June 3, 2024
Dear editor;
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.
We know this is a mistake because we can clearly see that there are no large tracks of newly-emptied homes or blighted and empty areas in our City, and the houses themselves didn’t disappear into thin air. Furthermore, the people living in those homes didn’t simply vanish, they still live here.
Moreover, we firmly reject that the city lost an additional estimated 3,000 residents over just the past three years, since the date of faulty 2020 census count, which the Census Bureau is also suggesting. It is painfully clear, a significant undercount exists, particularly in Aurora’s growing Hispanic wards.
Consequently, the Bureau’s new miscalculations worsen the already incorrect 2020 Census and thus require revision of population estimates to correct mistakes which have adversely impacted Aurora. For these reasons, we are pursuing the arduous process of a special census recount.
The undercount has severe and unjust consequences for our beloved City of Aurora. This directly impacts the allocation of crucial State and federal funds determined by population. The inaccurate count has already cost our city millions of dollars, depriving us of essential resources for new roads, schools, and other critical public sector endeavors.
Furthermore, it’s counterproductive and frankly baffling that instead of rectifying the 2020 count, the Census Bureau decided to issue new estimates based on the same flawed data. This injustice cannot be ignored and calls for immediate action.
My constituents need to know that Aurora not only has lost millions of dollars annually since the inaccurate 2020 census, we will continue to lose millions. While my administration will assuredly continue to work diligently to obtain a recount and a special census, it’s an extremely frustrating process that is slow to address these errors.
Indeed, the Census Bureau must be held accountable for getting it wrong. It should halt the release of new population estimates until it has corrected the faulty 2020 census results. We must stand together to ensure our city is accurately represented and our voices loudly heard.
Our residents should be counted fairly! We must ensure that Aurora receives the resources and recognition it rightfully deserves. So I am calling on the Census Bureau to step up and be more responsible and responsive in this process.
Richard Irvin, Mayor of Aurora