Efforts for Accurate 2020 Census Still Underway

With federal funding for New York on the line, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul’s Complete Count Census Campaign is still underway. 

Along with a February visit to Marist College, Hochul is traveling New York enticing residents to participate in the nationally mandated Census. At a recent speaking event in Buffalo, Hochul said “Don't just discard it. Know that this is going to hurt your state for the next decade if we don't get our fair share of federal funds as happened last time.”

With a peak of 45 seats in the House of Representatives in 1933-1953, New York State’s influence on Congress’s lower legislature is dropping. Since 2013, New York has only held 27 seats due to a steady decrease in population. 

Along with representation in Washington, the Census is also instrumental in the allocation of federal resources to states. On the governor’s website, Hochul says “We are working to make sure all New Yorkers are counted so no children go hungry, no seniors have to live without heat, and people with disabilities have good jobs”. 

“In midst of the current COVID19 epidemic, Hochul  is still urging the thorough completion of the 2020 Census. Posted to her Twitter account on April 1st, Hochul wrote ‘It’s #CensusDay- now more than ever we need every NYer to be counted! Our federal funding for programs that help veterans, children and seniors is on the line.’”

The issue of ensuring Census accuracy recently made national headlines in 2019 when the Trump administration announced their decision to include a question regarding citizenship on the 2020 Census. 

A statement released by the White House in July 2019 states, “It is essential that we have a clear breakdown of the number of citizens and non-citizens that make up the U.S. population…  Knowing this information is vital to formulating sound public policy, whether the issue is healthcare, education, civil rights, or immigration.”

For those who do reside in the United States without citizenship, this question may prevent accurate responses for fear of resulting legal consequences. 

At a press conference in January, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo combat Trump’s proposed question, “New York is standing up to the federal government's intimidation tactics and attempts to discourage immigrants and other communities from filling out the Census questionnaire.” 

While at Marist, a formerly published Marist Circle article credits Hochul as combatting this “You don’t have to be a citizen — people are afraid because they think that when they fill out this form that the ICE enforcement officers are going to be at their door the next day.” 

Although the Supreme Court has blocked the inclusion of citizenship on the 2020 Census, the long term effects of Trump’s desire for the question may affect the accuracy of the upcoming survey. “People are living in the shadows, living in fear and not being counted, and we have to change that,” said Hochul while on campus.

In midst of the current COVID19 epidemic, Hochul  is still urging the thorough completion of the 2020 Census. Posted to her Twitter account on April 1st, Hochul wrote “It’s #CensusDay- now more than ever we need every NYer to be counted! Our federal funding for programs that help veterans, children and seniors is on the line.”

Like the Governor, Hochul is still urging New Yorkers to stay home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.