What you do in the next day could affect the next 10 years of quality of life in our community.
The U.S. census is coming to an early end. The last time you can be counted is the end of the day tomorrow -- Oct. 15!
Fort Lauderdale has unfortunately been slow to respond. As of this moment, 4 out of every 10 people in our city have not taken steps to be counted.
The census is not a mere exercise that occurs once a decade to count how many people there are in the United States and where they live.
If Fort Lauderdale’s population is understated, we will lose federal funding to other communities because allocations are based on population. And there won’t be another count until 2030.
We will lose money to ease traffic congestion. We will lose money to upgrade infrastructure. We will lose money to improve education. And, we will lose money to provide the necessary police and fire protection.
Our representation in Congress and the state Legislature will be affected because districts also are drawn based on population.
Many other aspects of daily life also are shaped by the census. Transit routes, roads and utility infrastructure are designed using its data. Grocery chains, shopping centers and many major retailers plan new stores and expansions based on it.
Traditionally, census data would have been collected until the end of the year. But this time, the federal government has ended the count early and the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the early deadline.
So please … if you have not done so, take a moment between now and the end of tomorrow to be counted.
Go to my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020! And remind your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.
Yours,
Dean
