Plenty of meaning to this mile
‘The Test Run’ raises awareness, provides information and addresses concerns about how the Census test affects R.I.
CENTRAL FALLS — Rhode Island is at risk of losing a representative in Congress, which could mean that for the first time since 1789, the Ocean State would have only one member in the House of Representatives.
That’s what is at stake as the 2020 Census is just around the corner. With the potential at losing a representative in the federal delegation as well as missing out on federal funding, it’s all the more important that every person who lives in Rhode Island is counted.
But as the 2020 census will determine the future of Rhode Island’s representation,
there’s an ongoing test in Providence County, the only place in the entire country where the test run is taking place.
To raise awareness about the ongoing test and the importance of ensuring that every head is counted, the City of Central Falls on Saturday morning partnered with Common Cause Rhode Island, a nonpartisan government ethics group, for “The Test Run,” a one-mile saunter through the streets of Central Falls to raise awareness, provide information, and address concerns about the Census test.
Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion said the Census has no budget for outreach, so they felt the road race could be an important, yet fun way to discuss the test.
“The eyes of the United States are on Central Falls right now … It’s the smallest city in the smallest state but we’ve got the biggest challenge in the Census,” he said, calling the Census “the biggest thing the United States does that isn’t a military exercise or war.”
“The hope is these people will raise awareness so people will participate in the test and the real thing in 2020,” Marion later added.
Since the beginning of the Providence County test in late March, reporters from national news outlets such as The New York Times and National Public Radio have descended on Central Falls to understand people’s concerns about the test. With the administration of President Donald J. Trump seeking to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census, some in the city told reporters from NPR that they were afraid to participate in the head count.
But Marion hoped Saturday’s run would assuage fears among the immigrant community about the citizenship question, noting that the controversial subject isn’t even part of the ongoing test.
“Regardless of the question being asked, everyone has to get counted,” Marion said, noting that federal funding and representation in Congress is directly tied to population growths or declines as noted in the once-a-decade census.
Ed Fitzpatrick, a member of Common Cause’s State Governing Board, said runners on Saturday were “going the extra mile to spread the word. The only place in the nation (for the Census test) is right here in Providence County.”
“It’s important that everybody gets counted … It’s a chance to ask those legitimate questions,” he said.
The motto for Saturday’s race, as was seen on the back of the powder blue T-shirts worn by runners, was “Everybody Counts.” Fitzpatrick said that’s because the federal government needs an accurate number of residents to serve as the basis for “a lot of decisions.”
“The work goes beyond the people who run today,” Fitzpatrick said.
In addition to the race’s slogan on the back of the shirts, emblazoned on the front were the Statue of Liberty and Cen- tral Falls’ Cogswell Tower.
While he was unable to attend Saturday’s road race, Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa said via emailed statement: “Central Falls is proud of our rich, diverse, immigrant history and we know that it is more important than ever to stand up and be counted in the 2020 census. Every person that is counted or not counted represents important dollars for our schools, for our economy and for our health care. We are thrilled to be partnering with Common Cause on this exciting event to raise awareness in the community.”
District 56 state Rep. Shelby Maldonado said “serious issues” are at stake with the Census, which is why it was important for people to par- ticipate in the ongoing county-wide test. Participation in the test, Maldonado said, ensures residents voices will be heard on a national level.
“Central Falls is leading the charge. We’re putting a highlight on this important issue,” Maldonado said.
The one-mile road race started at River Island Park, continued on High Street toward Macomber Stadium, then turned up Blackstone Street and onto Broad Street, ending at Jenks Park. The top male runner was 17-year-old Anthony Hernandez of Pawtucket, while the best female finisher was Heather McCabe, 41, of Cranston.