Rally Held to Help Promote Census

Maria Rosales requested a census form in Spanish, but the one that was mailed to her was in English. On Saturday, census volunteers quickly helped her complete the short form during the “Rally in the Valley” event.

Rosales of Pacoima said she wanted to do her part to ensure that her community and her children received sufficient education funding. “We came to make ourselves count,” said Rosales, 42.

More than a dozen census workers and volunteers helped residents get counted by providing them with the census short forms. The rally was held on a closed section of Van Nuys Boulevard, between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Haddon Avenue.

Mariachis, folk dancers and the San Fernando High School marching band entertained at the rally, an event organized by the city of Los Angeles and several community groups. More than 3,000 people and several state and federal officials attended.

Although the event commemorated National Census Day, it was also April Fool’s Day, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) reminded the audience. “We are real fools if we don’t get forms filled and mailed back,” he said. “It’s critical every member of every family get counted.”

The northeast Valley probably lost tens of millions in funding for schools, health care, parks, roads and other services due to an undercount during the last census, Berman said. In 1990, a Pacoima tract near Van Nuys and Glenoaks boulevards and San Fernando Road had a response rate of 49.6%, one of the lowest in Los Angeles County, Census Bureau officials said.

“We all work hard and pay taxes and that money deserves to return to the communities,” said state Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar). “If you don’t fill out the census forms the money will not come back.”

Officials also reminded attendees that under federal law, personal census information may not be released to other government agencies, such as the police, district attorney, INS or IRS.

According to the Census Bureau, as of Friday the city of Los Angeles had a 46% response rate, although the bureau has a target goal of 65%.

Census information determines how more than $185 billion in federal funds are distributed annually.

The rally helped increase participation by bringing the census directly to the people, said local census office manager Michael Carpenter. “The census doesn’t belong in the office building,” he said. “It belongs in the street.”