Pols, community launch Census 2010 campaign

BY TONIA N. CIMINO

Monday, February 8, 2010 6:09 PM EST

Stand up and be counted.

That was the message last week, when politicians joined southeast Queens community groups to launch the Census 2010 Campaign.

The campaign was initiated by the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee, to encourage residents of southeast Queens to be counted in the upcoming census.

“I am honored to work with community leaders in the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee and all throughout my district to ensure our neighborhoods receive the resources we need for schools, health care and a better quality of life,” said Senator Joseph Addabbo.

Census data is used to allocate federal and state aid for schools, transportation and other services. For every New Yorker counted in the 2000 census, the federal government spent nearly $2,000 a year.

But in parts of southeast Queens, only four out of 10 households filled out a census form in 2000, according to Addabbo

“In Richmond Hill, one of our primary objectives is to work among the people to dispel fears that some have about the census and prevent them from filling out the forms,” said Senator Shirley Huntley. “The information gathered by the census cannot be shared with any government agency, law enforcement group or anyone whatsoever. Your privacy is protected by law when you return a census form.”

The Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee – organized by SEVA, a community organizing group that focuses on immigrant populations – includes a diverse group of religious and civic organizations that are spreading the message to all of their members and mobilizing their base.

“The level of outreach being conducted this year is unprecedented and necessary to increase the very poor census response rate from 2000. We have set up similar committees in Jackson Heights and northeast Queens,” said Gurpal Singh, Executive Director of SEVA.

For more information, or to join the Census 2010 Campaign, contact the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee at 347-414-7382 or Census@Sevany.org.