Pew says Philly less prepared for census

Philadelphia is trailing behind the nation’s other major cities in preparations for the upcoming 2010 census. A report by Pew’s Philadelphia Research Initiative says the city of Philadelphia is at the bottom of 11 cities surveyed on preparations to make sure every resident is counted.

Philadelphia is trailing behind the nation’s other major cities in preparations for the upcoming 2010 census. A report by Pew’s Philadelphia Research Initiative says the city of Philadelphia is at the bottom of 11 cities surveyed on preparations to make sure every resident is counted.

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The census is used to determine representation in Congress, as well as distribution of federal funding.

Survey Project Manager Thomas Ginsberg says even though the count is done by the federal government, preparing at the local level is key.

Ginsberg: What cities can do is essentially pave the way, open the door for the census takers, who are employed by the federal government. It can do outreach campaigns, awareness campaigns the cities are closer to the ground so to speak, can do outreach to community groups.

Ginsberg says city officials cite budget woes as the major reason for the delay. Several cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Phoenix are already implementing their pre-census awareness campaigns.