The 2020 Census and Why it Matter to CATESOL

Ondine Gage

Everyone who resides in California on April 1, 2020 must be counted including citizens, documented or undocumented residents, the homeless, students who come from out of state and international students. This newsletter summarizes the concerns and consequences for the 2020 Census, asking all members to help support the 2020 Census.

Concerns that Californians may be undercounted: (1) New changes to the Census forms may complicate the data collection process. (2) The Federal Government reduced the funding to support the Census counts for 2020. (3) Rhetoric around a “citizenship question” which is NOT on the form may frighten people from participating. (4) The 2010 Census undercount was estimated at 10% of the population. These are real concerns prompting our action to educate everyone about the Census.

Changes to forms: Beginning April 1st, citizens will receive a notice in the mail to complete the census either by phone, mail, or online. The Federal Budget for the 2020 Census was reduced and the online system has had limited testing. Given the complications of registering when the Affordable Care Act was introduced, the Census workers are anticipating confusion. California libraries including those at public institutions are set up to help people.

While the Federal Government reduced funding to the National Census, Gov. Gavin Newsome subsidized the $100 million for Census outreach in 2018-2019 and another $50 million for the 2020 outreach.

The rhetoric around a “citizenship question” has caused fear. There is no citizenship question, but the damage was done by the fear-mongering rhetoric. While Census workers are government employees, please make it clear to everyone that Census workers ARE NOT Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Census workers are sworn to maintain 72 years of confidentiality or face fines and prison time.

The 2010 Census undercount estimated at 10% cost the state in terms of Federal Funding. We must count everyone, including the indigent, renters, “couch surfers”, people living in cars or illegal units, migrant populations, and especially children which following the undercount in 2010, caused Headstart programs to be underfunded for the last 10 years.

Consequences of undercounting: (1) The Census sets the budget for the next 10 years for Federally funded programs. The Federal Funding money comes from our tax dollars. The Census is how our money is returned to our state. The Census establishes the budget for Federal programs in our state including:

Supplemental Nutrition programs like SNAP/CALfresh;
Section 8 Housing Choice;
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program;
Head Start Programs;
Title 1 Grants to local agencies;
The National School Lunch Program;
Foster Care Title IV-E;
Special Education (IDEAS) Grants.
Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, of which 63% of funds come from the Federal Government.
Highway planning and construction

(2) The Census establishes the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives. California has the largest Census number and as a result the greatest number of Representatives in the House of Representatives. This is why the Speaker of the House comes from California. Our representation is our power and our voice in government. California has led the nation in critical environmental issues like air quality, clean water, clean up of toxic and environmental pollution, and efforts to prevent climate change. When political parties fail the nation, California has been a leading voice not only for our nation but for the world on these and other vital issues. Should we lose representatives in the House of Representatives because of undercounting, we lose our voice in government. The areas most vulnerable to undercounting are our agricultural communities which feed the nation, including the Imperial Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Salinas Valley. These areas need to maintain representation sensitive to the needs of their communities. We urgently need to be sure that everyone is counted.

Please encourage your students, friends, worship fellowship and community members to complete the Census. There are many great resources online. For more information, check out these sites: Census 2020 Encourage your students to participate in the We Count, We Rise competition (and they can win prizes!)

Sources
Hayes, J. (2019). Just the FACTS: 2020 Census: The Political Impact on California. Public Policy Institution. Retrieved from: ppic.org

Murphy, P. and Danielson, C. (2018). Just the FACTS: Census-Related Funding in California. Public Policy Institution. Retrieved from: www.ppic.org


The 2020 Census and Why it Matter to CATESOL Ondine Gage Everyone who resides in California on April 1, 2020 must be counted including citizens, documented or undocumented residents, the homeless, students who come from out of state and international students. This newsletter summarizes the concerns and consequences for the 2020 Census, asking all members to help support the 2020 Census. Concerns that Californians may be undercounted: (1) New changes to the Census forms may complicate the data collection process. (2) The Federal Government reduced the funding to support the Census counts for 2020. (3) Rhetoric around a “citizenship question” which is NOT on the form may frighten people from participating. (4) The 2010 Census undercount was estimated at 10% of the population. These are real concerns prompting our action to educate everyone about the Census. Changes to forms: Beginning April 1st, citizens will receive a notice in the mail to complete the census either by phone, mail, or online. The Federal Budget for the 2020 Census was reduced and the online system has had limited testing. Given the complications of registering when the Affordable Care Act was introduced, the Census workers are anticipating confusion. California libraries including those at public institutions are set up to help people. While the Federal Government reduced funding to the National Census, Gov. Gavin Newsome subsidized the $100 million for Census outreach in 2018-2019 and another $50 million for the 2020 outreach. The rhetoric around a “citizenship question” has caused fear. There is no citizenship question, but the damage was done by the fear-mongering rhetoric. While Census workers are government employees, please make it clear to everyone that Census workers ARE NOT Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Census workers are sworn to maintain 72 years of confidentiality or face fines and prison time. The 2010 Census undercount estimated at 10% cost the state in terms of Federal Funding. We must count everyone, including the indigent, renters, “couch surfers”, people living in cars or illegal units, migrant populations, and especially children which following the undercount in 2010, caused Headstart programs to be underfunded for the last 10 years. Consequences of undercounting: (1) The Census sets the budget for the next 10 years for Federally funded programs. The Federal Funding money comes from our tax dollars. The Census is how our money is returned to our state. The Census establishes the budget for Federal programs in our state including: Supplemental Nutrition programs like SNAP/CALfresh; Section 8 Housing Choice; The State Children’s Health Insurance Program; Head Start Programs; Title 1 Grants to local agencies; The National School Lunch Program; Foster Care Title IV-E; Special Education (IDEAS) Grants. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, of which 63% of funds come from the Federal Government. Highway planning and construction (2) The Census establishes the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives. California has the largest Census number and as a result the greatest number of Representatives in the House of Representatives. This is why the Speaker of the House comes from California. Our representation is our power and our voice in government. California has led the nation in critical environmental issues like air quality, clean water, clean up of toxic and environmental pollution, and efforts to prevent climate change. When political parties fail the nation, California has been a leading voice not only for our nation but for the world on these and other vital issues. Should we lose representatives in the House of Representatives because of undercounting, we lose our voice in government. The areas most vulnerable to undercounting are our agricultural communities which feed the nation, including the Imperial Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Salinas Valley. These areas need to maintain representation sensitive to the needs of their communities. We urgently need to be sure that everyone is counted. Please encourage your students, friends, worship fellowship and community members to complete the Census. There are many great resources online. For more information, check out these sites: Census 2020 Encourage your students to participate in the We Count, We Rise competition (and they can win prizes!) Sources Hayes, J. (2019). Just the FACTS: 2020 Census: The Political Impact on California. Public Policy Institution. Retrieved from: ppic.org Murphy, P. and Danielson, C. (2018). Just the FACTS: Census-Related Funding in California. Public Policy Institution. Retrieved from: www.ppic.org
CATESOL Newsletter - CATESOL Newsletter March 2020