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ACS Data on Household Population compared to Independent Estimates: California/Bay Area

by Chuck Purvis

TO: CTPP-News Listserv FR: Chuck Purvis This is an email I prepared for our Bay Area and California Census listservs, regarding newly released ACS data. PLEASE, if there are other metro or state agencies who've analyzed the ACS household population relative to their independent estimates of household population, PLEASE share your research! * * * * * * * TO: Bay Area Census Listserv FR: Chuck Purvis, MTC The "first wave" of the American Community Survey data for 2005 was released yesterday, August 15th. This first year of the full ACS database EXCLUDES group quarters population, so any of the "TOTAL POPULATION" tables as shown by the Census Bureau's American FactFinder are actually "HOUSEHOLD POPULATION" (or population in households, whichever term you prefer.) The data for total population that INCLUDES group quarters will be included in the 2006 ACS data, to be released summer '07. Over the past year we have had concerns that the household population in the ACS (the 2004 ACS, to be particular), was significantly lower than decennial census counts of household population, and households. This is now a real concern with the 2005 ACS, as well. What we are able to compare for California is the household population estimates from the 2005 ACS, to our State Department of Finance's (DOF) estimates of total population, household population, GQ population, housing units, occupied housing units, at the city and county level, from their "E-5" estimate reports, available on the DOF web site (http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/Druhpar.asp). There are standard errors in the DOF data, as suggested in their methodology, but DOF doesn't provide explicit confidence intervals around their estimates, at least as far as I could tell. So, I've been able to analyze the data for the 119 California Places (116 cities + 3 census designated places); and the 40 California Counties, that exceed the 65,000 household population threshhold for reporting ACS totals. I've also created tables for the San Francisco Bay Area Cities (25 cities) & Counties (9 counties) in the same EXCEL workbook. This EXCEL workbook is available from the MTC web site, at: ftp://ftp.abag.ca.gov/pub/mtc/planning/ACS/ Of the 119 California Places with household population estimates exceeding 65,000, thirteen of these cities are significantly different, comparing the 1/1/05 DOF (Department of Finance) household population, and the 1/1/06 DOF household population estimates, to the 95 percent confidence interval around the ACS household population estimates. Unfortunately this list includes six of the ten largest California Cities: 1. Los Angeles: ACS = 3,668 to 3,794 thousand; DOF = 3,852 to 3,892 thousand (estimates for 1/1/05 and 1/1/06) 2. San Diego: ACS = 1,176 to 1,240 thousand; DOF = 1,254 to 1,263 thousand 3. San Jose: ACS = 866 to 908 thousand; DOF = 931 to 943 thousand 4. San Francisco: ACS = 699 to 739 thousand (estimated); DOF = 773 to 778 thousand 8. Oakland: ACS = 355 to 393 thousand; DOF = 403 to 404 thousand 10. Santa Ana: ACS = 277 to 328 thousand; DOF = 345 to 346 thousand. The other seven California places with a significant difference, comparing ACS to our DOF, include: Garden Grove (Orange County); Salinas (Monterey County); Pasadena (LA County); Daly City (San Mateo County); Berkeley (Alameda County); Alhambra (LA County); and Merced (Merced County). A critical check in the coming months will be to compare the ACS estimates of housing units and households (occupied housing units) to independent estimates of housing units and households, also available from the DOF Report E-5. Perhaps the decline in population in these large California cities can be attributed to decreasing average household size. On the other hand, it is a lot harder to explain any absolute losses in housing units within a community. It may be useful for the City Planners in Large Cities to have at hand independent estimates of new housing units constructed and old housing units demolished over the 2000 to 2005 time period. These are very serious concerns about the ACS. I believe it has more to do with the "sample frame" and weighting/expansion issues, as opposed to the quality of the characteristics derived from the ACS, but this is an important topic that should be discussed by our state data center network, the Census Bureau and interested stakeholders. Hope this helps, Chuck Purvis ************************************************************** Charles L. Purvis, AICP Principal Transportation Planner/Analyst Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland, CA 94607-4700 (510) 817-5755 (office) [new, 8/1/05] (510) 817-7848 (fax) [new, 8/1/05] www: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/ Census WWW: http://www.bayareacensus.ca.gov/ **************************************************************

