L.A. Leaders Hold 'Census Call to Action' Rally

L.A. Leaders Hold `Census Call to Action' Rally

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles city and county leaders held a “Census Call to Action” rally in downtown's Grand Park today to raise awareness about next year's census in an effort to ensure that hard-to-reach populations are counted.

“The 2020 Census is the first census that will be done primarily electronically, creating an additional barrier for low-income families and communities of color. I am concerned that the effort to add a citizenship question may discourage responses, especially among immigrant communities,” county Supervisor Hilda Solis said. “Today was a clear demonstration that L.A. County will work with our municipal and community partners to support our vulnerable communities. We embrace L.A. County's diversity and we will make every effort to count every resident.”

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is considered the hardest-to-count county in the nation, Solis' office said. Among the challenges are that residents collectively speak 200-plus different languages, more than 70 percent are renters, and there are some populations with limited access to technology or language barriers.

“The 2020 census will significantly impact how the federal government allocates funding and resources,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said. “We are raising awareness a full year in advance of the 2020 census launch to ensure that Angelenos are fairly represented in the final census count.”

The 2020 census is scheduled to launch in exactly one year, on April 1, 2020.

“Los Angeles is a city where everybody counts -- and we'll work hard to make sure everyone is counted in 2020,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Today is about standing together to reaffirm that promise, and modeling a path that can be followed by cities and counties across America.”


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