For the first time in the nation’s history, families will have an opportunity to complete their census form online as the nation’s census takers begin their work.
Joseph Contreras, a Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, told members of the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce Friday that the upcoming census will be critical to local communities.
“It’s more than just a count,” said Contreras, “counting everyone goes beyond that, it is shaping our future for the next ten years.”
Contreras explained that the nation’s distribution and grant programs of the massive federal budget is shaped by the counts revealed in the nation’s census.
“It is our constitutional duty to get it right,” he said.
Contreras said the country’s founding fathers mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the United States constitution that an accurate count be made every ten years.
Moreover, he said the directive mandates that “everyone” be counted. The U.S. Census is important, easy and safe.”
He thanked the Los Alamitos community for being “very supportive” of the 2020 census, adding that it was critical for the city to “get the representation you need.”
Contreras suggested there were perhaps areas in the city that did not get fully counted in the 1990 census and he suggested ways to get them counted this year.
“Our goal is to count everyone once, and only once,” he said.
Families will have the opportunity to input their information on line in many languages this year,” he said, suggesting that only residences that do not take the opportunity to provide information online will get a door knock from an actual census taker.
Also, he assured everyone that even though the information is being provided, authorities have no actual way to determine the exact location after the fact.
Hundreds of billions of dollars will be allocated using the data, he said, adding that the nation’s census goes back to the first one every collected in 1790.
LeAnna Farris, First Vice Chairwoman, conducted the meeting. In other action, the Chamber;
- Heard from newly installed JFTB base commander Brig. Gen. Michael Leeney, who said he was very happy to be in command and looks forward to working with the Chamber and the city.
- Heard Farris invite members to participate in this month’s after-hours event, to be held March 26 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott on Katella.
- Heard from Tricia Ridgeway, the Executive Director of African Sisterhood, a local nonprofit holding an “women of the future” empowerment event March 21.