Every single person counts. That idea is fundamental in our American system. I learned it in every civics class I ever took.
Unfortunately, we know that this actually isn’t always the case, especially when it comes to the U.S. Census.
As a mayor and former state legislator, I know exactly how important it is to get a full, accurate count of our population. Filling out a government form to explain how many people live in your household, as well as their age, gender, ethnicity and other details, may seem trivial – but the policies determined by that form could not be more significant for us.
Health care payments. Highway funding. Child care funds. The census plays a central role in determining how dollars for those investments – and many more – are allocated to cities such as Chattanooga. All in all, $675 billion will be distributed across the country based on census data.
In addition, state legislators and local officials will rely on population data to draw district lines in 2020. Having watched this process up close as a state senator, I know that a detailed examination is made on every single street in every town. To make sure that every neighborhood in Chattanooga is fairly represented, we need a detailed count of how many people are here.
Many people have concerns about their family’s privacy, particularly in a day and age when social media companies, political campaigns and other entities have been caught using personal data irresponsibly. The notion of voluntarily providing an abundance of personal information to a federal agency seems counterintuitive and problematic. I realize that those concerns are especially sensitive for immigrants or others who feel that they have been treated unfairly by the federal government.
Unfortunately, we know the high costs of low counts. As partisan political divides grow worse, people in power are actually counting on the silence of others to stay in power. When communities allow themselves to be overlooked, they render themselves politically invisible. The losses to our entire region are immense.
The good news is that we can change this, starting now. Everyone in Chattanooga, regardless of what neighborhood you live in, how much money you have, what you do for a living, where you worship, or who you love, can raise your hand, raise your voice and get counted.
I am excited to serve as chairman our local Census Complete Count Committee, a citywide coalition of citizens, faith leaders and neighborhood activists.
On April 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the downtown Chattanooga Public Library, we’ll have a solutions workshop to discuss ways that we can raise awareness about the upcoming U.S. Census and boost the response from our neighborhoods and networks.
Right now, we’re less than a year away from U.S. Census forms hitting mailboxes all across the United States, so we’ve got some work to do to get ready. I hope you’ll join us there and bring a friend. If you have children, bring them so that they can learn why this matters so much to their future.
In Chattanooga, everyone counts. As we approach a critically important census, I’m counting on you.
Andy Berke is mayor of Chattanooga.