Census 2020: Be Counted Hermosa Beach

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — There are eight days left until the U.S. Census deadline hits and officials are urging Hermosa Beach locals and people across LA County to complete it immediately.

During a live conversation on Facebook Monday night, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) described why the Census is so important and what's at stake this year if there is an undercount in the county.

A new report details the dire costs of a Census undercount in California's 33rd Congressional District. The report, prepared by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform, details that if there is just a 1 percent undercount in the 2020 Census, the residents of the 33rd District of California could lose $420,000 in federal funding for schools that have a high proportion of low-income students, or the equivalent of all the textbooks that 1,678 students would need in a school year.

Malibu City Councilwoman Karen Farrer, Santa Monica City Councilwoman Kristin McCowan and MALDEF National Redistricting Coordinator Steven Ochoa, Rep. Lieu urged households to fill out their Census forms right away at: https://2020census.gov/; calling 844-330-2020, or filling out the forms they received in the mail.

The 2020 Census has only 12 questions and does not ask about citizenship.

Data collected by the Census is used to determine how much funding the district receives for critical services like education, medical care, foster care, roads, public transit, and job programs. Census data also helps local governments enhance public safety and prepare for emergencies.

"A more complete response to the Census means more opportunities for a brighter future for our community," Lieu said. "An inaccurate count could impact class sizes, public safety, health care programs and many other critical services in CA-33. As this newly released report outlines, it is essential that every single resident ensures they are counted. It's a quick and simple way to do your civic duty to help our neighbors get the resources and representation they deserve. I encourage everyone to fill out the Census and make sure their family, friends and neighbors do too."

There’s even less time for people to take the Census—a move reversed by the Trump administration impacting LA County residents.

“Census 2020 is in serious trouble,” said Ochoa, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund National Redistricting Coordinator.

It particularly impacts Latino and Asian communities, Ochoa said, describing the current climate and what's happened with the Census—and why immigrant communities were worried about taking it.

"The current administration tried to add a question of are you a citizen or not on every form a citizen receives," Ochoa said. "This was done as a way to suppress Census response rates. One of the most vulnerable populations in our country are immigrants, documented or not. So this question is very invasive and it was an attempt to discourage those communities."

The Census does not include a citizenship question.

"MALDEF and other groups fought the Trump administration so that wouldn’t be on the Census," Ochoa said. "The Census is confidential. It is for everyone. It’s protected. You should feel confident in this system."

When the pandemic hit, there was a plan to extend the Census deadline to the end of October—but then that changed suddenly, Ochoa said.

"The latest attempt to almost sabotage this Census is the scheduling," Ochoa said. "No one could have seen the COVID pandemic, but when the pandemic hit the Census was about to start. Census requested an extension to the end of October and everyone had been planning for that, that also included redistricting data, and a few weeks ago the administration reversed the Census’ request."

The Trump administration then called the Census off early, moving the deadline to the end of September.

"Every attempt that has been done has been to discourage certain communities from participating," Ochoa said.

He encouraged participation.

“Please fill out your Census form," Ochoa said. "That is the best way to just combat everything. If you want your fair representation or your fair dollars or want to self identify, then please, be counted."

Getting counted helps benefit the community, including schools, hospitals, homeless services, community development, firefighting and other major resources, Lieu said.

"The report says that for every 1 percent undercount communities could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars," Lieu said.

In LA County's 33rd District, people tend to be more highly educated, more PhDs and college degrees, but the census response rate is lower than average—5 percent below the statewide average, Lieu added.

Lieu's district includes much of western LA County and covers many coastal neighborhoods along the Pacific Coast, including the Conejo Valley, the Santa Monica Mountains, parts of West Los Angeles and the South Bay and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The district is home to the cities of Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, part of the city of Torrance, the unincorporated community of Topanga and the neighborhoods of Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Harbor City, Westwood, Fairfax, Mid-Wilshire, Hancock Park, and parts of San Pedro, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista, in the city of Los Angeles.

"We’re trying to make sure people know how important it is," Lieu said. "The deadline is coming up and just urge everyone to fill out the Census form."

"The Census Bureau will never ask you for your bank account, social security, personal information," Lieu said. "It’s only for the agency. It’s not something that can be shared. Census Bureau employees can go to prison for violating these laws."

