16 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2019
2020 CENSUS
MAKING NASSAU COUNT
By LAURA CURRAN
Nassau County Executive
America is about to go through an
important once-in-a-decade process:
the U.S. Census. Counting everyone in
America is a lot of work, but so much
is at stake — especially for Nassau
County.
Billions in funding is decided by the
Census. Ten years ago, we were undercounted
and as a result, Long Island
didn’t get our fair share of funding for
a decade. Nearly one in four Nassau
residents didn’t fill out the 2010 Census
when it was first sent to them, according
to estimates. Nassau is ranked the
fifth most difficult-to-count county in
New York State.
We already send more money to
Washington, D.C. than we get back, so
we cannot afford another undercount.
That’s why I brought together more
than 30 nonprofit, labor, faith, and
community leaders to form a Complete
Count Committee with a single goal:
ensuring every person in Nassau is
counted in next year’s Census.
We are engaging our immigrant and
hard-to-count communities early
to educate residents about why it’s
important to be counted, and to reassure
them that it’s totally safe.
The federal government distributes
$53 billion to New York State based
on Census data. That’s money for
roads, bridges, public schools, law
enforcement, housing programs —
the list goes on. So when you fill out
a Census form, what you’re doing is
making sure your community gets
the services it needs.
Census data are used to determine
political representation on the federal
and local levels, including each state’s
electoral votes. And businesses look at
Census data when they decide where
to set up shop or relocate. Real dollars
and important decisions are based on
that data.
Being counted should be easier than
ever for many residents next year. By
April 1, 2020, every home will receive
an invitation to participate in the Census.
Once the invitation arrives, you
can respond for your home online, by
phone, or by mail.
Don’t throw away that envelope from
the U.S. Census Bureau. Ninety-five
percent of households get their Census
“invitation” in the mail.
Tell your friends, family, and neighbors
to make sure they know they
should be counted. And if you have
children, being counted in the Census
is one of the best things you can do to
secure a better future for your child
and community. So let’s make sure
Nassau counts.
POINT OF VIEW
“We cannot afford another undercount.”
TAKE ON EVERYTHING
LONG ISLAND
HAS TO OFFER TODAY
Today is yours for the taking. And AARP is here in our
community, helping you make the most of it. Whether
you’re a family caregiver looking for some support or
have ideas to help improve your neighborhood, we’re
here to connect you to the tools you need.
So go make today and every day the best it can be,
Long Island. /aarplongisland @aarplongisland
Learn how at aarp.org/longisland
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