The City of Goleta will lead a 2020 Census Car Caravan THIS Saturday, July 11, from 11:00 a.m. – Noon. More than one dozen vehicles will participate in the caravan, including Congressman Salud Carbajal, Santa Bcarbara County Supervisors Gregg Hart and Joan Hartmann, City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte & City Councilmembers, Joni Maiden of the Santa Barbara County Complete Count Committee, Ana Maria Lugo, California Census Lead Partner Specialist, Josefa Rios of the Santa Barbara Promotores Network and City of Goleta staff.
The caravan will begin at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue), driving through Goleta neighborhoods, and end at Dos Pueblos High School (7266 Alameda Avenue). In addition to neighborhoods, the caravan will be driving by the Fairview Shopping Center, Stow Grove Park, Storke Plaza, Camino Real Marketplace, Ellwood Mesa Parking Lot and more. View the route map and flyer at www.CityofGoleta.org/Census2020. Also available in Spanish at www.CityofGoleta.org/Censo2020. We encourage you to come out and cheer on the caravan! Honk, cheer, clap, but keep in mind the caravan will keep moving in order to observe social distancing protocols.
City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “During a time when our outreach opportunities are restricted due to social distancing guidelines, the Census Caravan is a fun way for us to spread the message. It is important that EVERYONE is counted this census in order to ensure we get our fair share of state and federal funding.”
According to the 2020 Self Response Rate Map, as of today, July 7, 2020, 71.4% of Goleta Households have completed their census. We have until October 31st to reach the remaining 29.6% of households who still haven’t responded. We need your help to achieve 100% participation. Please check in with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and encourage them to be counted!
This is the first year you can fill out your census on-line at My2020Cenus.gov. If you did not respond to a postcard invitation to participate on-line, you should have received a paper copy of the census in the mail. The census is easy to fill out, follow the instructions and answer 9 simple questions – it takes no time at all. You can also complete your census by phone at 844-330-2020. U.S. Census workers will be doing in person visits to households who have not yet responded.
When filling out your census, please remember to count everyone in your household even if they are not family members. Also, don’t forget to count children even if they are babies. It’s estimated that one in 10 children under age five were missed in the last census. That is more than two million uncounted children. Also, it’s important to know that the 2020 Census is confidential and your personal information, by law, can’t be shared.
Emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic are precisely why the government needs accurate 2020 Census Data. Your response to the census shapes decisions about how billions of dollars in federal funds flow into communities each year for the next ten years. The following items are at stake for Goleta if there is an undercount in the 2020 Census:
- Loss of revenue for TEN years
- Federal funding for Community Development Block Grants
- Library funding
- Gas tax related revenue for road repairs
- Special funding based on population
- District election boundaries
Watch our Make Goleta Count video here. Learn more about the 2020 Census on the City’s census webpage and on Santa Barbara County’s census website. Information in Spanish is also available on the City website and Santa Barbara County website. The City of Goleta is proud to be a part of the Complete Count Committee which is working together to make sure EVERYONE counts in Santa Barbara County.
We hope to see you on Saturday!