SENATOR ZELLNOR Y. MYRIE CALLS ON GOVERNOR CUOMO TO RELEASE CENSUS FUNDS WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

BROOKLYN, NY — Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie today called on Governor Cuomo to release state funds for the census without further delay, issuing the following statement: 

“24 days after the Complete Count Commission issued their report and 215 days since the state allocated $20 million for census outreach, our communities are still waiting for these vital funds. As we and 33 other elected officials warned in our September letter to the Governor, a potential undercount poses a grave risk to the rights, livelihood and wellbeing of millions of people in Brooklyn and across the state. Yet we have seen no sign of the release of this money, no timeline, and no plan. This is unacceptable. The census gets closer every day and the time to act is now.”

Senator Myrie has held several census information sessions throughout district 20 and recently launched a Complete Count Committee with more than 20 community-based organizations in an effort to expand awareness and engagement in the census.

In September, Senator Myrie penned a joined letter to the governor on the need to release these funds which was signed by a total of 33 Brooklyn elected officials, including all of Brooklyn’s members of Congress.

The state budget agreement that included $20 million for census outreach was made on March 31st, 2019. The state-appointed Complete Count Commission released their recommendations on the use of the funds on October 8, 2019.

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