CITY OF NEWBURGH — Linda Sciallo, a 64-year-old City of Newburgh resident, believes her calm demeanor and ability to put strangers at ease when she approaches are valuable assets she can bring to the table if she is selected to be a counter in the 2020 U.S. Census.

"I think a lot of people are afraid, especially those who are not legal immigrants," Sciallo said of the possibility some city residents may not want to answer their doors when the census gets underway next year. "I think they have more of a fear of doing something like this, you know? They're not sure if they're going to get deported or not."

Sciallo applied for a temporary job with the federal Census Bureau during a recruitment event on Tuesday at the Newburgh Free Library. About 30 people applied for counting jobs that would pay $18 an hour and offer flexible work hours.

The Newburgh City Council and community groups have been pushing for locals to apply for the Census positions as a way to increase the likelihood of an accurate population count. In 2010, about 57 percent of Newburgh city residents responded to the initial questionnaire. Enumerators had to follow up with unresponsive residents by going door-to-door.

Andrea Scott, 50, of the City of Newburgh, was a counter in New York City during the 1980 Census. She also applied for a temporary counting job in Newburgh.

"I know it's important and I want to help out," Scott said.

Federal money for transportation, infrastructure and housing, and political districting and representation can hinge on Census data, which makes the 2020 count critical to the City of Newburgh.

Jonathan Esson, 31, of the City of Newburgh, said he applied for a Census job Tuesday because he's going through a tough time finding work. He hopes this job, if he is hired, could hold him over until he finds more steady employment.

But the biggest reason he wants a census job is to be part of something meaningful to his community.

"I've always wanted to see a change in the community because I see a lot of things that go on with housing and being on the streets," Esson said. "A lot of people in the community, most of them aren't aware of what's going on. I'm always aware."

lbellamy@th-record.com