It’s a new decade and so it’s time for official count of every American citizen, the 2020 U.S. Census. To inform and prepare the community, an outreach presentation was given last night by the U.S. Census at the Joshua Tree Community Center and reporter Heather Clisby was there…
Instead of Municipal Advisory Council meeting, attendees at the Joshua Tree Community Center heard a presentation last night from Andres Castillo, a lead partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. As determined by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, a full count of every citizen living in the country must be rendered as complete as possible.
The census began counting in 1790 and the results determine regional boundaries, congressional seats, and shapes how and where the federal government distributes more than $675B in funds for schools, scientific research, business support, natural disaster relief, public transportation and housing.
Beginning March 12, letters will be sent via USPS mail inviting people to answer the census questions online for the first time ever. If there is no response, subsequent reminders will include postcards, phone calls and then, a knock at the door. Awareness outreach will be in 12 languages, though census materials will be in English or Spanish only.
Based on past census numbers, the Morongo Basin is predicted to have a response rate of approximately 75-78 percent though local members of the Complete Count Committee are working to raise those numbers. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the privacy of the answers and the official count begins April 1.
