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2020 Census Countdown to Our Future: Last Chance for NYC to Secure its Political and Economic Future

Kick-off features press conferences in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a “Census Walk for NYC” across the Brooklyn Bridge to sound the alarm that there are only 14 days to avoid a census undercount, which would mean billions in lost revenue, as well as the loss of congressional seats, jeopardizing New York City’s future. The day also features an “Empowered Women for the Census” caravan in The Bronx.

Photos from the event can be found here: http://on.nyc.gov/CensusWalkPhotos

NEW YORK, N.Y. – City officials, elected officials, and major citywide community advocates and leaders will gather in Manhattan and Brooklyn on Wednesday, September 16, to mobilize New Yorkers to obtain a complete census count.

NYC’s “Countdown to the Future” Kick-Off
Wednesday, September 16
Foley Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Public Library – Main Branch

Headlining Entities:

NYC Census 2020 (Mayor’s Office of the Census): Director Julie Menin; Field Director Kathleen Daniel; Deputy Director Amit S. Bagga         
NYC City Council: Council Member Carlina Rivera, Co-Chair of the Census Task Force; additional Council Members to be confirmed
ABNY (Association for a Better New York): Melva Miller, CEO
New York Counts 2020 Coalition: Meeta Anand, Senior Census Fellow at the New York Immigration Coalition         
United Way of New York City: Sheena Wright, President & CEO

Co-Hosts:

Asian-American Federation; Asian Americans for Equality; Brooklyn NAACP; Center for Law & Social Justice at CUNY’s Medgar Evers College; Chinese-American Planning Council; Community Resource Exchange; FPWA; Hester Street; Hispanic Federation; Make the Road New York; and NALEO Educational Fund

Multiple additional elected officials and advocates to participate.
11:30 AM: Manhattan Kick-Off

  1. What: Press conference to launch final two-week countdown for the 2020 Census and issue a citywide call-to-action
  2. Who: Headline Partners, in addition to several citywide and local elected officials, as well as co-host organizations
  3. Where: Foley Square (intersection of Pearl Street and Centre Street)
  4. Contact: Sona Rai, srai@census.nyc.gov, 585-530-7484

1:00 PM: “Census Walk for NYC”

  1. What: A coalition walks across the Brooklyn Bridge from Foley Square to Brooklyn Borough Hall.
  2. Who: Staff and volunteers from Headlining Entities, Co-Hosts, and NYC Complete Count Fund Awardees (157 organizations), offices of elected officials
  3. Where: Start at Foley Square; cross Brooklyn Bridge; end at Brooklyn Borough Hall (Joralemon and Remsen Streets; Brooklyn Heights)
  4. Contact: NYC Census 2020: Sona Rai, srai@census.nyc.gov, 585-530-7484

3:15 PM:Brooklyn Kick-Off

  1. What: Unveiling of a large census-related installation on the facade of the Brooklyn Public Library Main Branch and kick-off press conference. 
  2. Who: Brooklyn Public Library, Headline Partners, Co-Hosts, in addition to several citywide and local elected officials and community leaders
  3. Where: Brooklyn Public Library Main Branch: 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn NY 11238 (SE corner of intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway)
  4. Contact: NYC Census 2020: Sona Rai, srai@census.nyc.gov, 585-530-7484

Additional Partner Event in The Bronx

Noon – 2:30 PM: Bronx Caravan

  1. What: “Empowered Women for the Census,” a census caravan through parts of The Bronx.
  2. Who: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi; additional women elected officials and community members
  3. Where: Kick-off at Ryawa Ave and Halleck Street, Hunts Points, The Bronx. Ends at Throgs Neck Houses: 680 Balcom Ave, The Bronx (Balcom and Randall Ave)

As of September 14, New York City’s self-response rate is 59.5%. While this represents a significant closure of the gap between New York City and the nation as compared to 2010, (just over 6 percentage points now vs. 14 percentage points in 2010), many communities in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn, are still lagging, and Wednesday’s events kick off a series of two weeks of an intensive, major haul to ensure all New Yorkers are counted.

About NYC Census 2020

NYC Census 2020 is a first-of-its-kind organizing initiative established by Mayor de Blasio in January 2019 to ensure a complete and accurate count of all New Yorkers in the 2020 Census. The $40 million program is built on four pillars: (1) a $19 million community-based awards program, The New York City Complete Count Fund, empowering 157 community-based organizations to engage historically undercounted communities around the 2020 Census; (2) an in-house “Get Out the Count” field campaign supported by the smart use of cutting-edge data and organizing technology, and a volunteer organizing program to promote a complete count in each of the city’s 245 neighborhoods; (3) an innovative, multilingual, tailored messaging and marketing campaign, including a $3 million commitment to investing in community and ethnic media to reach every New York City community; as well as (4) an in-depth Agency and Partnerships engagement plan that seeks to leverage the power of the City’s 350,000-strong workforce and the city's major institutions, including libraries, hospitals, faith-based communities, cultural institutions, higher educational institutions, and more, to communicate with New Yorkers about the critical importance of census participation. Through close partnerships with trusted leaders and organizations across the five boroughs, this unprecedented campaign represents the largest municipal investment in census organizing nationwide and will build an enduring structure that empowers New Yorkers to remain civically engaged.