19 years, 10 months

Association of Public Data Users' conference

by Patty Becker

>The Association of Public Data Users is a group >of users users and producers of federal data >that works together to improve the quality, >accessibility, and usefulness of federal >data. This group will be having its 2006 >Conference in Alexandria, Virginia during >October. The conference is described below and >a copy of the conference brochure and registration form is attached. > > >APDU 2006 Annual Conference > > > >Navigating Rivers of Data > > > >Thurs., October 5 Fri., October 6, 2006 >Embassy Suites Hotel >Alexandria Old Town, Virginia > > > > ><http://www.apdu.org/conference/2006/index.htm>www.apdu.org/conference/2006/index.htm > >Important Deadlines! > >Tues., Sept. 5 -- deadline for hotel reservations at conference rate > >Fri., Sept. 15 deadline for conference registration at the reduced rate > >The annual conference of the Association of >Public Data Users offers a collegial forum for >data users, producers and intermediaries to >exchange information, share perspectives on data >and public policy issues, and explore critical >data sources and user applications. > >Over two days of plenary sessions, APDU 2006 >attendees will hear from noted speakers on a >range of factors influencing the collection, >availability and application of public data. >Join us for updates on federal executive and >legislative activities, the latest information >on Census 2010 planning and the American >Community Survey, overviews of pertinent and >innovative data collections, and much more! > >For session and speaker information and updates, >see ><http://www.apdu.org/conference/2006/agenda.htm>www.apdu.org/conference/2006/agenda.htm >----------------------------- >Register before Sept. 15, and enjoy the entire >conference at the reduced rate of $350 for APDU >members, $450 for non-members. Thats a savings >of $25 from the rate in effect after the 15th. >Fees include all sessions, lunches, breaks, reception and conference materials. > >Download registration forms at ><http://www.apdu.org/conference/2006/register.htm>www.apdu.org/conference/2006/register.htm >-------------------------------- >This years conference venue is the Embassy >Suites Hotel, 1900 Diagonal Rd., Alexandria >Old Town, Va. (703-684-5900) located across from >the King Street metro station. Room rates are >$199/night, plus tax. Make your reservations by >Sept. 5, and mention you are associated with APDU. > >For more information, see ><http://www.apdu.org/conference/2006/hotel.htm>www.apdu.org/conference/2006/hotel.htm >-------------------------------- >Have questions? > >Contact Patricia Becker, APDU Administrator, >248-354-6520, <mailto:info@apdu.org?subject=APDU%202006>info(a)apdu.org > >Association of Public Data Users >c/o APB Associates >28300 Franklin Road >Southfield, Michigan 48034-1657 > =============================== Patricia C. (Patty) Becker 248/354-6520 APB Associates/SEMCC FAX 248/354-6645 28300 Franklin Rd Home 248/355-2428 Southfield, MI 48034 pbecker(a)umich.edu

19 years, 10 months

More on 2005 ACS data.

by Murakami, Elaine

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm Please see the topics "journey to work" "place of work" and "vehicles available" for detail on specific tables and release dates.

19 years, 10 months

Fron the Census Bureau "upcoming" Tip Sheet

by Ed Christopher

American Community Survey On Aug. 15, the Census Bureau will release the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS) data on social and demographic characteristics for the nation, all 50 states and the District of Columbia, every congressional district and all counties and places with populations of 65,000 or more. The release marks the first time that ACS data will be available for areas with populations of less than 250,000. By 2010, the survey will provide current data on an annual basis for all levels of geography (including census tracts and block groups). (Scheduled for release August 15.) -- Ed Christopher 708-283-3534 (V) 708-574-8131 (cell) FHWA RC-TST-PLN 19900 Governors Dr Olympia Fields, IL 60461

