Be Counted: Why the Census Matters

In two weeks the 2010 Census forms will start arriving. By spending ten minutes of your time filling out your census form, you can help shape LA's next ten years.

That's because the Census is the foundation for the number of representatives we send to Washington from each state, the amount of money our families get for health care, the resources directed toward our classrooms, child-care and senior centers, and the level of funding going to our cities and local governments.

Yet, with each new decade, the Census still manages to miss some of our most vulnerable residents: young children in low-income homes, people living in large households, minorities, recent immigrants, the homeless and renters.

In the 2000 census, an estimated 76,800 Angelenos went uncounted. It was the second highest undercount in the nation, resulting in a loss of $206 million for the City. In our dire economic climate, we cannot afford to leave that money on the table.

That is why my office is launching a citywide Census campaign that will build momentum to when the forms arrive in mailboxes from 15th -17th, thru April 1st, National Census Day, and into April to make sure every last Angeleno is counted. To learn more about our grassroots, multi-media campaign and how you can get involved, please click here.

For your community, for your city, it's time to make yourself count.

Cross-posted at mayor.lacity.org