Executive Director’s Message by Carolyn Coleman
Census takers will follow up between May and July with households that haven’t responded to the 2020 census. Cities can take steps now to help residents understand how their participation benefits the community.
Census 2020: What’s at Stake and Why Every City Needs to Drive Participation he federal census is underway, and a great deal is at stake for California. Full participation in the census affects all of us — it shapes the magnitude of our voice in Washington, D.C., and has a profound impact on how much money our state and local governments receive from federal agencies.
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Many residents are unaware of what’s at stake with the census. Others — especially hard-to-count groups — face cultural or language barriers to participation, are concerned about their privacy, or are fearful of answering questions about citizenship, which the census does not ask.
Yet California faces unique challenges to achieving an accurate count. Seventy-five percent of residents in the Golden State are considered “hard to reach,” which means they have been historically undercounted in the census. Non-English-speaking, minority, low-income, rural residents, those experiencing homelessness, and children under five — are just some of the populations that fall into these historically undercounted groups.
Research shows that U.S. residents have a much higher level of trust in their local government than in the federal government. That’s why the leadership of cities throughout California is critically important to educating residents about what the census is, why it’s important, and how they can participate.
An inaccurate population count could result in California losing a congressional seat and receiving less funding for essential programs such as Community Development Block Grants, transportation and infrastructure projects, school programs and lunches, children’s health insurance, Head Start, foster care, emergency services, and more. These impacts will further marginalize hard-to-count populations and erode their faith that government cares about their well-being.
By now, all U.S. residents should have received an invitation to participate in the census, which for the first time includes an online option. Data security is a high priority, and extensive safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the census. All of residents’ personal information will be kept safe and confidential, and there is no reason to be worried about answering the questions.
www.westerncity.com
What Residents Need to Know
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Western City, April 2020
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