Census shapes local future
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
Just like many things in life, the census is about money and power.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the count provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, school districts and many other governmental, private and nonprofit agencies use to provide daily services, products and support for the community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funds go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, municipalities and other agencies based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
In addition, Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
Lori S. Carlin, partnership specialist for Atlantic and Cape May counties with the New York Regional Census Center, issued a news release recently encouraging and stressing the importance of participation.
“It’s one shot every 10 years to ensure our local civic, public and nonprofit services not merely continue but grow — $675 billion in federal funding nationwide, to be exact, is at stake. How it’s disbursed statewide and locally deeply depends on reaching into our local community,” the news release stated.
Government officials in Atlantic and Cape May counties are stressing the importance of their residents completing the census to help generate more state and federal funds flowing into the area.
Local community members have formed the Atlantic County Complete Count Committee to help educate the public of the importance of the census and promote participation, especially among hard-to-count populations.
According to members of the committee, the census is more than a head count.
“Once every decade, a census of the entire U.S. population is conducted. It shows how communities have changed and helps determine where to build new schools, hospitals and businesses; how federal funding is distributed; and how congressional seats are apportioned,” the group stated in a news release. “That is why an accurate count is so important.”
The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce is assisting with the effort in that county.
“We have been very active in getting the word out about the importance of the count,” said Vicki Clark, president of the Cape May County Chamber Commerce.
John Kelly, marketing and membership director with the chamber, explained why a complete count is important.
“The importance is that over the last census or two, we’re losing congressional seats and also it’s important with respect to funding on certain things such as schools, infrastructure. These numbers dictate how much money you can get for these important things,” he said. “We are also letting people know about the job opportunities for pretty decent-paying jobs.”
Kelly said the chamber had Carlin speak at one of its meetings and the agency is using its communications network to spread the word about the importance.
“It’s important that every population group is counted, because all of the education dollars, transportation dollars, are determined by the census count. It’s especially important to counties that have a great need for federal funding, because of our seasonal industry,” Clark said.
Public information officer Linda Gilmore said Atlantic County received a grant for activities and outreach events and promotion.
Local committee coordinator Bob Lindaw said the county, working in conjunction with Atlantic City and Pleasantville, received a $121,595 grant from the state Complete Count Commission in November to promote participation.
Gilmore said the county is working cooperatively with the two municipalities, as well as Stockton University and other community partners, to form a plan to best use the money.
Lindaw said the group has created a media outreach campaign as well as a countywide plan to establish support centers at the nine branches of the Atlantic County Library System, where residents can get live assistance in filling out the census if needed.
“It’s the backbone of our approach,” Lindaw said. “We are just getting under way to spend the grant dollars.”
The group plans to create hand-out materials, signage and other vehicles for getting the word out about the importance of increasing participation.
“We are trying to stretch those dollars as far as we can, Gilmore said.
For instance, Gilmore said, Atlantic City officials thought the best way to involve the harder-to-reach population is to hold community events. The group has created a website, makeitcount2020.com, on which there is a community calendar where anyone can post an event related to the census.
The site also includes information and important dates, as well as frequently asked questions and information about who and how workers will solicit information.
They said they are going to host events and activities at support centers, nutrition centers, community and recreation centers. More details will be available in the coming weeks.
“Census Day is April 1 and we are in the planning stage for activities that day,” Gilmore said.
Compiling a complete count is important in many ways, they said.
Lindaw said all of the data collected gets used for distribution of funding for public facility planning, schools, roads and other infrastructure projects, as well as public assistance.
What’s at stake, he said, is $1.5 trillion nationwide and $45 billion for New Jersey.
“We don’t want funding to go away because we were not able to provide an accurate count for those who need those services,” Gilmore said. “Those responses will help shape the future of our community for the next 10 years.”
Gilmore stressed that completing the census is “easy, it’s safe and it’s important,” as well as confidential.
Law enforcement
does not get data
Strict federal law protects individuals’ census responses. No law enforcement agency (including DHS, ICE, FBI or CIA) can access or use the personal information at any time. The data collected can be used only for statistical purposes that help determine important decisions such as the amount of federal funding a community receives for programs and services.
“The information is protected by law and can’t be used by ICE, FBI, etc.,” she said.
Gilmore said there already have been scammers representing themselves as census takers and trying to obtain information from people, and “the census isn’t available yet.”
“Anyone being contacted at this point, it’s not a legitimate census representative.”
The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire — online, by phone or by mail.
Participating in the census is required by law, even for those who recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau.
Participation is easy and convenient, officials say. The 2020 census will consist of 10 or fewer questions and will be available in multiple languages. For the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online as well as by phone or mail beginning in late March through June.
In addition to generating more money for the community, there is an opportunity to increase personal income. The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring a variety of temporary workers, including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff.
Candidates must complete an online job application, which includes assessment questions about education, employment and other experience. Positions are available throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
The census taker positions are part-time, flexible and within 5 miles of home through August, and pay as much as $20 per hour, including reimbursement for authorized expenses such as mileage for employees doing field work. Online applications are available at 2020census.gov/jobs.