New Jersey Latino Caucus Urges All Residents To Take Census – Newark, NJ Patch

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Many New Jersey communities were vastly undercounted in the last U.S. Census, and it cost them crucial federal funding. But now they have the chance to set the record straight, the New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus says.

On Wednesday, the group of legislators issued a joint statement, reminding Garden State residents that they can participate in the census, regardless of immigration status or age.

That includes undocumented immigrants, a point that President Donald Trump has tried to dispute.

Here’s why it’s important to get counted, the caucus members said:

“Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions such as: what communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads and more services for families, older adults and children. The results will inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) … The results of the census will also determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives and will be used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.”

The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced it will be suspending counting efforts in New Jersey and other states a month earlier than originally planned. On Sept. 30, the bureau will cease critical door-knocking efforts and will stop collecting responses online, over the phone and by mail.

To fill out the census, follow the link here.

“It cannot be overstated how incredibly important it is that every single New Jerseyan gets counted in the 2020 census,” Sen. Nellie Pou urged.

“Regardless of your immigration status, how old you are, or how long you’ve been living in the state,” said Pou, who serves as the caucus chair. “If you were living in New Jersey on April 1, 2020, you count.”

“Many of our communities were vastly undercounted in 2010, which had a lasting impact on federal funding and representation,” Pou added. “But now is our chance to correct it.”

The New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus also includes Senators M. Teresa Ruiz and Nilsa Cruz-Perez, and Assembly members Gabriela Mosquera, Yvonne Lopez, Annette Quijano, Eliana Pintor-Marin, Angelica M. Jimenez, Pedro Mejia and Annette Chaparro.