
evolve. The webinar is open to anyone with internet access on a first
come first served basis. Pre registration is required. Space is
limited. For those unable to attend, the session will be recorded.
To attend you must pre-register. To register go to
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg
.aspx?webConfID=17154
Webinar
Census Bureau's Planning for Urbanized Areas
Friday, June 12, 2009
1:00PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
The session will include speakers from the Census Bureau's Geography
Division and FHWA staff who will discuss the transportation perspective.
There will be plenty of time for questions and answers. The session
is targeted to individuals with transportation planning responsibilities
who need to understand the plans and processes under consideration that
will be used to define UAs.
For questions contact Ed Christopher (edc(a)berwyned.com) or Elaine
Murakami (Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov) both of FHWA.
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA Resource Center
19900 Governors Dr
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
--
_______________________________________________
ctpp-news mailing list
ctpp-news(a)chrispy.nethttp://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.33/2120 - Release Date:
05/18/09 06:28:00
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:05:38 -0500
From: Jonathan Lupton <jlupton(a)metroplan.org>
Subject: [CTPP] Urbanized area boundaries
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Message-ID: <4A253FC2.2090403(a)metroplan.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Although I was able to get signed up, I'd like to endorse Ms. Stewart's
request. As MPO staff, I was told attending this webinar was a "must do"
thing - urbanized area boundaries involve MPO funding and are thus not
an option for us.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock AR
501-372-3300
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:27:57 -0600
From: "Sabula, Julianne Ruth (Engineering-Const Planner II)"
<JSabula(a)rideuta.com>
Subject: Re: [CTPP] Urbanized area boundaries
To: <jlupton(a)metroplan.org>, <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Message-ID:
<CC05CC875D92C84FBD9928C8D95E020905BA46C7(a)utamail.uta.cog.ut.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I'm confused. It appears that pieces of this conversation are going to
the entire list. To what webinar are people referring?
----- Original Message -----
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net <ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net>
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Sent: Tue Jun 02 09:05:38 2009
Subject: [CTPP] Urbanized area boundaries
Although I was able to get signed up, I'd like to endorse Ms. Stewart's
request. As MPO staff, I was told attending this webinar was a "must do"
thing - urbanized area boundaries involve MPO funding and are thus not
an option for us.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock AR
501-372-3300
_______________________________________________
ctpp-news mailing list
ctpp-news(a)chrispy.nethttp://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:45:10 -0500
From: Jonathan Lupton <jlupton(a)metroplan.org>
Subject: [CTPP] CTPP Webinar
To: "'ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net'" <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Message-ID: <4A254906.7070808(a)metroplan.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
I am sending this e-mail to the list because, if two people have
questions about it, others may also. I received an e-mail about the
webinar from the CTPP listserve on May 18. I have copied the e-mail
below:
On Friday, June 12, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern, FHWA will host
a webinar on the Census Bureau's plans for "new" Urbanized Areas (UA)
boundaries. The UA boundaries are extremely important for transportation
planning and programming because they begin to define the area and
population counts used for many of the Federal funding programs. Simply
put, the UA population means money. The UA boundary is also important as
it begins to define the core area from which MPOs evolve. The webinar is
open to anyone with internet access on a first come first served basis.
Pre registration is required. Space is limited. For those unable to
attend, the session will be recorded.
To attend you must pre-register. To register go to
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg
.aspx?webConfID=17154
Webinar
Census Bureau's Planning for Urbanized Areas
Friday, June 12, 2009
1:00PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
The session will include speakers from the Census Bureau's Geography
Division and FHWA staff who will discuss the transportation perspective.
There will be plenty of time for questions and answers. The session is
targeted to individuals with transportation planning responsibilities
who need to understand the plans and processes under consideration that
will be used to define UAs.
For questions contact Ed Christopher (edc(a)berwyned.com) or Elaine
Murakami (Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov) both of FHWA.
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:59:18 -0400
From: <Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov>
Subject: [CTPP] June 12 webinar on Urbanized Areas is FULL
To: <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Cc: g-thomas(a)tamu.edu
Message-ID:
<CF032B70701A774D9ADC2FC046347BCD347F4D(a)OSTMAIL04VS5.ad.dot.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Dear Everyone:
Thank you so much for your interest in this session. The session will
be recorded and will be available within 24 hours (and more likely
available within 1 or 2 hours after the webinar is complete).
Ed Christopher or I will post the link to the recorded session to the
CTPP listserv as soon as it is available.
