2020 Census: Try to be counted before September 30
By Gavin Newsom / Ethnic Media Services
By participating in the 2020 Census, all Californians can help their communities secure these and other resources before September 30. It's as simple as answering nine easy questions online or by phone.
As we continue to deal with the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism, many of us are thinking about the world we want to live in, and how we can make it better and safer for the next generation. The Census gives us an opportunity to prepare a good foundation for securing the funding communities need to thrive.
The Census is the official population count, and it is what every level of government uses to decide funding for our children's schools, childcare programs, and nutrition and health resources.
The answers you give today will affect us every day for the next ten years. Whether or not you answer the Census will affect your 6-year-old son or daughter until he or she goes to high school, middle school or high school. high school.
The Census has helped tell our American story since the first survey was conducted in 1790. It is a count of everyone living in the United States, regardless of background, immigration status, or nationality. It paints a proud picture of who we are, characterizes political representation, and decides the funding for the foundations of our lives.
By taking the Census, you will help secure billions of dollars in funding for your community, tribal nation and state. You will ensure that you and your neighbors have representation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Communities that have more people officially counted have greater representation in the legislature and Congress, and have more funding available to help with community needs based on this official count.
The Census gives us the possibility to say, ?here we are, we matter and we know what our children and communities deserve?
We are proud that California is the most diverse state in the most diverse democracy in the world. Every community in our golden state is unique and each deserves to be counted. But not every community has been counted as it should be.
Among those most often left out of the count are Native Americans, immigrants, non-English speakers, diverse communities and children. A poor count would disempower our voices and leave us out of decisions that affect us. And it would put our future and funding at risk, resulting in less money for our hospitals, fire departments and schools. For every person left uncounted, California could lose $1,000 per person each year for the next ten years.
It is our mission to include every community in the census count, including those previously left out due to cultural and language barriers, fear or misinformation. In California, we take the Census as seriously as we take the future of our children. We have made historic investments to ensure that every single person living in California is counted ? especially in hard-to-count communities. That includes working with nonprofits and ethnic media partners to ensure we reach every Californian in the language they speak.
You may have already received instructions in the mail on how to fill out the Census form. If not, you can still fill out the form online at my2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. Multilingual help is available by phone. If you received a paper form in the mail, you can fill it out and send it back.
Be sure to count everyone in your household, including boys and girls, and do it before September 30.
As you fill out the Census, know that it is secure and confidential. The information collected cannot be shared or used against you in any way. Census data cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or shared with landlords. The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number, financial information or money. And Census 2020 is prohibited from asking questions about your immigration or citizenship status.
Right now, Census teams are going door to door to follow up with people who have not responded. They are following all public health guidelines. They are trained to wear a mask and ask Census questions from outside your home. You can tell if the person is an official Census enumerator by their Census Bureau-issued identification badge and phone number.
Remember, by answering these nine easy questions and ensuring a complete count, you create a brighter future for your community.
As parents, there is nothing we wouldn't do for our sons and daughters. This year, add "take the Census by September 30" to that list.
See the Census website for more information: https://californiacensus.org/
Gavin Newsom is governor of California.
