Don’t let Donald Trump count
New York out in the 2020 Census
POETRY FROM
OUR READERS
‘Vote’
COURIER LIFE, JULY 31-AUGUST 6, 2020 15
OP-ED
BY JEFFREY M. WICE
Even as New Yorkers
fi ght the COVID pandemic,
another battle looms—making
sure that we’re treated
fairly in the 2020 Census.
What’s at stake? For
starters, billions of dollars
in federal aid for health, education,
social services and
more. The Census will also
affect the power of our votes
in future elections—determining
how many congressional
seats New York State
gets and where the lines are
drawn around our state and
local legislative districts.
Now, more than ever, the
census really counts for every
New Yorker.
An accurate census count
during a pandemic was always
going to be diffi cult, but
the Trump Administration
has made the process even
tougher. After the president
lost in his bid to add a citizenship
question to the 2020
Census, he spent months disparaging
immigrant communities
and sowing confusion
about their right to be
counted.
Now, President Trump
has directed the Commerce
Department to provide him
with the data to erase undocumented
immigrants from
the state population totals
that determine how many
congressional seats each
state gets.
The president’s directive
doesn’t just disenfranchise
millions of our neighbors—
it could also cost New York
congressional seats, chipping
away at our state’s national
infl uence. New York
State is home to two million
foreign-born non-citizens:
about one in 10 New Yorkers.
New York City offi cials
estimate that there are more
than half a million undocumented
immigrants in the
city alone. Erasing these
populations deeply skews
our state’s count.
The president’s directive
fl ies in the face of America’s
history and guiding
principles. From the very
fi rst census in 1790, citizens
and non-citizens alike have
been counted in the census
and included in state population
counts. In fact, the
U.S. Constitution requires
that all “persons” who reside
in the United States be
counted in the census for the
purpose of determining the
number of seats each state
is to receive in the House of
Representatives. The 14th
Amendment also requires
the counting of the “whole
number of persons in each
state.”
Even more egregious, under
federal law, the president
does not have legal authority
over the census—Congress
does. It’s highly likely
that the courts will reverse
the president’s latest action.
New York Attorney General
Letitia James, who led the
fi ght against the citizenship
question in the courts last
year, is taking the lead challenging
the president’s census
maneuvers in court once
again. Other challenges are
pending in federal courts
across the nation.
Still, even if the president
loses in court, the fallout
will cause lasting harm.
News about the recent directive
has added to confusion
in our communities and undermined
some residents’
confi dence in the integrity
of the process.
That’s why our actions in
the weeks ahead are critical.
Currently, New York household
response rates are well
below those for the 2010 Census.
Just over half of New
York City’s residents have
responded to the 2020 Census.
In New York City, only
54 percent of the city’s households
have responded, compared
with the borough’s 64
percent 2010 household response
rate.
Every New Yorker should
make sure they are counted
now. If you haven’t answered
the census yet, you can still
self-respond until the end of
October. Complete the census
by phone at (844) 330-2020
or online at my2020census.
gov. You can also complete
and mail back the paper
questionnaire sent to your
household. And encourage
your neighbors to fi ll out
their census form too. Beginning
on August 11, Census
Bureau workers will go
door-to-door to count those
who have not responded
yet—another opportunity to
be counted.
Taking 10 minutes to answer
10 questions has never
been more important. No
one—especially not the president—
should be allowed to
intimidate any New Yorker
into losing their lawful right
to be counted.
The next decade depends
on it.
Jeffrey M. Wice is an Adjunct
Professor and Senior
Fellow at New York Law
School
BY CONNIE JACKSON
To doctors, nurses on their feet,
To moms who rally in the street,
To peaceful protesters who say,
I know there is a better way,
To offi cers who strive to be,
Collective of community,
To veterans who proudly served,
The freedoms that we ALL deserve,
To politicians who believe,
The tenets of equality,
I cast my net to gather you,
By mail or at the voting booth.
November 3, 2020 is fast approaching.
Whether you are a fi rst or lifetime voter,
PLEASE make your voice heard this election.
SOUND OFF TO THE EDITOR
LETTERS AND COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS
To the editor:
I was born in Brooklyn, I was raised in
Brooklyn, went to school in Brooklyn, got
my fi rst job in Brooklyn.
I got my fi rst kiss in Brooklyn, got married
in Brooklyn, had my fi rst children in
Brooklyn, and was one of the last people to
ride The Parachute in Coney.
My great grandmother owned the
property that became Steeplechase Park,
and every year I would get a batch of free
tickets from Mr. George C. Tilyou.
I was and still am a Brooklyn Dodger
fan and attended Pee Wee Reese’s funeral
in Louisville a number of years ago.
One time, I had lunch at the airport
in Louisville with Rachel Robinson and
Duke Snider.
I love Brooklyn, and although I live in
Virginia now, it hurts me when I see on
TV what is going on in the streets of the
place I love.
I have pictures of the Dodger in my
den and my shower curtain is a picture
of the Brooklyn Bridge. I also wrote a
book that has a picture of the bridge on
the cover.
I wish those who hate this country
would leave it. Good luck with the paper.
P.S. I have the first edition of Brooklyn
Magazine.
Bob Corson
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