Governor Paterson to fill out 2010 Census form with Bronx community groups

FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE

Bronx, NY – Tomorrow march 31, 2010, Governor David A. Paterson will speak at “Bronx United for a Better Count” and urge Bronx residents — and all New Yorkers — to be counted in the easiest and safest census ever.  Joined by Secretary of State Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez, the governor will fill out his 2010 Census form live and remind New Yorkers how important it is to have a full and accurate count.

Bronx is currently one of the counties in New York State with the lowest mail participation rates: 36% (Bronx) versus 45% (NY State) versus 50% (National). This event aims to draw attention to and boost those local figures.

WHERE:    Corner of Hunts Point Avenue and Southern Boulevard

Bronx, NY 10459 

WHEN:      Wednesday, March 31, 2010      12:00pm

Key speakers:             David A. Paterson, Governor of New Yoork

                                      Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez, Secretary of State, New York

Check out our “Take 10” Map accessible via http://www.2010census.gov, or directly, at: http://www.2010census.gov/take10map  

• Locate a Be Counted Site near you, where you can pick up a 2010 Census form if you did not receive one by mail
• Locate a Questionnaire Assistance Center near you, where you can receive help completing your form in designated languages
• Track your town / neighborhood’s daily progress in mailing back the 2010 Census on by selecting “View Participation Rates” 
• Embed the daily Participation rate tracker widget on your website by selecting: “Track participation rate” once you have selected your location of interest. 

About the 2010 Census 

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to be conducted every 10 years. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states; to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments each year; and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form will be one of the shortest in U.S. history and consists of just 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

2010 CENSUS TIMELINE OF OPERATIONS

March 2010 – December 2010 

March 8-10:                Advance letters are mailed to most homes.

March 15-17:             Mailing of 2010 Census form to most homes.

March 19 – April 19: Opening of Be Counted Sites / Questionnaire Assistance Centers in select neighborhood locations to provide extra forms and help to those who need it, as well as the nationwide Telephone Assistance Center.

March 22-24:             Mailing of reminder postcards.

March 29-31:             Service-based enumeration - census workers count homeless people at shelters, soup kitchens/food vans, and selected outdoor locations.

April 1-10:                  Second mailing of 2010 Census form to many homes that have not returned first one.

April 1, 2010:             Official Census Day. Group quarters enumeration begins.

May 1:                        Launch of Non-Response Follow-up operations - census workers visit households that have not mailed back their census form.

July 24:                      Launch of Vacant Delete Check operations.

August 6:                   Launch of Field Verification operations.

Dec. 31, 2010:            Reporting of Census data to the President of the United States.

2010 CENSUS LINKS

Main Page: http://www.2010census.gov

‘Take 10’ and Be Counted / QAC Map: http://www.2010census.gov/take10map/

To sign up for SMS updates and help: Text “census” (English) or “censo” (Spanish) to 66835

NY Regional Website: http://www.census.gov/regions/new_york

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, more): http://2010.census.gov/2010census/involved/index.php

NY Regional Facebook ID: New York Regional Census Office

2010 Census Logos: http://2010.census.gov/partners/census-logos/

Multimedia Center: http://2010.census.gov/mediacenter/index.php

Images, b-roll and other tools: http://mediadownload.census.gov/

Local data: http://www.census.gov

For data from the 2000 Census and American Community Survey enter the specific city or zip code into the “Population Finder” on the right-hand side.