19 years, 10 months

Training on transportation tables in the American Community Survey

by Murakami, Elaine

We have scheduled a 1-hour web-based training session on tables from the American Community Survey. Date: Friday August 25, 2006 Time: 2:00- 3:00 p.m. EASTERN Connections: 50 (If we get more requests, we will try to get additional connections) RSVP by sending an email to ctpp(a)fhwa.dot.gov In advance of the webinar, you must check your computer for the Flash player (see instructions below). Description: 1. Status report on AASHTO Standing Committee on Planning Census Data Work Group. 2. Using American FactFinder to access transportation-related tables from the American Community Survey. TO JOIN THE MEETING: Meeting Room URL: http://fhwa.breezecentral.com/ctpp/ Teleconference number: 888-820-8951 Passcode: 41796 A SPECIAL WEB CONFERENCE INVITATION FOR YOU "ACS Training" Web Conference Moderated by Ed Christopher, FHWA Presented by Ken Bryson and Nanda Srinivasan Questions? Contact Nanda Srinivasan at 202-366-5021 Friday, August 25, 2006 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Meeting Access Info: http://fhwa.breezecentral.com/ctpp/ Click the above link to Register as a GUEST Audio Access Info: 888-820-8951 41796 Not sure about Web conferencing? Get instruction <http://fhwa.breezecentral.com/wctparticipate> s on how to join a Web conference as a Guest. Check your system NOW for the Flash player: Click here <http://admin.breezecentral.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm> LIMITED TO FIRST 50 PARTICIPANTS RSVP by August 18, 2006 to ctpp(a)fhwa.dot.gov Outcomes of this session: * Learning about the American Community Survey * Getting familiar about American Factfinder * Learning about where to find transportation related ACS data and download. Who Should Attend? * MPO staff * DOT staff * Consultants Please RSVP to ctpp(a)fhwa.dot.gov by August 18, 2006 We are committed to providing equal access to this online event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable accommodations, please contact Webconferencing(a)fhwa.dot.gov as soon as possible.

19 years, 10 months

The December 2005 CTPP Status rept is pretty good!

by Murakami, Elaine

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ctpp/status.htm This issue discussed the addition of Place of Work tables in the 2004 ACS products.

19 years, 10 months

RE: [CTPP] Get ready-- 2005 ACS data coming soon-- August 15 and 29

by Murakami, Elaine

Tom Marchwinski asked about more detailed public transit data in the ACS tables. More detailed transit tabulations ARE included. You have to go to "detailed tables" Residence Geography Tables B08006 sex by means of transportation (21) B08134 means of transportation (12) by travel time (10) Workplace Geography Table B08406 sex by means of transportation (21) B08534 means of transportation (12) by travel time (10) The category of 12 include: Public Transportation (total, excluding taxi) Public Trans: bus or trolley bus Public Trans: streetcar, trolley car, subway or elevated Public Trans: railroad or ferryboat The category of 21 includes: Public Transportation (total, excluding taxi) Public Trans: bus or trolley bus Public Trans: streetcar, trolley car, Public Trans: subway or elevated Public Trans: railroad Public Trans: ferryboat Also, Tom asked about "light rail". USDOT had an opportunity to ask the CB to test revisions to the ACS questionnaire itself, and there was discussion about asking to add the phrase "light rail" to the response list, however, at that time, USDOT did NOT make that request to the CB. There were some cost implications for testing revisions. BTW, Celia Boertlein of the CB will be posting to the listserv, reminding people that Workplace tabulations WERE included in the 2004 ACS tables. I was remiss in mentioning this in my earlier email, because only about one-third of counties were included in the 2004 sample. Celia's email will be more detailed. _____ From: TMarchwinski(a)njtransit.com [mailto:TMarchwinski@njtransit.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 12:44 PM To: Murakami, Elaine Subject: RE: [CTPP] Get ready-- 2005 ACS data coming soon-- August 15 and 29 Elaine- I looked at the ACS survey, and they do get data on individual modes, however all of the ACS data I have ever seen shows just a summary for "Public Transit", which unfortunatly includes taxi. Do you know if ACS will make available for the new JTW data breakouts of public transit to exclude taxi, or to show some individual modes? I realize because of the smaller sample size, and cofidence limits, it is hard to have a breakout of individual modes unless there are a significant number of mode specific transit trips. We in New Jersey have areas where a bus mode vs. total transit breakout would be very helpful, espcecially since we have built two new light rail lines since 2000. Is there anyone at Census I could talk to about this, and is there any procedure for getting a breakdown of public transit modes if we made a special request, since I suspect the raw weighted data is there to estimate this. I think I brought this up a couple of years ago, same for including "Light Rail" as a mode as part of streetcar, since streetcar is not really used very much, but light rail is. I have taken a web based course in ACS, so I am a bit more familiar with it now. If you could give me contacts on this or some direction on if this is available (ie mode breakdown). Even if this was confined to MSA's over 1 million it would be helpful to us to track mode shifts and submodes. THanks. Tom Marchwinski, NJ TRANSIT, Director of Forecasting.

