City Kicks Off 2010 Census Count Campaign
By Jon Whiten • Sep 15th, 2009 • Category: Blog, News
The last nationwide canvass by the U.S. Census missed more than 3 million people, many of them children, minorities and immigrants. With Congressional representation and billions of dollars in federal aid on the line, that kind of undercounting can negatively impact cities, which have high “at-risk” populations. With that in mind, Jersey City today launched a public relations campaign, including the PSA video seen below, aiming to make sure that fewer folks are missed in the city when the 2010 Census comes ’round. City spokesperson Jennifer Morrill tells JCI that the administration has also dedicated a Census liaison from the mayor’s office.
“This is one of the most important events in the public and political life of those living in the United States,” Mayor Jerramiah Healy said in a statement. “It is critical that all municipalities across the country elevate public awareness on the importance of the 2010 census and how counting every resident does matter. The information gathered by the 2010 Census will affect municipalities like Jersey City for the next decade.”
Specifically, the city wants to overtake Newark as New Jersey’s largest city. Casual observers and armchair demographers have predicted this change at the top was imminent for the past ten years or so, as development has accelerated in Chilltown.
To do so, the city is (among other things) taking a very humane message directly to immigrant communities, telling them that the Census information will not be turned over to ICE or other federal law enforcement agencies.
“Being counted by the U.S. Census will not lead to deportations, arrests or tax audits. The purpose of [the] 2010 Census is to simply count the people, nothing more,” Healy said. “An undercount in Jersey City would mean a severe reduction in our fair share of federal dollars, which will directly affect the quality of life in our communities.”
For more on the Census campaign and to learn how to volunteer in the count effort, visit the city’s website.
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Jon Whiten is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
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