Too late for the Mayor to pull the Census fat out of the fire?

This Census 2010 poster says it all.

With Census 2010 forms due to arrive in Plainfield mailboxes in about five weeks, we are still waiting for evidence of Mayor Robinson-Briggs' PLAN to ensure a 'complete count', which everyone believes would put Plainfield well over the 50,001 threshold -- so important to the community because funding from Washington would come directly rather than through the county.

Back in November, the Mayor trundled the Census 2010 'partnership team' before the City Council, where they -- and she -- faced sharp questioning by the Councilors, as I reported at the time (see here) --

Councilor Mapp: Could the city's Census plan be put up on the city's website for all to see?
Mayor Robinson-Briggs: 'Absolutely ... in December there will be a PSA (public service announcement)'.

Councilor McWilliams: 'When can the Council see the list of Complete Count Committee members'?
Mayor Robinson-Briggs: (Giving no direct answer about sharing the list with the Council, instead attempting to finesse the situation) '...the Council is welcome to come to the meetings and take part'.

Council President Burney: 'Can we have them [the Latino leaders and groups to whom Robinson-Briggs has reached out] come and talk to us'?
Mayor Robinson-Briggs: 'I've spoken with Alma Cruz (and her group, whose name Robinson-Briggs could not quite recall -- it is Latinas En Accion), Nelson Ortega and Carmen Salavarrieta'.

Mayor Robinson-Briggs and the Census 2010 team also mentioned a January 'road show' event supposed to take place in Plainfied, but which evidently never happened.

Despite Mayor Robinson-Briggs' promise, there is no information on the website (that I can find, anyway); there never was a 'road tour' event in Plainfield to my knowledge; we have never heard anything more about the 'Complete Count Committee' membership, nor whether Latino leaders ever sat down with Council members to explain the plan of action.

Way back last June, when Robinson-Briggs held a splashy press conference to announce the City's census effort (see Courier story here), she said --

I think we're there. I really think we're there. But we have to have confirmation," Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs said of the 50,000 mark. "This is a real rallying call that we're going to get this done."

If it's true, as the Mayor said, that 'we're going to get this done', I have a feeling an intervention is needed.

Can the Mayor pull the fat out of the fire?

I think so, if she acts quickly.

The most undercounted groups are likely to include the elderly (particularly those who are homebound) and Plainfield's immigrant population (largely, but not exclusively, Latino).

Here are a couple of suggestions that could improve Plainfield's Census count --

SENIOR CITIZENS

With more than 4,400 residents over the age of 65 (per the 2000 Census) and only about 1,500 members of the Senior Center, there is an important gap that needs to be bridged. How about Mayor Robinson-Briggs tasking staffers to go out DIRECTLY to AT LEAST the clustered Senior residences and make presentation concerning the importance of filling out the Census questionnaire. This would be greatly helpful at Plainfield Tower West, Covenant Manor, the Cedar Brook, and Richmond Towers, many of whose residents are not active in the Senior Center. The Shut-In Council and the churches could be enlisted in reaching out directly to the HOMEBOUND.

NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Many of Plainfield's immigrant families come from countries where the government is not seen to be a friendly agency. How to overcome the mistrust?

How about enlisting as volunteers those who are ALREADY NATURALLY TRUSTED members of the communities? I am thinking of the children of immigrant families who are pupils in the public school system. Who better to encourage adults to participate in the Census, and to allay their fears and suspicions, than the very children of those who most need to be counted? What Census or city employee could possibly have the entré into the neighborhood of a youngster who actually lives and socializes there? But, of course, the Mayor would have to get cracking -- enlisting the school district, preparing a plan (there's that word again), and enthusing the students (something which she could actually be good at).

MOBILIZE THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

Enlist every church, mosque and other religious organization in the community to devote a few minutes during a service before the Census questionnaires arrive to emphasizing the importance of everyone being counted. What would be so hard about that?

There are, of course, those of a more cynical turn, who point out that Assemblyman Green has not come out strongly in support of a full and complete count (I pointed out back in September that the Assemblyman did not see fit to have Census workers at the enormously popular Central American Independence Festival (see here).

Getting a census figure of at least 50,001 residents would mean that Plainfield would get its CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) monies DIRECTLY from HUD.

For decades, Plainfield has had to suffer the indignity of monies generated for the programs by virtue of its economic profile going to other Union County communities whose profiles would not generate the same level of revenues. All under the watchful eye of a distribution committee whose interest lies in Plainfield not being able to free itself.

Will Mayor Robinson-Briggs and Assemblyman Green, in the little time that is left, rise to the challenge of setting Plainfield free ?

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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