19 years, 10 months

Get ready-- 2005 ACS data coming soon-- August 15 and 29

by Murakami, Elaine

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Special/Alerts/Latest.htm#News1 In case you are not subscribed to the ACS-Alert, just a reminder to be prepared: 1. August 15. This will include population totals, race, Hispanic origin, age, sex. 2. August 29. This will include economic characteristics at Place of Residence including work status and journey to work. 3. October. First Place of Work tabulations. NEW as standard ACS product. Previously Place of Work tabulations were only available from CTPP. The reasons that 2005 ACS is important is because 2005 is the first year of "full implementation." This means that surveys were conducted in ALL counties in the United States. Previous ACS samples were in test phase and included about one-third of the counties in the U.S. MSA statistics were not often available in earlier ACS, because all of the counties in the MSA were not included in the sample. Also, in 2005, the Census Bureau implemented different non-response follow-up rates, depending on expected mail-back return rates. For example, lower income neighborhoods often have lower mail-back returns, so the telephone and in-person follow-up rates were increased in those neighborhoods. As you know, the media gets access to the data a few days early as "embargoed data." This means that they can get articles ready in advance but cannot release any data until the embargoed date/time is met. For the August 15 release, they will get access to the data on August 8. In addition to the media, the State Data Centers are also included as recipients. Here is the link to find YOUR SDC, http://www.census.gov/sdc/www/ They will NOT be able to release the data to you in advance, but you can communicate with them in case they can develop some materials that will make your life easier when August 15 arrives. What is Elaine (FHWA Office of Planning) working on? Elaine is working with Nanda Srinivasan (Cambridge Systematics) and Ed Christopher (FHWA Resource Center) to develop a profile similar to the State profiles completed for CTPP 2000 as the starting point. These are posted on the AASHTO webpage. Here is the link to the VA profile from CTPP 2000. http://ctpp.transportation.org/home/va/VA.htm We plan to include: 1990 Census, 2000 Census, and 2005 ACS data. Geographic coverage: National total (will include 2000 ACS (aka C2SS)) in the table States (all 50) MSAs over 1 million population (using Census 2000 to figure out which ones to include--this is about 50 MSAs- see our JTW Trends report) Cities over 1 million population (using Census 2000) Topics to include: 1. Total Population 2. Total workers 3. Travel mode to Work 4. Travel time to work a. distribution b. mean travel time 5. Vehicles available 6. Income Other reminders: The geographies that will show the greatest differences from decennial census are areas that have high seasonal population shifts. The ACS is collected over all 12 months of the year, not "April 1". My product goal is SPREADSHEETs. We know that the TRANSIT share for MODE TO WORK is going to be one of the KEY ITEMS of interest. I will be vacation in Japan starting Aug 12 and will not return to work until Sept 5, so I will be relying on Nandu and Ed C to get things done in my absence. Also, Ed and Nandu are working on some web-based training to get people familiar with using American Fact Finder to access the 2005 ACS tables. But, I don't think we have the dates set yet. Of course, you can go to American Fact Finder on your own and review the 2004 ACS tables as a starting point. If I have made any mistakes in this email about Census Bureau products, I hope that someone from the CB will post corrections to the listserv! Elaine Murakami 206-220-4460

19 years, 10 months

RE: [CTPP] Census News Brief

by Shea, Sam J.

