Alarm over census citizenship question
The League of Women Voters of Palo Alto believes that an accurate population count is critical to making democracy work. The Commerce Department’s decision to include a citizenship status question on the 2020 census is wrong. It will result in an undercount and adversely affect congressional representation, how district lines are drawn, and $675 billion in federal funding for public resources. Given the current anti-immigrant political climate, it will deter immigrant participation. The Constitution requires all persons be enumerated. Attorney General Xavier Becerra says this question violates the Constitution. The League of Women Voters will fight to remove the question. Congress must exercise authority over the Census Bureau.
We call on Congress, mayors and city councils to speak out. California has already filed a lawsuit to oppose the citizenship question. Assemblyman Marc Berman, the Census Committee chair, pledges there will be full participation. Legislators must allocate funding to ensure a complete count. The Department of Finance estimates that for every Californian not counted, local governments will lose $1,950/resident, per year.
This question will cut response rates, impact accuracy and cost California fair representation and billions in federal funding. Getting an accurate count in the 2020 census is critical to all American communities. Aisha Piracha-Zakariya, Palo Alto