Census Count – Sept. 25: Which San Gabriel Valley Community Came Out on Top?

Census Count – Sept. 25

The U.S. Census, a survey-like questionnaire, is issued every ten years to help gauge federal funding needed for public necessities, such as schools, roads, and transportation– the list goes on.

By J. Faith Malicdem

The census can be completed online via my2020census.gov, a confidential and verified resource in only ten minutes. In total, California residents have completed the Census, whether by mail, phone, or the online questionnaire, at rates just two percent above the national average.

How did our communities do?

Pasadena (70%), Arcadia (72.1%), and Glendale (71.1%) are on the lower end of Census self-reporting completion among local cities, whereas Sierra Madre (76.5), South Pasadena (78.4%), San Marino (77.7%), and Alhambra (75.8%) seem to be doing their best to do their part.

Hidden Implications

With that, it is important to consider the hidden implications of what this entails, and why some cities are more lacking than others. When focusing on groups that were less likely to participate in the Census, such as racial and ethnic minorities, those with little internet proficiency, and residents who are in the process of moving, or have just recently moved, a nationally representative survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau found that Hispanics, Blacks, and Asians were more likely to distrust all levels of governments and thus feel more apprehensive to reveal confidential information in the Census as of Jan. 24, 2020. Because of this same sentiment, Black and Hispanics were undercounted at statistically insignificant rates, while non-Hispanic whites were overcounted in the same previous decennial Census occurrences.

This trend indicates the reasoning behind these cities’ current rates, especially considering that, Asians are the majority population in Arcadia at 59% and in San Gabriel at 60%. Although whites are the majority population in both Pasadena and Glendale, each city has much bigger populations than Arcadia and San Gabriel combined.

Painless call-to-action

Completing the Census is one of the painless calls-to-action. It greatly determines the next ten years of each individual’s local community. It takes just ten minutes to allow for your city to receive the federal funding it needs to develop public schools, transportation, libraries, hospitals and more.

Completing the Census is one of the painless calls-to-action.  It greatly determines the next ten years of your local community.  It takes just ten minutes to help your city receive the federal funding it needs to develop public schools, transportation, libraries, hospitals and more.

You can complete the 2020 U.S. Census here. The deadline to self-report is Wednesday, Sept. 30.

J. Faith Malicdem. a sophomore journalism and psychology student at Emerson College, is passionate about covering music therapy and the feminization of garment work, as well as honing in on her film photography skills and music-making in her free time.