The Manassas Park Governing Body heard from Panorama Latino, a Spanish-language show based in Manassas.
- It is offering to help with getting the word out about the upcoming 2020 Census.
- As the only local Spanish-language show in the region, Panorama Latino’s pitch says the city could use it to get the word out to the Spanish speaking community in Manassas Park.
- This would provide census takers with a more accurate accounting of the city’s Hispanic population, which historically tends to be undercounted, according to the show.
The result, says the show’s producer, would lead to receiving better federally-funded social services.
- Manassas Park received and distributed more than $675 billion to various social services and programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Section 8 housing, according to the show’s producer.
- As of July 2018, the estimates for the Hispanic demographic in Manassas Park is at 40.1% and potentially more that may not have responded to past censuses.
While the city was interested in partnering with the show they were unconvinced of the show’s potential audience reach.
- Panorama Latino is produced monthly at Comcast near Manassas and airs on a cable access channel, as well as online.
“The city was interested but wanted some assurances of the reach they were claiming, but they didn’t have any record of viewer numbers to back up those claims so the city didn’t want to make the investment without those assurances.”
- The show asked the city for a financial donation for their services, however, Palko but didn’t disclose the requested amount.
- The lack of assurances from the show as well as the fact that the city is making budget cuts meant they couldn’t move forward with a partnership.
- Palko did mention that the city was willing to come on the show to discuss the census.
Panorama Latino did not respond to a request for comment.
The show’s pitch to the city was part of a bigger meeting regarding Count The Region, an initiative spearheaded by the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia whose purpose is to get the word out about the upcoming 2020 Census.
