Gov frees funds for ’20 census

ALBANY — Count him in.

After months of criticism, Gov. Cuomo announced Tuesday that the state will spend up to $60 million to ensure an accurate count in next year’s census.

The governor (inset) said roughly $40 million will go to CUNY, SUNY and dozens of agencies and public authorities that regularly interact with state residents.

The other $20 million, allotted by lawmakers in this year’s state budget back in April, is finally being made available after calls from elected officials and nonprofits who accused Cuomo of slow-walking the funds.

“Counting every New Yorker in the 2020 census is critical to ensuring we are accurately represented in Congress and receive the federal funding we deserve,” the governor said. “While the federal government has thrown up roadblock after roadblock — spreading fear among immigrant communities in the process — in New York we will break through and make sure that even our most difficult to reach communities are counted.”

A state commission charged with creating a plan for ensuring a complete count released a report in September, nine months after it was due.

Recommendations from the commission included expanded translation services and building trust with immigrant communities, and a targeted communications campaign for communities at risk of an undercount plus additional support for areas with poor internet access or low digital literacy.

The first census letters will be mailed in March, meaning the state and advocates have months to coordinate their efforts. Advocates who had questioned why Cuomo held on to the funds appropriated in the budget for so long applauded the governor for adding additional tax dollars to the effort.