Respond! That was the message Thursday, Jan. 16, from Aurora deputy chief of staff Alex Voigt who told Aurora Lions Club members about the city’s upcoming special census.
In an illustrated presentation at Pomegranate Cafe in Aurora, Voigt outlined the census set for Feb. 3-March 7. “I am Aurora, I count” is the census’ theme.
Voigt said responses by residents will help end a current loss of revenue and restore funding for public safety, special events and public works including street and sidewalk repairs. Additionally, Aurora’s six school districts, two hospitals and park districts will be able to access more funding to expand services.
Aurora Lions attending included her father, Tom.
According to Alex Voigt, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct the special census for Aurora. The effort was launched by mayor Richard Irvin after the 2020 census reported that the city lost about 17,000 residents. “Completing a special census will lead to a more accurate population count, restoration of key funding and expansion of city services,” Voigt said.
She stressed there are no citizenship questions on the census and that residents’ data is safe and secure.
Addresses in the special census Area will begin receiving mailers from the Census Bureau Feb. 3. The first two mailings, scheduled to take place Feb. 4 and Feb. 10, will be letters, while two final mailings, scheduled to take place on Feb. 18 and Feb. 27, will be postcards.
Each letter and postcard will contain a unique 12-digit code with information on how to participate in the Internet Self-Response (ISR) period, from Feb. 3 through March 7. Residents will be invited to go to the website to take the survey: https:/portal.census.gov/specialcensus.
When the ISR period ends, census workers will begin going door-to-door to collect information from addresses that do not respond.
Voigt added that hiring is underway for field supervisors, field representatives and office clerks. No college degree is required. A year of general clerical, office or other work or two years of post-high school education is helpful but not required.
Voigt took questions and concluded by offering census promotional materials.
In an earlier Facebook post, Mayor Irvin said the census undercount has “severe and unjust consequences” for the city. He wrote, “According to the 2020 Census report, the city of Aurora’s population declined from approximately 197,000 in 2010 to now around 180,000, indicating a loss of 17,000 residents. However, the decline is an unfortunate and unacceptable product of a faulty 2020 Census report, which exacerbates inaccuracies and demands a revision of population estimates to correct this serious mistake.”
—Al Benson