FHWA has a limited number of "seats" for web-based meetings and we
currently have 200 seats reserved.
If you have questions, after viewing the recorded session, please send
your questions to either Ed or me, and we will compile answers for you.
Your hosts:
Ed Christopher
edc(a)berwyned.com
FHWA Resource Center
Elaine Murakami
Elaine.murakami(a)dot.gov
FHWA Office of Planning
Dear Everyone:
Thank you so much for your interest in this session. The session will
be recorded and will be available within 24 hours (and more likely
available within 1 or 2 hours after the webinar is complete).
Ed Christopher or I will post the link to the recorded session to the
CTPP listserv as soon as it is available.
FHWA has a limited number of "seats" for web-based meetings and we
currently have 200 seats reserved.
If you have questions, after viewing the recorded session, please send
your questions to either Ed or me, and we will compile answers for you.
Your hosts:
Ed Christopher
edc(a)berwyned.com
FHWA Resource Center
Elaine Murakami
Elaine.murakami(a)dot.gov
FHWA Office of Planning
On Friday, June 12, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern, FHWA will host
a webinar on the Census Bureau's plans for “new” Urbanized Areas (UA)
boundaries. The UA boundaries are extremely important for
transportation planning and programming because they begin to define the
area and population counts used for many of the Federal funding
programs. Simply put, the UA population means money. The UA boundary
is also important as it begins to define the core area from which MPOs
evolve. The webinar is open to anyone with internet access on a first
come first served basis. Pre registration is required. Space is
limited. For those unable to attend, the session will be recorded.
To attend you must pre-register. To register go to
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.as…
Webinar
Census Bureau's Planning for Urbanized Areas
Friday, June 12, 2009
1:00PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
The session will include speakers from the Census Bureau’s Geography
Division and FHWA staff who will discuss the transportation perspective.
There will be plenty of time for questions and answers. The session
is targeted to individuals with transportation planning responsibilities
who need to understand the plans and processes under consideration that
will be used to define UAs.
For questions contact Ed Christopher (edc(a)berwyned.com) or Elaine
Murakami (Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov) both of FHWA.
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA Resource Center
19900 Governors Dr
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
--
I am sending this e-mail to the list because, if two people have
questions about it, others may also. I received an e-mail about the
webinar from the CTPP listserve on May 18. I have copied the e-mail below:
On Friday, June 12, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern, FHWA will host
a webinar on the Census Bureau's plans for “new” Urbanized Areas (UA)
boundaries. The UA boundaries are extremely important for transportation
planning and programming because they begin to define the area and
population counts used for many of the Federal funding programs. Simply
put, the UA population means money. The UA boundary is also important as
it begins to define the core area from which MPOs evolve. The webinar is
open to anyone with internet access on a first come first served basis.
Pre registration is required. Space is limited. For those unable to
attend, the session will be recorded.
To attend you must pre-register. To register go to
http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/webconference/web_conf_learner_reg.as…
Webinar
Census Bureau's Planning for Urbanized Areas
Friday, June 12, 2009
1:00PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern)
The session will include speakers from the Census Bureau’s Geography
Division and FHWA staff who will discuss the transportation perspective.
There will be plenty of time for questions and answers. The session is
targeted to individuals with transportation planning responsibilities
who need to understand the plans and processes under consideration that
will be used to define UAs.
For questions contact Ed Christopher (edc(a)berwyned.com) or Elaine
Murakami (Elaine.Murakami(a)dot.gov) both of FHWA.
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
I'm confused. It appears that pieces of this conversation are going to the entire list. To what webinar are people referring?
----- Original Message -----
From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net <ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net>
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Sent: Tue Jun 02 09:05:38 2009
Subject: [CTPP] Urbanized area boundaries
Although I was able to get signed up, I'd like to endorse Ms. Stewart's
request. As MPO staff, I was told attending this webinar was a "must do"
thing - urbanized area boundaries involve MPO funding and are thus not
an option for us.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock AR
501-372-3300
_______________________________________________
ctpp-news mailing list
ctpp-news(a)chrispy.nethttp://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news
Although I was able to get signed up, I'd like to endorse Ms. Stewart's
request. As MPO staff, I was told attending this webinar was a "must do"
thing - urbanized area boundaries involve MPO funding and are thus not
an option for us.
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock AR
501-372-3300
The latest issue of the CTPP Status Report newsletter is now posted.
