* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Cohen
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Everyone Counts
For the purpose of recognizing the importance of reaching all residents of Baltimore City in the 2020 Census, particularly hard-to-count residents.
body
Recitals
Every 10 years the US Census Bureau counts every person living in the United States. The Census count will begin in Maryland on April 1, 2020. It is of the utmost importance that every resident of Maryland, including every resident of Baltimore City, be counted. The number of residents in Maryland helps determine how many representatives the State has in the U.S. House of Representatives. The number of residents also helps determine the amount of federal funds allocated to the City and assists business leaders with investment decisions. If some residents are left uncounted, Baltimore City is at risk of losing representation at the national level, missing out on federal funds, and losing investment opportunities from the private sector.
Certain populations are more difficult to count than others. These include those that are hard to locate, hard to contact, hard to persuade, and hard to interview. These groups are not mutually exclusive. The top 5 hard-to-count segments of the population are: children under 5, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants and people with limited English proficiency, and returning citizens. People experiencing homelessness could be considered both hard to locate, as they do not have a permanent address, and hard to contact, since they might move from place to place frequently. Children in foster care might be hard to locate since their housing can change frequently, and individuals with mental disabilities might be hard to interview because they might have difficulty understanding the questions on the census. Immigrants without legal documentation might be hard to persuade to fill out information for the census, since there is fear that the census could be used to identify people for deportation, although under federal law the census cannot share personal information with anyone, including other government agencies. The Baltimore City Council recognizes the importance of the reaching all hard-to-count residents of the City and hopes that all residents of Baltimore City are reached so that the City receives the accurate funding it deserves.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That recognizing the importance of reaching all residents of Baltimore City in the 2020 Census, particularly hard-to-count residents.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Chief Government Affairs Officer and Associate Vice President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the Associate Vice President for Student Success and Support Services, the Vice President for Student Affairs of Morgan State University, the Executive Assistant to the Office of the President of Notre Dame of Maryland University, the Director of Student Life of the Loyola University Maryland, the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs of Coppin State University, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs of Johns Hopkins University, the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students of the MICA, the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System, the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, the Executive Director of the Commission on Aging and Retirement Education, the Fire Chief, the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services, the Health Commissioner, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Chief Executive Officer of Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.