The Census ends at the end of the month and Lieu is hopeful the HEROES ACT will pass, and explained that formulas based on the Census will help benefit communities.

Kristin McCowan, Santa Monica City Council, described why it's so critical for Santa Monica residents to complete the Census and how it's tied to federal funding in the city.

"In Santa Monica alone, we were able to keep 400 residents in their homes due to COVID-related federal assistance," McCowan said.

About 10.7 percent of Santa Monica's population lives below the federal poverty line.

"Oftentimes people think of Santa Monica as a super affluent city by the sea," McCowan said. "We have disproportionate wealth in this city and what we don’t want to do is forget about people who are often forgotten and it’s critical that everyone in Santa Monica fill out their Census."

Santa Monica has several efforts underway to tell people about the Census.

"Since we’ve reopened curbside pickup at our libraries, we’re sending home information about the census in every book and every encounter we have," McCowan said. "We are running ads on KCRW and in our local papers and we’re continuing to push the message."

One challenge is access to the internet. Not everyone in Santa Monica has it.

"We don’t have equity in telecommunications in Santa Monica," McCowan said. "With COVID, especially, connectivity is necessary to complete the Census."

In Santa Monica, about 2,500 students annually rely on free lunch and about 1,500 households receive funds through voucher programs, that include Section 8 and home vouchers.

McCowan recommended people to tell neighbors and friends to complete it.

"COVID has been devastating to our community but in Santa Monica, we rely very heavily on our sales tax, TOT, trans occupancy tax," McCowan said.

The Santa Monica community has a large tourist population, but with the pandemic, things have slowed down. Tourism generates about 61 million annually, McCown said, which helps to fund community programs, particularly those that are impacting lower-income individuals but also children.

"We need the money to keep coming in to sustain our city," McCowan said. "The HEROES Act is really needed during these times. I would say yes, we absolutely need the help and it’s part of what’s driving us to increase turnout on the Census. For any Santa Monicans watching, I would encourage you to fill out your Census."

Malibu Councilmember Karen Farrer shared that the city encourages residents to fill the Census out over the next several days.

"We have been doing consistent social media messaging on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram," Farrer said. "We’ve been doing our own original posts as well as reposting the Census Bureau."

The city is sending text and email alerts, sharing posters around town and on the city's website, and they've also shared about the Census on Malibu Surfside News, KBU radio station, Farrer said. The mayor has also messages recorded on Instagram and Facebook.

Malibu has 2,400 people are on the city listserv and the town population is 13,000 people, she added.

"We’re trying as many approaches as possible, both low tech and high tech," Farrer said.

Lieu asked why there’s a low response rate in Malibu so far for the Census.

"It is vexing," Farrer said. "I think Malibu is historically low. I think this year is even worse. As you know we’re dealing with back-to-back disasters. Having had the Woolsey Fire, where we lost 10 percent of our housing stock, many people are still living in temporary housing. Some could rebuild. Some might not."

The fallout from the fire and pandemic have hit Malibu hard.

"I think we’re all struggling as cities to contact people and work with people as long as we’re working remotely and I honestly cannot tell you why our response is so low," Farrer said. "I’d like to submit that it’s not for lack of trying on the city’s park and like we said we will continue that."

Both Santa Monica and Malibu are facing a challenge when it comes to city budgets and resources amid the pandemic.

"Our city budget is in decline, I think as every city’s is, I know Santa Monica’s is," Farrer said. "We’re in a belt-tightening mode. Our local businesses are in deep decline. I would say Malibu may have a slightly less effect than some of the other cities because our primary source of revenue to the city is property tax as opposed to sales tax."

The group is focused on preparing for upcoming disasters, and Farrer urged people to complete the Census to help secure important future resources.

"Malibu Labor Exchange helped pass along $80,000 and we also funded emergency backpacks for our seniors," Farrer said. "We have a high concentration of seniors. We are hoping to make them more safe. We are are always planning for the next disaster here."

Farrer is hopeful residents will hear her plea.

"It only helps all of us help you," Farrer said. "I'd love to see an avalanche of responses."

People can complete the Census online at: https://2020census.gov/; by calling 844-330-2020, or filling out the forms they received in the mail.

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