Officials announced earlier today that a U.S. Census office will be coming to Jersey City by mid-2019, with Mayor Steven Fulop estimating that the city will have around 305,000 residents recorded in the 2020 census.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“On the current surveys we conduct, there is a large distrust in government. And we see that everyday when we’re out there knocking on doors, collecting important information for other federal agencies,” U.S. Census Regional Director Jeff Behler said at the Jersey City City Hall Annex this morning.
“So, that’s why the partnership program is so important, that’s why these trusted voices, and the community leaders here, telling their community members that the census is safe, that the census is going to be important, that people not only understand what it is, but what it is not.”
Behler noted that contrary to popular belief, the census does not require residents to give their social security numbers, bank account information or money. He also stressed that under Title 13, everyone’s data remains confidential.
Fulop stated that in 2010, Jersey City had “one of the largest undercounts in the entire country,” attributing that to the diversity of the city and many populations not being accustomed to the census process.
“Us starting early, I think we’re starting earlier than anyone else here of our size, is going to be very helpful to educate the public on it,” the mayor added.
He estimated that the city lost million of dollars in funding due to the census undercount in 2010, all the more reason to start early this time around to ensure the same mistakes aren’t made again.
Additionally, Behler said the U.S. Census Bureau plans on opening on office by either June or July 2019 and that hiring for that office will commence sometime in the spring.
The 2010 census said that Jersey City’s population was 247,597 and Fulop said he expected that number to be closer to 305,000 in 2020, which would likely allow Jersey City to surpass Newark as the largest city in the state.
