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ABNER GALINO, Fil-Am News Editor
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California Census hits benchmark for hard-to-count populations but wealthy communities far behind
By SUNITA SOHRABJI EMS Contributing Editor
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s Census self-response rate is a nationwide leader, but many residents in the state’s wealthy enclaves have yet to respond. 9.7 million households in the state have already responded — more than 64 percent — but more than two million households have not participated in the nine-question online survey at census2020.gov. A mail-in form is also available.
California’s self-response rate is higher than the nationalaverage – slightly more than 64 percent versus 62.8 percent throughout the country as of July 30, according to data from California Complete Count-Census 2020. California also has the highest average self-response rate in census tracts where a large percentage of residents are foreign born.
As part of its original strategy, California Complete Count focused its outreach on 3.5 to 4.1 millionhouseholds considered “hardest-tocount” because they lack access to broadband Internet and therefore cannot complete the online form. Hardto-count households may also speak English as a second language and live at or near the poverty line.
So far, 2 million hard-to-count households have responded, which meets the state’s initial target and puts it ahead of 10 other states with similarly high racial and ethnic diversity. California has the largest number of hard to count households in the country, according to California Complete Count.
Surprisingly, however, wealthy cities in the state — which in past censuses have been easy to count — have had a lower response rate in the 2020 census. In posh Malibu, for example, self-response rates dipped to 36 percent. In San Francisco, wealthy neighborhoods such as Cow Hollow, the Marina, Pacifi c Heights, and the Presidio have self-response rates of 53 percent, a startling drop from the 2010 census, when these neighborhoods exceeded 70 percent.
Ditas Katague, longtime director of California Complete Count-Census 2020, the state’s initiative to ensure an accurate census count, said during an Aug. 3 press briefi ng that there are only a few days left to respond to avoid enumerators coming knocking at the door. All residents in the country are required to respond to the Census regardless of immigration status.
“This is a pivotal time in our nation’s history. Face to face contact is limited,” she said, also noting the uncertainty of door-to-door fi eld work.
U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced Aug. 3 that he was cutting short the time for fi eld data collection. Earlier, enumerators were scheduled to continue knocking on doors until Oct. 31. But Dillingham’s memo said fi eld operations would end on Sept. 30 to ensure that the Bureau would meet its statutory deadline of Dec. 31 for delivering census results to the White House.
The shortened timeline for data collection immediately evoked response from critics. House Majority leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued a series of tweets Aug. 4, stating: “Last night's announcement that the 2020 Census will be cut short before its work is done is yet another example of this Administration’s blatant assault on our Constitution and our democracy.”
“Trump has been trying to undermine the Census since before it began. The House will continue to investigate these abuses. With only 6 in 10 people counted so far, I urge the Commerce Secretary & Census Director to insist on conducting the full count as mandated by our Constitution,” tweeted Hoyer.
Katague said she was deeply concerned that fi eld work might be cut short. “A successful count involves enough enumerators and enough timing.”
“We risk a historic under-count,” she said.
Saturday-Friday | August 8 - 14, 2020
Aside from doing the required count, every ten years, of every person living in California, (yes, including undocumented folks), participating in the 2020 Census will help bring and keep resources that are limited in our most vulnerable communities and that are critical for our children to grow up safe and healthy.
These include businesses (think jobs!), clinics, schools, childcare programs, smooth streets with sidewalks and stop lights, and fi re stations. By taking a few minutes to answer 10 questions, we can change our community's future for the next 10 years!
In California, counting all kids is particularly important in cities like Fresno and Los Angeles. Not only are they two of the most diverse cities in California – and therefore two of the hardest to count – but they have also been among the hardest hit by COVID-19 with communities of color facing the worst health, economic and other impacts of the pandemic.
In Fresno, 37 percent of young children live below the poverty line. At First 5 Fresno County, we know children develop in the context of their communities, and without needed resources, thriving will be diffi cult at best.
In the 2010 Census, 1 million children were excluded from the count resulting in 10 years of lost resources for those children and their communities.
The good news is that we can make a difference in 2020. We can use our voices to benefi t our children and our communities by fi lling out the Census and helping others to do the same. Once we make sure we count our household, we must help our parents, friends, and neighbors count their household, including all children and babies!
The success of this Census depends, in large part, on every Californian raising their voice to say, “I count and so do my children.” It is our responsibility as advocates for our families and communities to ensure everyone is counted.
Fortunately, completing the Census has never been easier. You can complete the form in 13 languages at my2020census.gov, or over the phone. You can also respond to a paper questionnaire if you received one in the mail. The Census will not ask you any questions regarding your immigration status. Rather, all the questions are demographic, like how many people stay in your home and their basic information (name, sex, age, etc.).
The information given is confi dential and secure – if a Census worker tries to share the information you provide they could be punished with hefty fi nes and jail. And do not worry that any of the information you share with the Census will be disclosed: the law says no Census data can be released for 72 years!
U.S. Census Bureau workers will soon be knocking on doors in communities around the state to ask households that have not yet participated in fi lling out the form.
Of course, this makes many in our communities anxious and scared. The sooner you fi ll out your form, the more likely you will avoid a visit from a Census worker. If they do show up, you’ll have to keep your distance and your mask on, while likely the questions are asked in person. You can avoid this by reminding everyone around you to act now!
California is a state para todos – a beacon of opportunity for people of every race, sex, creed, ethnicity, and nationality. We must send a strong message that in our state, we take care of each other and take our collective future seriously.
By counting every person in our homes, we can make sure we get what belongs to us in the next decade.
Help me remind everyone – minutes change the next 10 years. Take a bit of time to complete the 2020 Census today! California babies are counting on us to count them. Apúrate and let's do this, juntos!