I don't think it is your connection Ed. With every message I receive there are more attachments and the names of the attachments changes. Also I received Ken's message twice. I think it may be something with the server. Sam J. Shea Long Range Planning Coordinator Linn County Regional Planning Commission Cedar Rapids Community Development 50 Second Ave Bridge Cedar Rapids IA. 52401 Ph. (319)286-5042 Fax.(319)286-5141 "Theoretically, planning may be good. But nobody has ever figured out the cause of government stupidity and until they do all ideal plans will fall into quicksand." - Richard Feynman -----Original Message----- From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net]On Behalf Of kcervenka(a)nctcog.org Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 2:35 PM To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: RE: [CTPP] Census News Brief Hmmm...now my guess is that Ed keeps sending this message in hopes we will actually read it....so I read it! There sure are some statements in the announcement that should give us pause for consideration: "Noting that the Census Bureau is vulnerable to cuts to fund other popular programs, Rep. Wolf said, There is not a lobby downtown for the Census Bureau." "We are talking about funding cops, the war on drugs, homeland security, or $72 million more for the Bureau of the Census, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered. To me that is a no-brainer: We fund Byrne grants, which every law enforcement official in America is pleading for. Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) called the choice a matter of priorities. Right now, we need more help on the streets with crime than we do in the Census Bureau." "The bureau said it would put off aligning the TIGER digital mapping system with GPS coordinates in all counties, a project currently scheduled for completion in 2008. New initiatives to reduce undercounts and overcounts in the 2010 census also would be compromised." Now that's a tough choice: should moneys be used to focus on fighting crime by fighting crime wherever you currently see it, or should moneys be used to improve the underlying databases that will help Organizations more efficiently deal with crime and dozens of other important topics of national and local immediate AND longer-range interest? Somebody sure needs to do a "truly comprehensive" long-term Cost/Benefit analysis of federal programs. Fundamentally, the problem seems to be that "data collection for multiple purposes" is just not a particularly exciting (or popular) topic, and there are very few vocal champions whom people are listening to--but that doesn't make it any less important to society. Ken Cervenka NCTCOG (Dallas-Fort Worth MPO) -----Original Message----- From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of edc(a)berwyned.com Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:11 PM HOUSE CUTS $58.3M FROM CENSUS BUDGET; SENATE PANEL APPROVES $50M LESS THAN BUSH REQUEST PLUS: Hand-Held Computers in Census, and Group Quarters in ACS, at Risk, Agency Says; Stakeholders Caution Lawmakers About Consequences of Funding Shortfall; SIPP Funding Increased in House The U.S. House of Representatives approved three amendments that would cut a total of $58.3 million from the Census Bureaus 2007 budget before passing the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill (H.R. 5672) on June 29. The reduction would leave the agency with $815.7 million, about $14 million over current year funding. In 2007, the Census Bureau must prepare for the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal and 2007 Economic Census and Census of Governments, award an advertising contract for the 2010 census, and continue large contracts to develop the data integration and processing infrastructure for the census. The U.S. Senate began consideration of its own 2007 funding bill today, with the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science approving roughly $828 million for the Census Bureau, about $50 million less than the Presidents request of $878 million. The funding reduction will affect programs in the Periodic Censuses and Programs account, not the Salaries and Expenses account, but no further details are available about which activities might be affected. The full Appropriations Committee will take up the bill on July 13. House questions need for increased census funding: In the House, the largest single funding cut came through an amendment sponsored by Reps. Mark Kennedy (R-MN), Lee Terry (R-NB), and a bipartisan group of legislators, which shifted $50 million from the Census Bureau to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. The amendment passed by a vote of 291 129. Supporters of the amendment noted that the Administration had eliminated funding for the Byrne JAG program in its proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget. The Appropriations Committee approved $367 million for the grants, but program advocates said that amount still represented a significant reduction from the previous high funding level of $600 million. During the debate, many legislators highlighted local law enforcement efforts to combat methamphetamine use, which they called an epidemic. Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) countered that the Kennedy amendment would devastate the census and impact fundamental missions of the Census Bureau. The immediate ramifications are a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, irretrievable loss of testing opportunities to identify problems, the chairman warned, referring to efforts to improve coverage of historically hard-to-count populations in the census. Noting that the Census Bureau is vulnerable to cuts to fund other popular programs, Rep. Wolf said, There is not a lobby downtown for the Census Bureau. Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), ranking Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee, also opposed the Kennedy amendment, calling the offset of census funds unacceptable. Rep. Mollohan pointed out that law enforcement uses census data to determine how to allocate manpower and equipment. Supporters of the Kennedy amendment did not criticize the Census Bureaus work, but several noted that the Appropriations Committee had increased the agencys budget by $72 million over the 2006 funding level. We are talking about funding cops, the war on drugs, homeland security, or $72 million more for the Bureau of the Census, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered. To me that is a no-brainer: We fund Byrne grants, which every law enforcement official in America is pleading for. Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) called the choice a matter of priorities. Right now, we need more help on the streets with crime than we do in the Census Bureau. The mandate for every 10 years is every 10 years. Rep. Souder, who had previously served on the census oversight subcommittee, also suggested that the private sector could pay for some of the Census Bureaus other tasks if they need the data. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), a long time member of the Census Bureaus oversight subcommittee, countered that, The Census doesnt just appear in an instant and then disappear every ten years; it is a constant, massive effort that never stops. She reminded her colleagues that the distribution of [Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants] is based on population and crime statistics, both of which are based on Census statistics. The House also approved, by voice vote, two additional amendments that shifted funds from the Census Bureaus Periodic Censuses and Programs account to other anti-crime programs. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) authored a proposal to increase funding for the Violence Against Women Act by $10 million, with $5 million coming from the Census Bureau and the other $5 million from the Justice Departments administrative account. The amendment further specified that $2.5 million of the Census Bureaus cut would come from economic statistics programs (which include the Economic Census) and $2.5 million would come from demographic statistics, which includes Geographic Support System activities that help keep the Master Address File accurate. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) sponsored an amendment to increase funding for the FBIs Innocent Images program (which pursues on-line sex predators) by $3.3 million, with the money coming from the Census Bureau. Reengineered census at risk, agency says: Following the House action, the Census Bureau issued an impact statement, saying the proposed funding reduction would force it to abandon plans to use GPS-equipped hand-held computers to collect information from unresponsive households in the census. Reverting to paper-based operations will add at least $1 billion to the overall cost of the 2010 census, the agency said. The bureau said it would put off aligning the TIGER digital mapping system with GPS coordinates in all counties, a project currently scheduled for completion in 2008. New initiatives to reduce undercounts and overcounts in the 2010 census also would be compromised, the bureau wrote. Funding at the House-passed level also would result in cancellation of group quarters coverage in the American Community Survey (ACS), according to the Impact Statement. Group quarters, which include nursing homes, college dorms, military barracks, and prisons, were first added to the ACS this year. Ultimately not including the GQ population in the ACS means the ACS cannot fully be the replacement for the long form in 2010, the Census Bureau said. Stakeholders convey support for census funding to Senate: A diverse group of census stakeholders, under the umbrella of The Census Project, sent a letter to all Senate appropriators yesterday, urging support for full funding for the Census Bureau. The letter was signed by 25 organizations representing local governments, scientific professions and researchers, the business community, housing and social justice advocates, and organized labor. The letter is posted at www.thecensusproject.org. The Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, published two editorials, explaining how census data are used to administer effective law enforcement programs and to prepare for and respond to disasters. To Take a Bite Out of Crime: Safeguard the Census (www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/reamer/20060626.htm) and Anticipating the Unimaginable: The Crucial Role of the Census in Disaster Planning and Recovery (www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/reamer/20060710.htm) are authored by Andrew Reamer, Brookings Fellow and Deputy Director, Urban Markets Initiative, Metropolitan Policy Program. SIPP funding partially restored in House: The House Committee on Appropriations allocated $29.2 million for the Census Bureau to continue fielding the Survey of Income and Program Participation while the agency designs an alternative program to produce data on the dynamics of economic well-being. The Bush Administration has proposed eliminating the survey next year, saying the current design is burdensome for respondents and that data processing is time-consuming and difficult. The President requested $9.2 million to close out data collection in 2006 and begin developing a replacement program. House appropriators, however, approved an amendment offered by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) to restore $10 million for SIPP in 2007. In addition, the committee report accompanying the Census Bureaus appropriations bill directed the agency to use $10 million in mandatory funds previously designated for other data collection activities related to welfare reform, to continue the SIPP while it develops a new system. The total amount included in the House bill for SIPP is $29.2; the survey cost about $39 million to administer in 2006. Census News Briefs are prepared by Terri Ann Lowenthal, an independent consultant in Washington, DC, with support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and other organizations. Ms. Lowenthal is also a consultant to The Census Project, sponsored by the Communications Consortium Media Center. 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 202/484-3067 or by e-mail at TerriAnn2K(a)aol.com. Please feel free to circulate this document to other interested individuals and organizations. -- Ed Christopher FHWA Resource Center 19900 Governors Drive Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461 708-283-3534 (v) 708-283-3501 (f) 708-574-8131 (cell) _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news