Among other articles there is one on the latest update of the CTPP
program. The direct link to the newsletter is
http://www.trbcensus.com/newsltr/sr0409.pdf
or visit
http://www.trbcensus.com/
and follow the links
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA Resource Center
19900 Governors Dr
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
I will be out of the office starting 05/14/2009 and will not return until 05/20/2009.
I am out of the office indefinitely at this time. Please contact Janette Lawson ext. 6855 or Kathleen Thompson ext. 6841for assistance.
CENSUS NOMINEE CLEARS FIRST SENATE HURDLE
Plus: Legislation promotes more data on Caribbean ethnicities; House
Republicans target Sampling in the census; and more.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held
a confirmation hearing on May 15 to review the nomination of Dr. Robert
Groves to be director of the U.S. Census Bureau. The committee will
vote on the nomination on May 20 (9:30 a.m., 342 Dirksen Senate Office
Building). Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) must decide whether to
schedule a Senate vote before the Memorial Day congressional recess
starts at week’s end.
Senator Carl Levin (D) of Michigan, where Dr. Groves currently heads the
University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center, Institute for Social
Research, and is a sociology professor, introduced the nominee, noting
that seven former Census directors, who served in both Democratic and
Republican Administrations, strongly endorsed President Obama’s choice
to head the agency.
Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), who chaired the hearing as head of the census
oversight subcommittee, called the decennial census a “daunting task”
that required the Census Bureau, after a decade of preparation, to
conduct the enumeration with “lightening execution in real time without
any flaws.” For 2010, the chairman said, population growth and
increased diversity continue to challenge the Census Bureau, while costs
continue to escalate. Pointing to an estimated cost per housing unit
of $100 for the 2010 census, compared to about $56 in 2000, the senator
said additional spending “must improve the quality of the data.” He
also cited “under-funding” during the previous Administration for
outreach to minorities and a “colossal failure” of the IT contract for
GPS-equipped handheld computers for field data collection, as additional
challenges. Sen. Carper described Dr. Groves as “up to the challenge”
and “well prepared” to be Census director.
In opening remarks, Dr. Groves called his nomination a “singular honor.”
He highlighted the importance of a “professional, objective,
non-partisan Census Bureau,” saying that the “credibility and accuracy”
of federal statistics is paramount and that he would be “transparent to
the many stakeholders of the census.” Dr. Groves also addressed up
front the concerns of House Republicans that he would advocate for a
statistical adjustment of the 2010 census. He agreed with Secretary of
Commerce Gary Locke, the nominee said, that adjustment has been
“eliminated as an option for reapportionment and will not be used for
redistricting,” referring to a 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a
provision of the Census Act (Title 13, U.S.C. §195) prohibits the use of
“sampling” to compile the state population figures used for
congressional apportionment. Dr. Groves went on to suggest that
Congress has “demanded innovation” in census-taking and that the Census
Bureau should “constantly search for ways to improve the way we collect
data” and discuss those ideas with Congress.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the committee’s ranking member, was the only
Republican to attend the hearing. She asked the nominee to discuss how
he would “ensure that the 2010 decennial census is free from political
influence from either side of the aisle.” Dr. Groves said that
“transparency” and “doing one’s work in an open environment,” as well as
continued dialogue with stakeholders, were the best ways to counter the
possibility of inappropriate political interference in Census Bureau
activities. He also suggested that the Census director must speak out
against improper partisan influence and said, in response to a question
from Sen. Collins, that he would resign if he were unable to prevent
such influence and would then work actively from outside the government
to stop political abuses in the statistical system.
Sen. Collins asked Dr. Groves if he would advocate for a statistical
adjustment of the 2010 census; the nominee said he would not. After
noting that it is “impractical” to consider an adjustment for the 2010
census, because the Census Bureau has not prepared for it, the senator
asked about the possibility of using the methodology in 2020. “I have no
plans to do that for 2020,” Dr. Groves answered.
Sen. Collins final question concerned the management of information
technology contracts at the Census Bureau. Dr. Groves described the
challenge as both a “research and development” and “management”
function, requiring detailed user involvement in development of IT
systems from beginning to end, as well as constant, close oversight of
large contracts by top agency officials, who he said must understand the
details as well as the “big picture.” Sen. Collins told Dr. Groves that
she was “satisfied” with his answers on all three issues she had raised.
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), the only other senator to attend the hearing,
said he was “very impressed” with the nominee, who he called “well
qualified to provide leadership” at the Census Bureau. The long-time
member of the Senate’s census oversight subcommittee emphasized the
importance of staffing issues, saying the Census Bureau must make it a
priority to “invest in its workforce in order to meet its mission.”
