IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
200581
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. JOHNSON
Title
Resolution directing all City departments to ask all individuals calling the City for non-emergency services whether they have received and completed their 2020 Census form.
Analysis
This resolution directs all City departments to ask all individuals calling the City for non-emergency services whether they have received and completed their 2020 Census form. It further directs the Department of Administration to create a framework for questioning and advising callers about their participation in the Census and verifying departmental compliance.
Body
Whereas, The COVID-19 crisis has complicated the federal Census Bureau’s efforts to conduct an accurate count; and
Whereas, In April of 2020, the Census Bureau stated it would need until the end of October, 2020, to complete in-person interviews and follow-ups; and
Whereas, In July, 2020, the Census Bureau announced it would cease in-person interviews on September 30, 4 weeks earlier than was originally planned; and
Whereas, Numerous former Census officials, including former Director John Thompson, have expressed concern that ending the Census early will result in a dramatic undercount of minority and other hard-to-reach populations; and
Whereas, According to the Urban Institute, more than 4 million people are at-risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census; and
Whereas, The Urban Institute estimates that Black Americans could be undercounted by as much as 3.68% or 1.7 million people; and
Whereas, This same analysis projects that 3.65% Latinos and Latinas, around 2.2 million, could also be undercounted; and
Whereas, Children under the age of 5 could face an undercount as high as 6.31%, or approximately 1.3 million young children; and
Whereas, The Census is a once-in-a-decade event that determines not only each state’s Congressional seats, but also Electoral College votes and the apportionment of an estimated $1.5 trillion per year in federal tax dollars for Medicare, Medicaid and other public services; and
Whereas, City departments and employees routinely have contact with populations that have been historically undercounted and are at the greatest risk of being undercounted in 2020; and
Whereas, The new, shortened timeline for the 2020 Census creates an urgency for participation that requires immediate and deliberate action; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee that the Common Council directs all City departments to ask all individuals calling the City for non-emergency services whether they have received and completed their 2020 Census form; and, be it
Further Resolved, That any callers who indicate they have not completed their 2020 Census form shall be directed to the Census website and encouraged to complete their survey before September 30, 2020; and, be it,
Further Resolved, That the Common Council directs the Department of Administration to create a framework for questioning and advising callers about their participation in the Census and verifying departmental compliance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council directs the Department of Administration to advise all City departments of their responsibilities and to begin verifying compliance within one week of adoption of this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 176278-1
Christopher H. Hillard
8/25/2020