Levar Stoney column in the RTD: Let's count everyone

To read the article in Spanish, click here

The city of Richmond is proud to be the home of a growing immigrant population. Immigrants contribute to the vibrancy of our community by raising families, attending schools, and opening businesses. Immigrants are a vital part of the inclusive and diverse fabric of our city, and that’s why I am concerned about the proposed citizenship question on the upcoming 2020 Census.

The Trump administration wants to require all respondents to the 2020 Census to report their citizenship status. This is an unnecessary tactic designed to discourage people from participating in the census, which will result in an inaccurate count of people and decreased funding for our city. Every person living in the city of Richmond deserves to be counted .

A fair and accurate count of everyone who lives in the United States is critical in determining how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives and votes in the Electoral College, and how much money each state receives for essential needs, such as transportation and public education. That’s why the U.S. Census Bureau counts every person in every community in every state once every 10 years. Approximately 14,080 Richmond residents are foreign-born, which is a sizable chunk of the city’s population that is at risk of being undercounted.

The consequences from a Census undercount would be severe for Richmond. We received $61.8 million in federal funding for our schools in 2017 and $116 million for other projects. As someone who works to ensure that Richmond residents get the best services, I understand how critical federal funds are to keep our schools open, our roads maintained, and our residents healthy. If fewer people are counted because they do not want to answer a citizenship question, Richmond will receive less federal funding than it needs to deliver the services our residents deserve.

We still have time to protect the accuracy and fairness of the Census. The U.S. Department of Commerce is accepting public comment on the proposed citizenship question until Tuesday, Aug. 7, at midnight. We should also urge our representatives and senators in Congress to act to remove the harmful addition of the citizenship question to the Census.

My vision for One Richmond is a city that works and provides opportunity for everyone — regardless of where you’re from, what you look like, how you worship, or who you love. Immigrant communities play a huge part in making our city a wonderful place to live. When it is time for the 2020 Census, it should be done in a way that is inclusive of all our neighbors’ participation. Let’s make sure it is the most accurate count possible.