Sen. Akaka noted that 25 percent of career Census Bureau employees are
eligible to retire next year and also expressed concern about a lack of
diversity in the Census Bureau workforce. Dr. Groves said he was
“terribly worried” about this “large problem,” which he said could not
be “solved with the current pipeline of students [with American
citizenship]” studying quantitative sciences in college. He suggested
that the federal government must review legal status requirements for
some scientific-agency positions and advocated “partnerships” between
federal statistical agencies and universities, to help steer more
students into career paths that would help the government meet its
recruitment needs. Dr. Groves assured Sen. Akaka that “the will is
here” to increase diversity in hiring at the Census Bureau.
Other topics covered at the confirmation hearing included reasons for
the census undercount and overcount, and ways the Census Bureau can
motivate historically hard-to-count population groups to participate in
the count. Dr. Groves cited long-standing factors associated with a
greater likelihood of being missed in the census, such as tenuous or
ambiguous ties to a single household among some young men, isolation
from the larger society, mobility (of children) due to divorce, limited
English proficiency, and more recently, economic distress that has led
families to double-up in one housing unit. He said personal visits to
households that do not mail back a census form, as well as “tailored
methods [of communication]” to build confidence among diverse population
groups, were key to reducing the undercount. “The solutions are not
simple,” Dr. Groves acknowledged.
Dr. Groves discussed the role of research at the Census Bureau, noting
that current methods for measuring business activities and population
characteristics would not continue to work successfully into the future.
“Innovation is needed” and “can pay for itself” through efficiencies
in data collection, the nominee told lawmakers. The private sector may
spearhead some future innovations, Dr. Groves said, pointing to a
“vibrant research and development environment” outside of the Census Bureau.
Sen. Carper also asked about the importance and quality of the planned
accuracy-check survey – called the Census Coverage Measurement, or CCM,
survey – now that a statistical adjustment of the 2010 census was “off
the table.” Dr. Groves said that federal statistical agencies have an
obligation to produce the best data possible and then to “tell the
public how bad those are and how good those [estimates] are.” He
advocated funding the CCM program at a level that allows the Census
Bureau to produce reliable estimates of census coverage.
As the hearing concluded, Chairman Carper asked the nominee what
Congress should be doing as the 2010 census approached. Describing the
2010 census plan as “fixed,” Dr. Groves said that any major changes now
to the design were risky. The nominee said he plans to quickly
establish a “risk assessment study” that would call on expertise from
both within and outside the Census Bureau, and that the Census director
must make “calm, fast, and flexible decisions” when problems arise
during the actual count.
House Republicans react to Groves’ testimony: House Republican Leader
John Boehner (R-OH) issued a statement on Friday, saying that while he
appreciated Dr. Groves’ assurances that the Census Bureau would not
statistically adjust the 2010 census to correct undercounts and
overcounts, “our concerns about the Census potentially being tainted by
political influence remain.” Rep. Boehner also objected to the
“partnership” agreement between the Census Bureau and the Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a non-profit grassroots
organization that advocates for low- and moderate-income people. (See
March 22 Census News Brief for more information on Republican concerns
about ACORN.) ACORN is one of thousands of state and local
organizations that have signed up to be 2010 census “partners,” which
help recruit census workers and provide space for testing and training
temporary employees, distribute census materials, and sponsor community
events to promote the census. 140,000 organizations participated in the
Census 2000 partnership program. The Minority Leader called on Dr.
Groves to “sever all ties” with ACORN, which he described as “an
organization rife with internal corruption and that was responsible for
multiple instances of vote fraud in the 2008 presidential election.”
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), senior Republican on the Oversight and
Government Reform Committee, praised Dr. Groves after the confirmation
hearing. “I share Mr. Groves’ commitment to a nonpartisan Census Bureau
and commend him for acknowledging that the Census is a constitutional
responsibility and function of the Congress,” Rep. Issa said in a
written statement. In his opening remarks at the hearing, Dr. Groves
noted the role of all three branches of government in the census.
Article I, section 2 of the Constitution requires a census every ten
years “in such Manner as they [Congress] shall by Law direct,” Dr.
Groves said, and Congress has delegated the authority for taking the
census to the Executive Branch (Title 13, U.S.C.). The Judicial Branch
has weighed in, he said, by ruling that the Census Act prohibits the use
of sampling methods for congressional apportionment.
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), ranking member on the House census
oversight subcommittee, also issued a press statement “commend[ing] Dr.
