U.S. Census Bureau gets busy canvassing Arlington neighborhoods

by PegNews wire

No badge, thus not a U.S. Census Bureau employee

"Badges?"

Unlike the Sierra Madre-based gentlemen pictured here, the U.S. Census Bureau workers who will be canvassing Arlington neighborhoods beginning today (Monday, April 6) and continuing through Saturday, June 13 will indeed be required to have badges - and will be pleased to present them to you to confirm their identity, thanks very much.

They will also have telltale hand-held electronic devices, informational flyers and placards on the dashboards of their vehicles. So there ought to be no mistaking them.

In situations where the residence address is not clearly visible, bureau employees may exit their placard-marked vehicles and amble across private property in an attempt to verify an address.

Here's what they're up to, straight from officialdom's mouth:

The Census is a count of everyone living in the United States. It is conducted every 10 years and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and required by federal law. Census data is used to distribute Congressional seats to states and make decisions on how to distribute federal funds to local, state and tribal governments.

Locally, the data helps planners address important neighborhood needs and know where to invest in public services such as transportation, economic development and health, according to Planning Manager Bridgett White. The goal is to increase the mail response rate for the questionnaire, which will be mailed in 2010 during February and March. In 2000, Arlington’s mail response rate was 68 percent, which was three percentage points higher than the national rate of 65 percent. The national goal for 2010 is 75 percent. Census Day is April 1, 2010.

So, basically, the neighborhood canvassing going on this year is being done to ensure that every residential address receives a mailed questionnaire in 2010.

Should you have any questions regarding the census activities, contact City of Arlington Planning Manager Bridgett White at 817-459-6660, or by email at Bridgett.White@arlingtontx.gov.

posted by JM