As a frequent utilizer of Census data, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) greatly appreciates the hard work and commitment of the US Census Bureau in providing such important data sets such as the decennial census and the American Community Survey (ACS). From that perspective, we would respectfully share our opposition to the potential changes to the census from the proposed rule titled Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions (Docket #260903-0005).
For over forty years, the Bureau has served the public interest of the Greater Worcester region, anchored by New England’s second largest city, by conducting independent, objective, data-based research and analysis of public policy issues. As such, we rely on data from the US Census of all types, not only from the decennial census data collection, but also via the ACS and other data sets inter-related with the census. As further detailed in our attached comment letter, the impacts from the proposed rule are of enormous concern to the WRRB, since our research uses not only the Census data regularly, but the ACS for research across a wide range of topics such as economic development, infrastructure, and education, and our work informs local, regional, and statewide policymakers and the public. Some of the most notable examples of the use of census and ACS data in our objective research would be our compendium of data called the Worcester Almanac, a ReInventing Worcester report that utilized census data since 1990 to analyze changes in the city in recent decades, and our Worcester County Insights data dashboard with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
As a result of these concerns regarding our objective research utilizing data released by the US Census, we respectfully request that the rule and the potential changes to the census be withdrawn. We very much appreciate and value the work of the Census Bureau.
Read WRRB’s Opposition Letter on the Proposed Census Changes.
