Members of Cuomo administration, Niagara Falls mayor, US Census Bureau & community stakeholders will discuss importance of organizing local efforts to ensure a full count in 202
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster announced a roundtable event will take place in Niagara Falls to discuss the upcoming 2020 census and steps to ensure a full count of all New Yorkers. This will be the latest in a series of census-specific regional events to take place across the state in coming months, which will include local stakeholders and U.S. Census Bureau representatives.
The discussion, which will be led by Dyster and Richard Tobe, Cuomo's director of special intergovernmental projects, is open to the public and will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at The Conference & Events Center, 101 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls.
"New Yorkers need an accurate census count so that we get the resources we need from the federal government, have the proper number of representatives in Congress and the power due to our state in the electoral college," Tobe said. "This event in Niagara Falls brings local leaders together in order to work collaboratively to assure a fair and full count."
Dyster said, "We are honored to hold this important event for our city, which will lay the groundwork to get a full and fair count in the 2020 census. The census is an important function for Niagara Falls. (It) will ensure we get the necessary resources and representation from the federal government."
According the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated $675 billion in federal funds is distributed each year using census data. These funds support local infrastructure, education, health care, economic development and community service programs. An accurate census count is critical to protect New York's share of that funding - estimated at $53 billion each year.
The census count also impacts New York's representation in Congress through apportionment and is used for federal, state and local legislative redistricting. It also determines New York's representation in the Electoral College that selects the president.
Attendees at the Nov. 9 event will learn how New York is preparing for the 2020 census, including plans to establish a state complete count commission that will propose a plan of action to achieve full and fair count in 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau will present plans for the 2020 census, including use of new technology for the enumeration process and efforts to build partnerships to reach hard-to-count populations. Finally, the event will include a roundtable discussion of past census efforts and brainstorming strategies for community outreach and organizing to ensure an accurate count for Niagara Falls in 2020.
