WXYZ DETROIT — It’s not too late to return your U.S. Census form. But the clock is ticking and time is running out. Michiganders cannot afford to wait much longer.
The Census Bureau recently announced that it will end all counting efforts on September 30th. That’s one month earlier than originally announced. After that important date, door-knocking, over the phone surveys and online responses will cease to exist. Because of challenges due to COVID-19, the Bureau claims it needs the extra time to process the data.
Every person – man, woman or child – not counted, will cost our state valuable taxpayer dollars. These funds total billions in support our roads, schools, hospitals and many community social service programs. Any dollars we leave on the table as a city, region or state, will go to a neighboring state. We will have to wait 10 years to re-coop any losses! And remember, in 2010, Detroit had the worst big city Census form return rate in the nation. We’ve made too much progress to let that happen again!
Completing the Census is easy. The handful of questions only take 10 minutes. There are workers standing by ready to assist in multiple non-English languages. There are also trusted community organizations you can turn to for help.We have included their names and contact information on wxyz.com.
By law, the U.S. Census is safe and secure! The confidential information you provide cannot be used against you by any governmental agency.
Help Michigan get its fair share of federal tax dollars and representation in Congress. Now is the time to STAND UP and be counted. .
I’m Mike Murri, V.P. & General Manager
Broadcast: August 20 - 23, 2020
