Be Counted, Days Left to Mail in Census 2010

As of today, 56 percent of Norwalkers have mailed back their 2010 census forms to the Census Bureau.  So says the 2010 Census website which tracks real time participation rates of cities across the United States.    If you are one of the many that has yet to fill out your form, there’s still time.

While April 1 was officially designated as Census Day, the Census Bureau will continue to accept 2010 Census questionnaires by mail through mid-April. Beginning May 1, census workers will begin going door to door to households that failed to mail back their forms -- a massive operation that costs taxpayers an average of $57 per household versus the 42 cents (and 10 minutes) it takes to get a response back by mail.

“Your representation in this country is by number," says Ellen Wink,  city clerk and Norwalk's liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau. "You are not going to be represented unless you fill in this form.  I cannot overstate how important it is locally and on a statewide and national level.”  Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide.

Wink says that Norwalk’s response has been better than expected given the storms damage and bad weather.  The two areas with the lowest response rate are near Hospital Hill and the area around Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

On Saturday, April 10th, Wink is organizing a final push to get residents to mail in their forms—March to the Mailbox Day.   Wink is looking for volunteers to participate in a “car-a-van” through Norwalk with horns blaring and posters on cars and vans. Wink is mapping a route that concentrates on the specified low response rate area.  She is asking volunteers to arrive at City Hall at 10:30am for a rally and car decorating and promises coffee and donuts.  Contact her directly at ewink@norwalkct.org if you'd like to volunteer.

If you have not received a census form or can’t find yours, visit one of the following census assistance centers to obtain a form.  They come in many different languages and you must bring identification with you--Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON) at 98 South Main St., Ben Franklin Center at 165 Flax Hill Road; the Norwalk Housing Authority Colonial Village Art Center at 89 Suncrest Road; and the East Norwalk Library at 51 Van Zant St.?

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