Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist. P-J file photo by Jay Young

The 2020 U.S. Census formally began on Thursday, with members of the Jamestown Census Complete Count Committee gathering at James Prendergast Library to discuss the process.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist opened the proceedings by thanking the committee members for their efforts and briefing those in attendance on the importance of the census. The meeting also featured talks from Amy Rohler, executive director of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County; LJ Martin, outreach coordinator for the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System; Liz Jones, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation community impact officer; and The Rev. Luke Fodor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

“This is so important for the work that we all do, from foundations, to the city, to not-for-profits,” Sundquist said. “Being able to talk about the adequate amount of people that live here in the city, in the greater Jamestown area, in the county. These are all very important things that are tied to funding and services and all types of other opportunities. I have talked to mayors from across New York state, and I will say that this is probably one of the most organized and complete count committees.”

Emphasizing the need to contact all demographics of the community, Sundquist added, “We cannot afford to wait. We cannot afford to not reach people where they are at, and in their own language. This is the most important thing as we go forward with the census.”

From March 12 to 20, households will receive official U.S. Census Bureau mail with information on how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

From March 30 to April 1, the bureau will focus on counting the homeless at shelters, soup kitchens, mobile food vans and encampments.

April 1 is observed as U.S. Census Day, and is also the date that should be used for any census reporting. Wherever you may be located on April 1 is what should be reported for the census.

From May to July census takers will make in-person visits to residences that have not self reported.

“This is a big thing that impacts our daily lives,” Martin said. “Other events or programs that are impacted are SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicare, for our students it is the free and reduced lunches. It impacts being prepared for natural disasters. The biggest conversation I have with those that I’ve been talking with–if you don’t want strangers knocking on your door, self-report far before May.”

“As soon as you get that invitation to take (the census) online or on the phone, go ahead and get that into the census bureau so they don’t have to send enumerators out your way.”

This is the first year that the census will have a digital component, making it easier for people to self-report online at their convenience.

Martin briefed the committee on the methods that will be used to contact residents of Western New York, and the important dates of the process.

Following her presentation, Jones spoke on the importance of community outreach and educating the public in order to get accurate census reporting numbers.

Fodor spoke on methods that can be used to bring the positive effects of the census down to the local level, and the importance of explaining how its impacts will be felt at home on an individual basis.

Rohler’s segment of the presentation included information on hard-to-count demographics, as well as issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

“We want to make sure that we are all taking precautionary measures regardless of what is happening, and we will be communicating about that,” Rohler said. “It might mean that the way you communicate or hold census events might change a little bit in the next two weeks. We are going to be very aware of that so that we are keeping people safe, keeping our volunteers and our staff safe, but also reaching the people that we really need to reach with this information.”

Sundquist offered recent updates on the outbreak, explaining that there are no confirmed cases in Chautauqua County as of Tuesday.

“Many people have been asking how the coronavirus pandemic may impact the census,” Sundquist said. “Briefly, letting folks know, if you haven’t heard there have been zero cases of confirmed coronavirus here in Chautauqua County. There have also been no confirmed cases in Erie County or Cattaraugus County, the closest one we’ve had right now has been in Monroe County. As of right now we are fully prepared to handle any incidents that may occur. Our office is working very closely with the county health department Our office is also part of the governor’s daily briefing, daily phone calls, to ensure that we know what is going on across the state. So we are coordinated, we are ready, and the best part of it is this year the census is mostly online and over the phone.”

A representative of the U.S. Census Bureau was present to answer questions, and emphasized the importance of identifying bureau representatives during in-person visits.

Census Bureau representatives will all have identification badges, and will not ask questions about your financial information, your social security number or your political positions.

Anyone who suspects impersonation of a census bureau representative is asked to contact the local authorities. For more information please visit 2020census.gov.