NEW YORK, NY- Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) joined 2020 Census experts and community advocates to release a new report detailing the dire costs of an undercount for NY-12 and urging New Yorkers to complete the 2020 Census.

The importance of the Census cannot be underestimated. Data collected from the 2020 Census helps local governments enhance public safety measures and prepare for emergencies. It also determines how much federal funding Congressional districts receive for critical services like education, medical care, foster care, roads, public transit, and job programs.



The Census is the backbone of our democracy. A full and accurate count of all New Yorkers is crucial.

The full event is available to view here.

“This new report makes it crystal clear—a complete Census count is essential for our district,” said Rep. Maloney. “This year’s Census comes at an unprecedented time. As we face a public health crisis and global economic downturn, it is critical for our community to secure the funding we are entitled to for essential services like education, medical care, and job programs. To ensure that our community has the resources we need for the next decade, every person in our district must be counted. Unfortunately, only 43.1% of NY-12 residents have responded so far, which puts us behind the national average of 53.2%. This must change. We must send a powerful message: we will not be silenced; we will not be ignored; and we will be counted.”

“Simply put, the census is a national competition and an incomplete count in New York City means we’re leaving billions on the table for education, healthcare, housing, job training, infrastructure, and more,” said Julie Menin, Director of NYC Census 2020 and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel at the NYC Law Department. “Now more than ever, we can’t afford to lose a single dollar of what we’re owed. That is why we’re leading the effort to achieve a complete count here in New York City, and we thank Representative Maloney for her tireless leadership in Congress to ensure that the census count is fully funded, and that New York City gets its fair share of both resources and representation.”

“I want to thank Congresswoman Maloney for all her work on this report, which paints a stark picture of the exact risks we face from an undercount in the 2020 Census - millions of federal dollars lost for low-income students, job seekers, and key infrastructure projects. While we have done everything we can to make sure people are filling out their census forms, it’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges in this effort. With less than half of New York census forms completed, it’s imperative our federal, state, and local governments continue to provide additional resources for outreach and flexibility as we fight for a complete count in the Empire State,” said New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, Co-Chair of the Council’s 2020 Census Task Force.

“It's simple - an undercount equals underfunded communities. A complete count helps New Yorkers get every penny they deserve for hospitals, schools, public housing and more. Not to mention that census data helps businesses decide where to invest, build and bring jobs,” said Melva Miller, Executive Vice President of the Association for a Better New York. “As Congresswoman Maloney has made clear, New York cannot afford an undercount and it’s our job to make sure our families, friends and neighbors know that they must be counted in the 2020 Census.”

“Chairwoman Maloney’s report serves as a clarion call for collaboration among stakeholders at all levels of government, institutions, and industry to ensure our communities are fully counted during Census 2020. The need for accurate population data has become more evident in recent weeks as our government officials and public health experts make critical decisions in the fight against COVID-19,” said Juan Rosa, Northeast Director of Civic Engagement with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. “The clock is ticking and we must leave no stone unturned in obtaining a full and accurate count of all New York districts in the decennial count. The Census determines the amount of funding that reaches communities for programs that are crucial to the well-being of families, including those affecting health, education and job programs, thus its importance cannot be overstated. Residents can self-respond to the census online at https://my2020census.gov/or over the phone in English by dialing 844-330-2020 or in Spanish at 844-468-2020, or by completing the paper census form and returned by mail.”

“The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the importance of accurate, complete data in the policymaking decisions that direct resources to our communities. This crisis has also highlighted long-standing systemic barriers and disparities for communities of color and low-income, immigrant, and Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) New Yorkers, making the call for a complete count more urgent than ever before,” said Amy Torres, Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC). “AAPIs are the fastest growing racial group in the nation but a historic lack of data on our communities, paired with limited services and language access, prevent AAPIs from fully exercising their influence. CPC is a proud partner in ensuring every New Yorker is counted, regardless of age, immigration, employment, or housing status."

“The census is vitally important for everyone to complete. We are in danger of losing two – three congressional seats here in NYS. We know the data shows less than 48% counted thus far, and we must do better. Our youngest and our men are not “Standing Up” to “Be Counted”. The census only takes less than 5 minutes to complete online. It’s easy, fast and convenient. NAN encourages all to Stand Up and Be Counted, Today!” said Derek Perkinson National Action Network NYC Field Director.

“The 2020 Census is New York’s best chance to address the transportation, health, and education inequities the COVID-19 pandemic has made tragically clear,” said Meeta Anand, Census 2020 Senior Fellow, New York Immigration Coalition. “Congressmember Maloney’s new report lays out these stakes. We can build a fairer future for New Yorkers, but we need an accurate census count.”

Background

The report, prepared by the Democratic Staff of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, details that if there is just a 1% undercount in the 2020 Census, NY-12 residents could lose:

$430,000 in federal funding for schools that have a high proportion of low-income students, or the equivalent of all the textbooks that 1,700 students would need in a school year.

$320,000 in federal funding for job training centers and career counseling.

Click here to read the full report.

2020 Census Self-Response Rates as of Monday, April 27.

National: 53.2%

New York State: 47.4%

NY-12: 43.1%

Rep. Maloney urges households in the district to fill out their Census forms right now—in the comfort of their own homes—by going online at https://2020census.gov/, calling 844-330-2020, or filling out the forms they received in the mail.

The 2020 Census has only 12 questions and does not ask about citizenship.

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