Groves for his well-articulated understanding of the consequences of
partisan meddling in the census,” referring to Dr. Groves’ statements
that the Census Bureau would not statistically adjust the 2010 census.
Rep. McHenry also warned the Census Bureau not to hire census takers
from “the ranks of ACORN, an organization skilled at committing fraud
with government forms.”
Republican staff of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee
released a report prior to the confirmation hearing, entitled, “Census
History: Counting Every Person Once, Only Once, and in the Right Place.”
The report (available at
http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/media/pdfs/20090511Censusreport.pdf)
“details the results of a historical analysis of attempted political
manipulation of the Census spanning a timeline from before the U.S.
Constitution was ratified to the present.” Referring to “the latest
attempt by the White House to politicize the Census,” the staff
concluded that, “political manipulation of the Census or within the
Census Bureau has been consistently rejected throughout the course of
American history.” They also noted that the Constitution “delegates the
Executive Branch and President no role in conducting the Census except
for how Congress, ‘shall by Law direct’.” Article 1, section 6, of the
Constitution provides that a bill may not become law unless signed by
the President or unless approved over the President’s objection by
two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and Senate, unless the
President does not take any action within ten days of receiving the bill
and Congress is still in session.
Lawmakers propose more detailed data on Caribbean Americans: Two bills
pending in the House of Representatives would require the Census Bureau
to collect data on Caribbean ethnicities in the decennial census.
In March, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) introduced H.R. 1504, to require
the Census Bureau to collect data on Dominican Americans in the
decennial census using a check box or similar response option. The 2010
census questionnaire will offer respondents of Hispanic origin the
opportunity to check boxes indicating Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or
“another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin” descent. Respondents
checking the latter box may write-in their ethnicity. The race question
includes check boxes for “White,” “Black, African American, or Negro,”
nine Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups (as well as write-in boxes for
“other” Asian or Pacific Islander subgroups), “American Indian or Alaska
Native” (with a write-in box for enrolled or principal tribe), and “Some
other race” (with a write-in box).
Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY), herself a Caribbean American, introduced
similar legislation (H.R. 2071) in April that would require a check box
on the census form for respondents of “Caribbean extraction or descent.”
Both bills are pending before the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which has not yet scheduled hearings on the measures.
Latino leaders continue to urge census participation: One of the
nation’s leading Spanish-language newspapers, La Opinion, urged a
coalition of Latino evangelical clergy to end their proposed boycott of
the 2010 census, calling the strategy “a dangerous mistake” and
“verg[ing] on political suicide” in a May 12th editorial. The newspaper
said the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders’
(CONLAMIC) suggestion that undocumented immigrants not participate in
the census until Congress and the Administration adopt comprehensive
immigration reform was a “grave mistake.” “It is ironic that at the
same time CONLAMIC is promoting non-participation in the census, there
are conservative groups that want to exclude the undocumented from the
count. The two groups’ intentions are diametrically opposed, but the
result of creating a ghost population is the same,” the editors wrote.
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which according
to its web site serves “the 16 million Hispanic born-again Christians in
the United States and Puerto Rico … on issues that pertain to the
family, immigration, economic mobility, education, political
empowerment, social justice, and societal transformation,” also urged
all Latinos living in the United States to be counted in 2010.
Conference president Rev. Samuel Rodriguez told the Press-Enterprise
(Riverside, CA; May 9, 2009) that CONLAMIC’s boycott effort would “cause
more trepidation in a community that was already naturally hesitant to
participate in the census.”
Meanwhile, CONLAMIC reported that the board of the Latino Leadership
Alliance of New Jersey voted to support the Coalition’s appeal to
undocumented immigrants to avoid the census. LLANJ was formed in 1999
to “guide our Latino communities to develop statewide initiatives for
the benefit of all,” according to its web site. Information about its
position on a census boycott was not available on the LLANJ web site.
Census News Briefs are prepared by Terri Ann Lowenthal, an independent
legislative and policy consultant working with a wide range of census
stakeholders to promote an accurate 2010 census. All views expressed in
the News Briefs are solely those of the author. Please direct questions
about the information in this News Brief to Ms. Lowenthal at
TerriAnn2K(a)aol.com. Please feel free to circulate this document to
other interested individuals and organizations. Ms. Lowenthal is a
consultant to the nonpartisan Census Project, organized by the
Communications Consortium Media Center in Washington, DC. Previous
Census News Briefs are posted at www.thecensusproject.org.
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA Resource Center
19900 Governors Dr
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
