NOLA Counts

Edwin Buggage Editor-in-Chief

In the year 2020 the City, nation and world is at a crossroads, for this is an election year, as well as being in the middle of a global Pandemic. Also, in the year 2020, the National Census is taking place and the deadline for filling out the form is September 30th.

The Census is a national count of every person living in the United States and only comes around every 10 years. This information is used to decide how $675 billion of federal funding are allocated and to which communities.

When all people are fully and accurately counted, money for critical programs stays in our community. It only takes a few minutes to participate, but the impact will be felt for years.

To discuss the importance and impact of the Census, Data News Weekly spoke with Arthur Walton, New Orleans Director of Intergovernmental Relations.

“It is about our representation and related to money the federal government will give to municipalities throughout the country, this is based on numbers not need, so we are asking all our citizens to participate, to get our fair share for important resources that can help our City.”

“These funds are used for a variety of services that goes to cities including: Head Start Centers, infrastructure is also some way related to federal funding, Health Department, hospitals, police, fire, roads and transportation.”

During the 2010 Census in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many were still in transition and there was an undercount that affected monies coming into the City.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration have launched NOLA Counts to encourage people to fill out the Census.
Also, this year it is easier because for the first time it can be filled out online, or you can call in or fill it out and mail it in.

“The form is simple, nine questions ten minutes and this is an act that will bring much needed resources to our City.”
Walton says he is also spending this time dispelling the myths and mistrust that some have regarding filling out the forms to make them realize that this information is something that can empower them and the community.

In filling out the Census it also impacts the number of voices the state has in the U.S. Congress.

“The Census in many ways equal political representation, for it is factored into how many Congressman each state has. In these times we need our voices heard in Washington and we cannot afford to lose representation, so we are asking our people to fill out the Census form, so this does not occur,” says Walton.

NOLA Counts is an initiative that the City is promoting to get citizens to fill out the Census.

“Mayor Cantrell is pushing this like never before because we need people in the community talking to each other about the importance of the Census. This is important because we are leaving money on the table consequences.”

“We must remember that we have to live with these numbers for next 10 years. It is time for us to get counted.”

To fill out census online go to:
https://my2020census.gov/

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration have launched NOLA Counts to encourage people to fill out the Census.

The National Census is taking place and the deadline for filling out the form is September 30th.

Arthur Walton, New Orleans Director of Intergovernmental Relations spoke to Data News Weekly about the importance of citizens filling out the Census form.

“The form is simple, nine questions ten minutes and this is an act that will bring much needed resources to our City.”

Walton says he is also spending this time dispelling the myths and mistrust that some have regarding filling out the forms to make them realize that this information is something that can empower them and the community.