Title
Adoption of Resolution in Support of the 2020 Census. (Community Development)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A census headcount of the United States population is conducted every ten years. The decennial census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution and every person-regardless of age, race, ethnic group, citizenship, and immigration status-must be counted. Getting a complete and accurate count has important implications on the state's legislative representation, school districting, and local planning and funding of programs and services. It is therefore critical for local jurisdictions, like the City of Alameda (City), to assist in getting a complete and accurate count of every resident in the City. To this end, staff is recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution in support of the efforts to get a complete and accurate count of Alameda's population for the 2020 Census.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Constitution mandates a headcount every ten years of everyone living in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas of the United States. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects all information collected in the census and the Census Bureau never shares respondents' personal information with immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement, or social service agencies for the purposes of determining eligibility for public programs.
The information gathered from the census is used in a number of important ways. The population total from the census determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. States also use the totals to redraw their legislative and school districts.
The population totals gathered from the census determine the distribution of over $675 billion annually in federal funds that go to tribal, state, and local governments. At the community level, census information is u...
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