“As you know, federal funds are administered according to the number of people you have in your state, your city,” Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said.
But more than federal funding, the state Legislative and Congressional districts will be redrawn based on Census data. New Jersey could lose one of its 13 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We may lose one Congressional seat if the population dips,” Healy said. “We want to make sure we hold up our end.”
Healy, City Council members, Census officials, community groups and volunteers kicked off the Jersey City census effort during a press conference at City Hall today.
The 2010 Census Road Tour, which will visit Bayonne, Union City and West New York tomorrow, is part of a roughly $340 million campaign to promote the importance of being counted.
Healy said Jersey City was “grossly undercounted” in the 2000 Census. He said Newport’s population was listed as 0 when thousands of people were living there and the Metropolis Towers Apartments behind City Hall reported 40 residents, despite having over 800 units.
The 2000 Census counted 240,055 residents in Jersey City, the second largest city in the state behind Newark, with 273,546.
But city officials hope to surpass Newark, which kicked off its Census effort last night.
“Jersey City does have the opportunity to become the No. 1 City in the state,” said Geraldine Clark, partnership & data services coordinator for the U.S. Census Bureau. “That’s really significant. It means the most money and the most power.”
Turning to Healy she said Newark is stepping up its efforts too.
“Mayor you have your work cut out for you,” she said.
Jersey City has proved a difficult area to count. Healy said there are several hurdles to overcome. Some residents simply do not returned the questionnaires, while others — including illegal immigrants and those with outstanding warrants — are fearful authorities will find them based on their Census data.
But all of the data collected for the Census is confidential under the U.S. Constitution.
Clark said the Census partners with community groups to get the most accurate count.
But there’s yet another hurdle this year. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders is leading a nationwide Census boycott hoping to push Congress to pass an immigration-reform bill.
But Clark said a boycott is the worst thing a group can do and it would impact communities and the funding they get to provide essential services.
“If you live here, you’re using services regardless of your ethnicity, your economic status,” she said. “You’re still using services, you're entitled to the same services.”
She asked everyone to spread the word and raise awareness about the Census.
“We need you to encourage everyone to fill out that questionnaire and mail it back,” she said. “In order to really count, you need to be counted.”