* Obviously, President Trump is not beloved in the city (just the opposite), so attempting to motivate census participation by framing it as an act of defiance could turn out to be a pretty smart move by the mayor…
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to convince Chicagoans to take part in the upcoming U.S. census by casting it as an act of defiance against President Donald Trump’s administration.
The city will launch a campaign to try to get participation up to 75% of the population from an estimated 66% 10 years ago, Lightfoot said Tuesday. The push comes in spite of what the mayor said is Trump’s attempts to suppress the number of residents who fill out the forms in Democratic-leaning parts of the country with large immigrant populations like Chicago.
“I think we can make a very compelling case as to why this is, in some ways, the ultimate form of protest, which is to be counted and not let somebody treat you as invisible and drive you into the shadows,” Lightfoot said at a news conference to announce her administration will earmark $2.7 million to help increase census turnout in 2020. “So I think we have a very compelling message in opposition, frankly, to what the prevailing conservative, anti-immigrant message is, to get people motivated to get counted.”
Trump wanted to include a question on 2020 census forms asking people their citizenship status. While the U.S. Supreme Court rejected that idea, Lightfoot acknowledged there is still widespread concern among undocumented immigrants that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will try to use census information to deport them.
* More…
Lightfoot said she would ask the City Council to set aside $2.7 million in the 2020 budget for outreach efforts to be led by well-established community organizations familiar with Chicago’s hard-to-count residents — immigrants, refugees, renters, those who are homeless; people with disabilities; those who don’t speak English, young children; seniors citizens; and college students. […]
“We’re looking at $1,400 per year per person that we stand to lose if we don’t get people counted,” Lightfoot said. “You add that up across tens of thousands over a decade, that’s real money that’s not coming to Chicago.”
The city’s effort will get an assist from Chicago-based advertising firm FCB, which will build and launch a citywide campaign free of charge.
The campaign will paint the Census as a “true tool of empowerment,” said Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of FCB Chicago.
Thoughts?
- Nick - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:46 am:
Might as well. The city (and state) need to do everything they can to get people counted and prevent a census disaster.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:49 am:
If I were Trump/GOP and wanted to decrease turnout in Democratic communities, I would do “PSAs” in those communities talking about the importance of letting the government know where you live.
The Mayor has taken this strategy and done the exact same thing in reverse for the opposite effect. Good job.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:54 am:
High census participation is a bi-partisan effort. Due to population declines Illinois will likely lose one House seat. Getting a complete count state-wide can keep that from being two seats.
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:56 am:
For Chicago residents filling out census forms could be the most important civic act they can engage it. There’s a lot of money on the line. Especially , for a city that census estimates claim population is dropping.
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:57 am:
Pardon my mistake. I wanted to say “in” not “it”.
- Barrington - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:58 am:
Smart move
- Not a Billionaire - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:59 am:
Good idea. I have always thought that was where the undergoing is. Living in small town downstate it just seems like our numbers are overcount. Though I wonder if fear of the deep state will depress response in Eastern Bloc territories.
- Independent - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:24 pm:
FAKE NEWS!! President Trump is loved BIGLY in Chicago, as he is in all places!!!!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:28 pm:
===For Chicago residents filling out census forms could be the most important civic act they can engage…===
I’d say voting. You disagree.
:)
To the Post,
No matter the party, Illinois needs to ensure every person is counted.
The representation is Congress is a small part, important but small, to a greater measure in governing and helping Illinois where it’s given by the measure of population.
- A Jack - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
Regardless of the means in this case, the ends are quite important.
Besides representation and Federal aid, I would imagine that companies use census data to help determine the best place to build a new factory. Unless, of course, you are Foxconn. Foxconn would put its factory in the middle of no where and expect the skilled workers to be shipped in.
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:41 pm:
Anyone who doubts there’s real fear out there in some communities about the census should read this Washington Post column.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/30/rnc-solicited-money-trumps-reelection-with-forms-that-look-lot-like-official-census/
- Jose Abreu's Next Homerun - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:52 pm:
I’m always interested to see the difference the US Census Bureau has vs what’s reported to the IRS (in this case 2020)
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:13 pm:
Nationwide the estimated percentage of people who are in the country illegally is about 3 %. Numbers in Chicago are probably higher, maybe 5 or 6 %.
Everyone here should be counted. It’s the law.
Everyone here illegally should be deported. It’s the law.
Not sure what Chicago would look like with 75,000 to 150,000 fewer residents. But we will never know, because the immigration laws will never be effectively enforced.
Illegal immigration has little effect on me. It bothers me when laws aren’t enforced. But it is not a hot button issue.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:13 pm:
It would help if pols stopped implying that census information is used by ICE. The census doesn’t share anything identifiable with anybody for 72 years, not the Fed’s, not the locals and not even the courts.
The biggest problem with the 2020 census is that it will be online for the first time. That’s not Trump’s fault. The bureaucrats that be decided that years ago. Think of it as an anti-recession tool cause it’s going to take a whole lot more enumerators to go out and get the info the old fashioned way.