Stand Up Brooklyn and Be Counted!

Senator Dilan Urges Residents to Participate in Upcoming 2010 Census

(Brooklyn, NY)— Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Brooklyn) is reminding residents that in less than six months the 2010 U.S. Census surveys will begin arriving in mailboxes, and that it is essential that every resident complete and return the form to the census bureau by April 1, 2010.
The last several months, census workers have been canvassing neighborhoods confirming and updating residential addresses. This is only the beginning. Soon Brooklyn must play its part, and return completed questionnaires. The community depends on it.
“I cannot stress how important it is for you to mail back your questionnaire when it arrives next March. Funding for our community, our schools, hospitals and roads all depend on how many of you return the questionnaire,” said Senator Dilan.

In 2000, the last U.S. Census taken, only 49 percent of King’s County residents returned questionnaires, one of the lowest return rates statewide. Brooklyn counted itself out of more than $300 billion in federal funds  awarded annually to states and communities based on census data.  Since census data is updated every ten years, Brooklyn saw little of the more than $3 trillion in available funding for community block grants and social service programs.

For every New Yorker counted in the 2000 census, the federal government spends nearly $2,000 annually, providing the state with over $38.2 billion in federal program funding based on population numbers from census data.
“This data  is the key to funding for our hospitals, schools and other social services. In this fiscal climate and time of need, we cannot afford a repeat of Brooklyn’s 2000 census returns. Too much is at stake for just a few minutes of your time. And I assure you, your privacy will remain protected,” said Senator Dilan.
By law the U.S. Census Bureau cannot disclose or publish any private information that identifies any individual or business by: name, address (including GPS Coordinates), Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, or telephone number.
For more information on the 2010 census visit 2010.census.gov, or contact Senator Dilan’s district office at: 786 Knickerbocker Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11207,  (718) 573-1726.