19 years, 11 months

RE: [CTPP] Census News Brief

by kcervenka＠nctcog.org

Hmmm...now my guess is that Ed keeps sending this message in hopes we will actually read it....so I read it! There sure are some statements in the announcement that should give us pause for consideration: "Noting that the Census Bureau is vulnerable to cuts to fund other popular programs, Rep. Wolf said, There is not a lobby downtown for the Census Bureau." "We are talking about funding cops, the war on drugs, homeland security, or $72 million more for the Bureau of the Census, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered. To me that is a no-brainer: We fund Byrne grants, which every law enforcement official in America is pleading for. Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) called the choice a matter of priorities. Right now, we need more help on the streets with crime than we do in the Census Bureau." "The bureau said it would put off aligning the TIGER digital mapping system with GPS coordinates in all counties, a project currently scheduled for completion in 2008. New initiatives to reduce undercounts and overcounts in the 2010 census also would be compromised." Now that's a tough choice: should moneys be used to focus on fighting crime by fighting crime wherever you currently see it, or should moneys be used to improve the underlying databases that will help Organizations more efficiently deal with crime and dozens of other important topics of national and local immediate AND longer-range interest? Somebody sure needs to do a "truly comprehensive" long-term Cost/Benefit analysis of federal programs. Fundamentally, the problem seems to be that "data collection for multiple purposes" is just not a particularly exciting (or popular) topic, and there are very few vocal champions whom people are listening to--but that doesn't make it any less important to society. Ken Cervenka NCTCOG (Dallas-Fort Worth MPO) -----Original Message----- From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of edc(a)berwyned.com Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 12:11 PM HOUSE CUTS $58.3M FROM CENSUS BUDGET; SENATE PANEL APPROVES $50M LESS THAN BUSH REQUEST PLUS: Hand-Held Computers in Census, and Group Quarters in ACS, at Risk, Agency Says; Stakeholders Caution Lawmakers About Consequences of Funding Shortfall; SIPP Funding Increased in House The U.S. House of Representatives approved three amendments that would cut a total of $58.3 million from the Census Bureaus 2007 budget before passing the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill (H.R. 5672) on June 29. The reduction would leave the agency with $815.7 million, about $14 million over current year funding. In 2007, the Census Bureau must prepare for the 2008 Census Dress Rehearsal and 2007 Economic Census and Census of Governments, award an advertising contract for the 2010 census, and continue large contracts to develop the data integration and processing infrastructure for the census. The U.S. Senate began consideration of its own 2007 funding bill today, with the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science approving roughly $828 million for the Census Bureau, about $50 million less than the Presidents request of $878 million. The funding reduction will affect programs in the Periodic Censuses and Programs account, not the Salaries and Expenses account, but no further details are available about which activities might be affected. The full Appropriations Committee will take up the bill on July 13. House questions need for increased census funding: In the House, the largest single funding cut came through an amendment sponsored by Reps. Mark Kennedy (R-MN), Lee Terry (R-NB), and a bipartisan group of legislators, which shifted $50 million from the Census Bureau to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. The amendment passed by a vote of 291 129. Supporters of the amendment noted that the Administration had eliminated funding for the Byrne JAG program in its proposed Fiscal Year 2007 budget. The Appropriations Committee approved $367 million for the grants, but program advocates said that amount still represented a significant reduction from the previous high funding level of $600 million. During the debate, many legislators highlighted local law enforcement efforts to combat methamphetamine use, which they called an epidemic. Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) countered that the Kennedy amendment would devastate the census and impact fundamental missions of the Census Bureau. The immediate ramifications are a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, irretrievable loss of testing opportunities to identify problems, the chairman warned, referring to efforts to improve coverage of historically hard-to-count populations in the census. Noting that the Census Bureau is vulnerable to cuts to fund other popular programs, Rep. Wolf said, There is not a lobby downtown for the Census Bureau. Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV), ranking Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee, also opposed the Kennedy amendment, calling the offset of census funds unacceptable. Rep. Mollohan pointed out that law enforcement uses census data to determine how to allocate manpower and equipment. Supporters of the Kennedy amendment did not criticize the Census Bureaus work, but several noted that the Appropriations Committee had increased the agencys budget by $72 million over the 2006 funding level. We are talking about funding cops, the war on drugs, homeland security, or $72 million more for the Bureau of the Census, Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) offered. To me that is a no-brainer: We fund Byrne grants, which every law enforcement official in America is pleading for. Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) called the choice a matter of priorities. Right now, we need more help on the streets with crime than we do in the Census Bureau. The mandate for every 10 years is every 10 years. Rep. Souder, who had previously served on the census oversight subcommittee, also suggested that the private sector could pay for some of the Census Bureaus other tasks if they need the data. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), a long time member of the Census Bureaus oversight subcommittee, countered that, The Census doesnt just appear in an instant and then disappear every ten years; it is a constant, massive effort that never stops. She reminded her colleagues that the distribution of [Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants] is based on population and crime statistics, both of which are based on Census statistics. The House also approved, by voice vote, two additional amendments that shifted funds from the Census Bureaus Periodic Censuses and Programs account to other anti-crime programs. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) authored a proposal to increase funding for the Violence Against Women Act by $10 million, with $5 million coming from the Census Bureau and the other $5 million from the Justice Departments administrative account. The amendment further specified that $2.5 million of the Census Bureaus cut would come from economic statistics programs (which include the Economic Census) and $2.5 million would come from demographic statistics, which includes Geographic Support System activities that help keep the Master Address File accurate. Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) sponsored an amendment to increase funding for the FBIs Innocent Images program (which pursues on-line sex predators) by $3.3 million, with the money coming from the Census Bureau. Reengineered census at risk, agency says: Following the House action, the Census Bureau issued an impact statement, saying the proposed funding reduction would force it to abandon plans to use GPS-equipped hand-held computers to collect information from unresponsive households in the census. Reverting to paper-based operations will add at least $1 billion to the overall cost of the 2010 census, the agency said. The bureau said it would put off aligning the TIGER digital mapping system with GPS coordinates in all counties, a project currently scheduled for completion in 2008. New initiatives to reduce undercounts and overcounts in the 2010 census also would be compromised, the bureau wrote. Funding at the House-passed level also would result in cancellation of group quarters coverage in the American Community Survey (ACS), according to the Impact Statement. Group quarters, which include nursing homes, college dorms, military barracks, and prisons, were first added to the ACS this year. Ultimately not including the GQ population in the ACS means the ACS cannot fully be the replacement for the long form in 2010, the Census Bureau said. Stakeholders convey support for census funding to Senate: A diverse group of census stakeholders, under the umbrella of The Census Project, sent a letter to all Senate appropriators yesterday, urging support for full funding for the Census Bureau. The letter was signed by 25 organizations representing local governments, scientific professions and researchers, the business community, housing and social justice advocates, and organized labor. The letter is posted at www.thecensusproject.org. The Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, published two editorials, explaining how census data are used to administer effective law enforcement programs and to prepare for and respond to disasters. To Take a Bite Out of Crime: Safeguard the Census (www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/reamer/20060626.htm) and Anticipating the Unimaginable: The Crucial Role of the Census in Disaster Planning and Recovery (www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/reamer/20060710.htm) are authored by Andrew Reamer, Brookings Fellow and Deputy Director, Urban Markets Initiative, Metropolitan Policy Program. SIPP funding partially restored in House: The House Committee on Appropriations allocated $29.2 million for the Census Bureau to continue fielding the Survey of Income and Program Participation while the agency designs an alternative program to produce data on the dynamics of economic well-being. The Bush Administration has proposed eliminating the survey next year, saying the current design is burdensome for respondents and that data processing is time-consuming and difficult. The President requested $9.2 million to close out data collection in 2006 and begin developing a replacement program. House appropriators, however, approved an amendment offered by Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) to restore $10 million for SIPP in 2007. In addition, the committee report accompanying the Census Bureaus appropriations bill directed the agency to use $10 million in mandatory funds previously designated for other data collection activities related to welfare reform, to continue the SIPP while it develops a new system. The total amount included in the House bill for SIPP is $29.2; the survey cost about $39 million to administer in 2006. Census News Briefs are prepared by Terri Ann Lowenthal, an independent consultant in Washington, DC, with support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and other organizations. Ms. Lowenthal is also a consultant to The Census Project, sponsored by the Communications Consortium Media Center. 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 202/484-3067 or by e-mail at TerriAnn2K(a)aol.com. Please feel free to circulate this document to other interested individuals and organizations. -- Ed Christopher FHWA Resource Center 19900 Governors Drive Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461 708-283-3534 (v) 708-283-3501 (f) 708-574-8131 (cell) _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news

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