ADDABBO JOINS COMMUNITY GROUPS TO LAUNCH CENSUS 2010 CAMPAIGN

(Queens, N.Y.) – NY State Senators Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. and Shirley L. Huntley, along with City Councilman Leroy Comrie, joined southeast Queens community groups at Villa Russo on Lefferts Boulevard last Thursday evening, February 4, to launch the Census 2010 Campaign. The Census 2010 Campaign was initiated by the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee to encourage residents of southeast Queens to be counted in the upcoming 2010 Census.

“I am honored to work with community leaders in the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee and all throughout my district to ensure our neighborhoods receive the resources we need for schools, health care and a better quality of life,” said Senator Addabbo.

Census data is used to allocate federal and state aid for schools, transportation and other services. For every New Yorker counted in the 2000 census, the federal government spent nearly $2,000 a year. But in parts of southeast Queens, only four out of ten households filled out a census form in 2000. Thousands of people were not counted, and as a result, the community lost out on resources to fund crucial public services.

“In Richmond Hill, one of our primary objectives is to work among the people to dispel fears that some have about the census and prevent them from filling out the forms. “The census does not ask if you are a citizen or not, and it does not even ask your name. It doesn’t matter if you have someone living with you the landlord doesn’t know about, or if you haven’t paid your traffic tickets. The information gathered by the census cannot be shared with any government agency, law enforcement group or anyone whatsoever. Your privacy is protected by law when you return a census form,” said Senator Huntley.

The committee was organized by SEVA, a Queens based community organizing group that focuses on immigrant communities. “The Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee includes a diverse group of religious and civic organizations that are spreading the message to all of their members and mobilizing their base. The level of outreach being conducted this year is unprecedented and necessary to increase the very poor census response rate from 2000. We have set up similar committees in Jackson Heights and Northeast Queens,” said Gurpal Singh, Executive Director of SEVA.

Many committee members are using their own resources and publications to increase awareness about the census. The Indo-Caribbean Federation has provided a full page advertisement in their regular publication to increase participation among members. “It is crucial that our community participate in the census. Groups like SEVA and our elected officials have encouraged us as leaders to take the responsibility in spreading the message and we are doing everything possible,” said Ralph Tamesh, President of the Indo-Caribbean Federation.

The Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee is a coalition of some 30 businesses, religious organizations, community organizations, including the Inter-Community Civic Association, the Indo-Caribbean Federation, SEVA and others, with NYS Senators Addabbo and Huntley, City Councilman Leroy Comrie and individuals committed to dramatically increasing participation in the 2010 U.S. Census by the residents of Richmond Hill and surrounding communities.

For more information, or to join the Census 2010 Campaign, contact the Richmond Hill 2010 Census Committee at 347-414-7382 or Census@Sevany.org