Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Maybe We'll Succeed After All

Apparently the high-stakes 2020 Census is succeeding despite the Trump Administration’s efforts to torpedo participation with a shortened timeline. Sacramento County is already at 74%, compared to 2010’s 70%. I think improved technology has helped with the effort. 

My sense as an enumerator is that cooperation from Latinos is good. If Trump wanted to discourage cooperation with fears about immigration enforcement, he hasn’t succeeded. I see large households with many workers and their children and sense curiosity, not fear. Cooperation from blacks is pretty good too. People are taking the time to participate, although it can be a tedious and time-consuming process with large families. I’m seeing no impact from sovereign-citizen movements, at least locally. 

Where I’m sensing weakness is with recently-arrived Asian communities: Hmong, Mien, etc. That sense of wanting to retreat to the shadows and disappear. That’s where the outreach effort needs to be fortified. 

And I hope that rural communities are doing well. So much space; so little time:

With a response rate of nearly 74%, Sacramento County has already surpassed the committee’s goal of 70.1%, which was the final result in the county for the 2010 census. “We have already succeeded,” said Judy Robinson, the 2020 census manager for Sacramento County. Despite the achievement, organizers are pushing for more response, with some aiming for an incredibly ambitious 80%. 
The Complete Count Committee has been meeting since fall 2018, uniting community groups across the county in an effort reach everyone. With community and government steering committees, the effort has doubled down on representing all in the county. With subcommittees focusing on ethnic and racial groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, seniors, children, different socioeconomic classes, business and industry sectors and other communities, the Complete Count Committee has gathered what they believe is a true representation of the diversity of Sacramento County.

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