Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tem Wendy Greuel issued a statement on the U.S. Census Bureau’s decision to continue recognizing the San Fernando Valley as a unique geographical region. The decision of the bureau to overturn its previous recommendation to eliminate the San Fernando Valley as a unique geographic area deserving of its own Census data pleased Greuel. “Although this decision might seem relatively small, we rely on the Census data to put the public’s tax dollars to work more efficiently. Using the figures, we have been able to better understand the social and economic conditions of the region,” she stated. “This gives us a specific picture of how Valley needs differ from the needs of other Los Angeles neighborhoods. Census information indicates where to strategically locate transit lines, how to identify poverty and analyze growth in the region. The hard data helps us lobby for funds from the state and federal governments to address these vital issues.” Greuel, along with business and political leaders such as Congressman Brad Sherman, won special Census designation status for the Valley in 2005.
