West Hollywood residents have some work to do if they want our city to end up where it belongs in the 2020 U.S. Census.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that as of Aug. 4, only 57% of West Hollywood residents had responded to requests to complete the Census form. That ranks West Hollywood as No. 418 on the list of 482 cities in California. Piedmont, a small town of 11,000 people tucked in the middle of Oakland, ranks No. 1 with a 87.3% response rate so far.
Nearby cities also are ahead of us. For example, Culver City ranks No. 102 with 73.9% response so far. Brentwood is No. 83 with 74.8% of its residents responding. Beverly Hills is No. 438, with a 53.1% response rate.
Why does participating in the census matter? For one thing, you face a fine of $100 if you don’t. But being counted every ten years matters in other ways. The federal government uses Census numbers to decide where to spend nearly $700 billion each year for community programs and services such as housing and community development, health care for the elderly and job training. The State of California also uses Census data in planning and allocating funds for state-funded projects. Businesses use the numbers to decide where to locate new bank branches or offices. The Census count has an impact on everything from funding public health clinics to libraries to road construction
And, especially important, the U.S. Congress uses the Census count to determine how many seats a state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Census was launched in 1790. Since 1911, there have been 435 seats in the U.S. House, and the largest number of them (53) are allocated to the State of California, the most populous state in the nation.
How do you participate? By now you probably have received a form in the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau that you can fill out and return by mail. You also can complete the 2020 Census form online at my2020census.gov.
You also may get an email from the Census Bureau (if it doesn’t come from [email protected] it’s likely a scam). You may get a call from someone from the Census Bureau, or someone may knock on your door. One thing to know: Representatives from the Census Bureau will never ask for your full Social Security number, your full bank or credit account numbers, or your mother’s maiden name. Or ask any questions related to your political affiliation.
If you have questions about the process, you can learn more at census.gov or by contacting Julie Lam, director of the Census Bureau’s Los Regional Office, by phone at (818) 267-1700 or 1 (800) 992-3530, by fax at (818) 267-1714. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the TDD/TTY number, which is (818) 904-6249. You can send an email to [email protected]
Mindless machines in DC decide where any fed money goes based partially upon the census figures. When a region (including city, county, stat) does not receive its “fair share”, local taxes go up. However, in these days of sublime stupidity and willful ignorance, breaking away from one’s own interests for three minutes to fill out a simple form is to be expected. We get the government we deserve, as usual, for our lack of conceern.
And in another blow to an accurate count…..after getting a late start due to the Coronavirus pandemic, US Census Bureau has announced their enumerators (those who come knocking at your door if the household has not yet responded to the Census), will be ending their door to door work September 30th – one month earlier than their original October 31st end date. This makes it all the more important that each of us go to my2020census.gov now to respond so enumerators can target their attention on those hardest to count communities.
But if it was for a parade……..
The reason why we have the Second Amentment: Goobermint shows up at your front door.
Unbelievable, the lack of most civic participation.
Then again, the City also lacks in outreach.
Then again, when you don’t teach it, many people don’t know what it is or its importance.
I filled out my census online months ago.
There is nothing in it that will bite you.
Get a grip, people.
If WeHo folks really consider themselves part of the “Resistance” to the Trump regime, then the minimum we can do is respond to the census. This potential under count will hurt the number of Congressional representatives California is apportioned and impact how Federal funds are divided among the states. If you want to see meaningful change taking a few minutes to complete the census will make an important difference. Everyone of us can make a difference.
article reads
“Representatives from the Census Bureau will never ask for your full Social Security number, your full bank or credit account numbers”
They shouldn’t be asking for partial numbers either.
As an ID theft victim, I’d say run the other way if they ask any of that, or shut the door in their face. Even a partial SS# can give access to stuff
I read it as being similar to saying, “…the ___ did not immediately respond to our question.”
I always wondered, then, if the response came some time after “immediate.”
I wonder when people get their mail if they look closely at the envelope.One brief glance at it and it could be mistaken for junk mail and it get tossed into the recycling bin.
With the large part of West Hollywood’s residents being renters,they probably feel the US Census doesn’t apply to them. Perhaps with some renters being young,they don’t know what the census is.There is a lot to overcome in such a transient city.
Well, they want me to tell them my ethnicity but not whether I am GLBTQIA. In West Hollywood. In 2020. Wonder why it’s being tossed out?
Just filled out the online census and they only give male/female options for sex. I’m sure a lot of non-binary people stop at that question and exit.
The census is not tailored to any particular city and its inhabitants, GLBTQIA, or otherwise.
Nor are GLBTQIA citizens relegated to any particular city. Not a reason to not have a truly accurate count.