City of Miami Gardens Mayor, Shirley Gibson and City Council Officially Jump Starts the City's First U.S. Census Count Initiative

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Miami Gardens Stand Up! Be Heard! Be Counted! 2010 Complete Count Census initiative officially kicked-off Monday, March 1, 2010 with radio Public Service Announcements by Mayor Shirley Gibson, distribution of City branded posters and flyers.  Direct mail delivery of the City's community park mailer and two (2) scheduled City sponsored Census Education and Awareness events during the month of March.  This planned effort is extremely important to the City's Mayor because she wants to ensure that the City reaches out and captures the participation of the hard-to-count communities in the City.  It is very important to the City of Miami Gardens and Miami-Dade County as a whole that every citizen is counted.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100302/FL63796LOGO )

This is the first time that the City of Miami Gardens will be officially counted since its inception in 2003 and it is important that officials of the City get an accurate count of the population to ensure that the City of Miami Gardens allocate services properly and has better opportunities for partnerships and governmental resources over the next 10 years.  

In 2000 Miami-Dade County was estimated to be undercounted by as much as 20% and the number was even greater than 30% in minority and hard to count communities in the area.  As a result of this undercount eight of the following major programs were affected in Miami-Dade County- Medicaid, Foster Care, Rehabilitation Services, Basic Support Services, Child Care and Development Block Grants, Social Services Block Grants, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants, Adoption Assistance, and Vocational Education Basic Grants.

Mayor Shirley Gibson and the City Council of Miami Gardens are committed to making sure that all of its residents and employees are aware of the importance of the 2010 Census and what it means for the City's future.  "It is very important that we expend all of our resources and energies to ensure that everyone is counted in the City of Miami Gardens.  The census is really about three things - politics, money and power, and the community needs to understand that an accurate census count helps to level the playing field," stated Mayor Shirley Gibson.

According to the US Census Monitoring Board report produced by Pricewaterhouse Coopers in 2001, it was predicted that over a 10 year period (2002-2012) over 58 of the largest counties in the US would lose over $100 million dollars each in federal funds as a result of the undercount. Overall 31 states which included Florida lost a total of $4.1 Billion in Federal funding, and 58 Counties including Miami-Dade County lost $3.6 Billion.

The City of Miami Gardens has made great strides in the past seven years, and Mayor Shirley Gibson and City Council members want to make sure that the City continues to grow in a positive direction.  Miami Gardens is home to the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Sun Life Stadium.  The City has hosted two Super Bowls™, and each year hosts a BCS College Bowl Game, and is poised to host its signature event the 5th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Festival March 20 – 21, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium.

At the close of last year, the Mayor and City Council received great news about the City from a published report by CQ Press in Washington, D.C., where Miami Gardens had dropped 22 places to 35th from 13th in overall crime in the nation, and received an "A" issuer credit rating (ICR) from the leader of worldwide financial market intelligence, Standard & Poor's (S&P).  Both accolades can be attributed to sound management and accurate distribution of the City's resources.

The City of Miami Gardens has launched an official website www.cmgcensus.com to educate its residents about the U.S. 2010 Census and what it will mean to the City of Miami Gardens.  In addition the City will be hosting several Census education and awareness events during the month of March beginning on March 14, 2010, from 12 Noon – 2PM, Tony's Restaurant & Catering in the Cloverleaf Shopping Plaza, located at 18230 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami Gardens.  March 20 -21, 2010, 5th Annual Jazz in the Gardens, Dolphin Stadium, attendees for the City's signature event can visit the US Census van and receive information about the Census and what it will mean to their communities.  On March 28, 2010, 12 Noon – 4PM Miami Gardens Shopping Plaza, 4646 NW 183rd Street, Miami Gardens. The City will conclude its Complete Count Initiative with a Community Census Day Event where residents from the City of Miami Gardens and across Miami-Dade County can come and return their Census Questionnaires or get important information about the Census.  

For more information about the City of Miami Gardens Complete Count Initiative contact Jay Marder, Development Services Director (305) 622-8025.  Media inquiries contact The Marome Agency, Anthony Jackson (954) 765-1995.

Miami Gardens

The City of Miami Gardens was incorporated on May 13, 2003 as the 33rd city in Miami-Dade County. At a population of approximately 109,000, it is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. Miami Gardens is a solid, working and middle class community of unique diversity. It is the largest predominantly African-American municipality in the State of Florida and boasts many Caribbean residents. In 2007, the City hosted the 41st annual Super Bowl in 2009; the City hosted the college BCS championship game and in 2010, hosted the 43rd Super Bowl.

SOURCE City of Miami Gardens