The 2020 Census is sorely lacking in leadership, but planners can help.
"Planners must embrace their roles as facilitators of effective outreach to ensure that an undercount of the nation’s younger, lower-income, and black and brown residents is avoided in the 2020 Census," according to an article by Emily Pasi, posted on the American Planning Association's blog, which both makes the case for the importance of an accurate Census for the field of professional planning and also explains how planners can work to ensure an accurate count.
The Census needs all the help it can get after being delayed and frustrated by the pandemic as well as aborted and obstructed by the dubious political motivations of the Trump administration, the communities most in need of an accurate count are the least likely to achieve an accurate count.
With knowledge of these challenges as context, the article provides four recommendations for planners to take a leadership role in improving this challenged Census. With more details in the article, the four "low-cost" recommendations are as follows:
- Work with the municipality to help Census takers gain access to apartment and condominium buildings.
- Help your complete count committee identify places frequented by residents without homes.
- Tap trusted community influencers to talk Census.
- Meet people where they are.
FULL STORY: 4 Cost-Effective Ways Planners Can Boost Census Response
Another Delay for the Census: Now Expected for September Delivery
The pandemic and political mismanagement are continuing to have an effect on the 2020 Census.
The Census Missed its Dec. 31 Deadline
The pandemic didn't help, but this moment has been a long time coming, and the delay is bad news for President Trump efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants from the count.
The U.S. Has a New Center: Hartville, Missouri
The center cannot hold.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.
Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie