By Nelson A. King
On Wednesday, Census Day,
despite the coronavirus (COVID-
19) pandemic, communities
across America were working
together in ensuring a full count
in the 2020 Census.
The Brooklyn community was
no exception, according to Sen.
Zellnor Y. Myrie, chairman of the
New York State Senate Committee
on Elections.
“It is more critical than ever
that we get Brooklyn counted
in the census,” said Myrie, who
represents the 20th Senatorial
District. “Right now, our district
is mostly hitting a 15-30 percent
response rate, and we need to get
that number much higher as soon
as possible to get the resources we
will need to recover from this crisis
and build a prosperous future
for Central Brooklyn.
“Were asking everyone to fill
out your census, post about it
on social media, and tag three
friends to make sure that they
help spread the word,” he urged.
“If you’d prefer not to fill out the
census by phone or online, watch
your mailbox for your official census
Caribbean L 28 ife, April 3-9, 2020
form from the US Census
Bureau later this month.”
Since mid-March, Myrie, whose
grand-mother hailed from Jamaica,
said the US Census Bureau
has been sending out informational
notices about the census to
invite people to respond online or
by phone at 1-844-330-2020, or
by calling one of more than a
dozen language lines.
“If you haven’t received that
notice, no need to wait: you can
go ahead and respond immediately,”
said Myrie, reminding residents
about “a few important”
things about the census.
He said there are no questions
related to immigration or citizenship
on the 2020 Census; the
census only has 10 questions,
and does not ask about employment,
income, or Social Security
number.
“The information you provide
to the census is safe,” the senator
said. “The US Census Bureau is
prohibited by law from sharing
your information with anyone,
and doing so is a crime punishable
by up to five years imprisonment
and a US$250,000 fine.
“The census is for everyone,
regardless of immigration or citizenship
status or housing situation,”
he added. “New Yorkers living
with friends, family members,
roommates, other families, or
even in unlawful housing units,
can and should participate in the
2020 Census.”
By law, Myrie said census
information can only be used for
statistical purposes, and cannot
be used against an individual or
family in any way.
He said the Census Bureau
cannot share any personal information
with any government
agencies, private individual or
companies.
This, he said, includes immigration
enforcement, law enforcement,
any other federal, state, or
city agencies and landlords.
Public Advocate Jumaane D.
Williams, the son of Grenadian
immigrants, said on Wednesday
released Census 2020 recommendations
are part of a new report,
“COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary
Public Advocate, Jumaane D. Williams Offi ce of Public Advocate
Recovery and Response.”
Among the proposals for census
response include: Rescheduling
Early Non-Response Follow
Up (ENFRU) to the end of the
summer, when New York City
college and university students
return to campus; immediately
begin contingency planning for
a potentially substantial delay of
the Bureau’s door to-door enumeration,
or Non-Response Follow
up (NRFU); and extending
the self-response window – currently
slated to end July 31 – to
Sept. 30.
Brooklyn community
marks Census Day