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The Asbury Park City Council announced this past week that a volunteer Complete Count Committee will work to encourage community response to the 2020 Census.

The ad hoc committee with be comprised of individuals and community-based organizations, all working to provide education and outreach leading up to the 2020 Census. 

“The Census will give us an important statistical snapshot of our city, the State of New Jersey and the country as a whole,” Mayor John Moor said in a written statement. “The Complete Count Committee will play a vital role in ensuring the accuracy of the Census count, helping to make sure Asbury Park will receive  appropriate funding for federal programs such as the Community Development Block Grant [CDBG] which provides much-needed services to our residents.”

Kicking off in mid-November, the committee will work with government agencies to ensure everyone in Asbury Park is counted, regardless of citizenship, race, creed or culture.

“An inaccurate count of Asbury Park will lead to unequal representation for our citizens,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said. “We are encouraging residents and community organizations to volunteer for the Complete Count Committee to help ensure Asbury Park receives equitable representation. New Jersey lost Congressional seats in past Census counts and currently has 12 congressional districts, the lowest number since 1933, limiting the state’s impact on federal decisions.”

The April 1 national Census determines how the federal government distributes over $675 billion in annual funding to states and municipalities. The Census count tallies are used to determine how many Congressional representatives serve each state.

“Taking the 2020 Census will be easy – on average, it should take no more than 10 minutes to answer – and residents will have the option of responding by mail, online or by phone,” Councilperson Yvonne Clayton said. “And, there’s no reason not to take the Census. Per the Supreme Court’s decision, there will be no question on the 2020 Census that asks for the respondent’s citizenship status. Plus, personal information collected by the Census Bureau can never be published, cannot be used in court, and cannot be used by any government agency outside of the Census Bureau.”

To serve on the Asbury Park Complete Count Committee, contact City Manager Michael Capabianco by Nov 4 via michael.capabianco@cityofasburypark.com. For more about the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov. For more about the City of Asbury Park, visit cityofasburypark.com.

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