Congressman André Carson and Mayor Joe Hogsett joined other city leaders Feb. 19 at Central Library to encourage everyone in Indianapolis — especially those who have traditionally been marginalized — to participate in the coming 2020 Census, which is used to determine the number of seats states get in the U.S. House of Representatives and allocate federal money for resources such as education and health care.
To help get a more complete picture of the city’s population, Hogsett announced the creation of a Complete Count Committee, which is made up of community advocacy groups and will focus on getting participation in the Census from segments of the population that are often missed, including African-Americans. Tony Mason, president of Indianapolis Urban League, and Miriam Davis, president and CEO of La Plaza, will serve as co-chairs of the committee.
“When we don’t have the numbers and an accurate count, or a near-accurate count, I think it impacts the resources we get,” Carson said. “We’re talking about capturing over $600 billion. We deserve a piece of that pie. We must have it.”
In 2010, Indianapolis’ Census participation rate was 73 percent, slightly better than the national average of 72 percent. Census officials anticipate the 2020 count, which begins April 1, 2020, to be done mostly online for the first time. Jackie Nytes, CEO of Indianapolis Public Library, said in a press release she expects the library to be a resource for local residents when that time comes.
During their remarks at a press conference, Carson and Hogsett also emphasized the importance of participation from those who are undocumented. Hogsett said the Census is “not a referendum on immigration status.” It was an apparent rebuke of the Trump administration’s efforts to add a controversial citizenship question to the Census. The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments in that case in April.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
Rep. André Carson joined Mayor Joe Hogsett and other city leaders at a Feb. 19 press conference to encourage everyone in Indianapolis — especially those who have traditionally been marginalized — to participate in the 2020 Census. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick)
