Nutter acts to boost census participation

By Marcia Gelbart

Inquirer Staff Writer

The last time the federal government tried to count the number of people in Philadelphia, only 56 percent of city residents returned their U.S. census forms - far below the national average of 67 percent, according to Mayor Nutter.

With the count set to begin again next year, a decade later, the mayor is aiming for a significant boost in participation.

"We have to demonstrate this is a city on the move and it's growing," Nutter said yesterday as he announced the launch of a new city awareness campaign about the forthcoming count.

At stake are billions in federal dollars that flow to states and cities based on census figures. "A decline in population means less money for all of us," the mayor said, noting that findings by the U.S. Census Bureau would affect Philadelphia for decades to come, including by determining representation in Congress and the Pennsylvania legislature.

Two years ago, Philadelphia was surpassed in population by Phoenix and became the nation's sixth-largest city.

To encourage census participation, Nutter also signed an executive order yesterday stating that no city worker can ask anyone about their immigration status, and that all Philadelphia residents are entitled to medical, mental-health, police, fire, and other city services.

The executive order was meant to reinforce a Police Department policy that bars officers from asking about an individual's immigration status.

The formal name of Philadelphia's census-awareness campaign is "Philly Counts!" It will be headed by Patricia Enright, who until now has served as Nutter's deputy chief of staff and communications director. She will remain on the city payroll in her new position as executive director of Philly Counts!

Contact staff writer Marcia Gelbart at 215-854-2338 or mgelbart@phillynews.com.

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Comments

Posted 10:22 AM, 11/11/2009

john 16

thanks nutty for giving all the illegas FREE medical,and free city services im sure dc33 and dc47 will be happy to give up their pay raise due to your generousity

Posted 11:26 AM, 11/11/2009

obummathepig

Good job nutter, you stupid, pathetic excuse for an American. Thanks to you, Cheng doesn't have to worry about being deported since you made Philly a safe haven for poeple who are in my country ILLEGALLY. I hate liberals and socailists. I can't wait for 2010 and 2012. While you're at it maybe you should just stop all arrests and leave the law enforcement to the citizens.

Posted 12:19 PM, 11/11/2009

CollingswoodResident

This a great campaign. The census is very important so that we make sure the Delaware Valley gets the representation it deserves.

Posted 03:55 PM, 11/11/2009

TexasChick

Who needs a census anymore? Just ask the ACORN folk how many people (dead, alive, imaginary) there are in the area. Then add a zero to that for all the illegals in the area and you've got a final count!

Posted 04:38 PM, 11/11/2009

dreamkiller

A city's vitality is directly porportional to its quality of life!! Your schools are in shambles, your streets are dirty and unsafe, the unions continue to rule the roost and and taxes continue to rise under your watch nutty. Very soon you'll have a city of non tax paying service sucking residents. Then what?! I know blame it on Bush and guns.

Posted 05:59 PM, 11/11/2009

Chantal

Nutter and Ramsey have taken the city from bad to worse. Illegal aliens are used as cash cows by these corrupt politicians while we, the legal tax-paying citizens, are burdened with the cost of providing services that these politicians and "law enforcement" so freely grant illegal aliens. It is past the time we start recalling these elected/appointed officials who have/are violating our laws and their sworn oath of office and rid the city/state of these illegal aliens.

Posted 02:04 PM, 11/12/2009

junebugmcwilliam

What is this man thinking? So, the illegals will CONTINUE to get free services, but probably won't participate in the census. As Forrest Gump said - "Stupid is as stupid does". The winners here - the illegals. The losers - the taxpayers of Philly and Pa.