By Tangerine Clarke
New York City Mayor, Bill de
Blasio told Caribbean nationals
to enjoy the weekend of activities,
but when carnival is over,
citizens must devote themselves
to the census in order to
be properly counted.
The politician made the
urgent call during the WACDA
West Indian American Day Caribbean
Association reception,
at Gracie Mansion, on Aug.
27, where hundreds listened,
as Mayor de Blasio rallied the
crowd, and called on nationals
to raise their right hand
and pledge that they will be
counted.
“It would be wrong to have
a celebration and after the
numbers are counted, we talk
about millions being on Eastern
Parkway, and about this
vibrant community, but when
time comes for the United
States government to recognize
this community, it would be
wrong if this community is not
acknowledged,” said the mayor.
Recognizing Congresswoman,
Yvette Clarke on the platform,
the politician said if this
community is not counted, if
New York is not counted, the
community would lose a congress
member, it would lose
representation, and it would
lose diversity in the US Congress.
“If this city is not counted we
will not only lose millions, we
will lose billions of dollars for
schools, for housing, and for the
things we need,” said de Blasio.
“Everyone here is involved in
the community, activists, artists,
political figures, who are
the backbone of this community.”
“Look around you and give
yourselves a round of applause,”
he said, and received a response
of loud clapping.
“After the celebrations are
over, we only have a few months
to get the community ready. I
need to know that you will put
your heart and soul to make
sure the census actually reflects
us. Are you ready to do that he
asked, are you ready to participate,
Caribbean L 6 ife, Sept. 6, 2019 BQ
are you ready to lead.”
“Put up your right hand and
repeat after me. I will make the
census happen, I will make sure
it is fair, I will make sure everyone
is counted,” he said, as
elected officials, many of Caribbean
heritage, on the stage
applauded the mayor.
Some presented were; Dr.
Una Clarke, Public Advocate,
Jumaane Williams, Assemblywoman
Rodneyse Bichotte,
Assemblywoman Diana Richardson,
Councilmember Farah
Louis, Councilmember, Laurie
A. Cumbo.
According to
www.2020census.gov, by April
2020, households will receive an
invitation to participate in the
census. Citizens and residents
will then have three options to
respond: online, by phone, or
by mail.
Census Day on April 1, 2020,
will be observed with events
across the country. This is a key
date for the 2020 count: When
completing the census, citizens
will note where people are living
Mayor Bill de Blasio calling on Caribbean nationals at the recent
Gracie Mansion WIADCA reception, to raise their right
hand to pledge they will be counted in the 2020 Census.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
on April 1.
Decennial census data are
used to determine representation
in Congress, as well as
how funds are spent for roads,
schools, hospitals, and more.
The census bureau said it is
to help ensure that everyone in
the community is counted in
the next decennial census.
As such, the bureau is recruiting
thousands of people across
the country to assist with the
2020 Census count. A variety
of temporary jobs, including
census takers, recruiting assistants,
office staff, and supervisory
staff are needed
To be eligible, persons must
be at least 18 years old, have a
valid Social Security number,
and be a United States citizen.
For more information, visit
https://2020census.gov/en.
Mayor calls on Caribbean
nationals to be counted
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM
/www.2020census.gov
/en
/www.2020census.gov
/en