BY CHARLES M. KELLY
Census workers will be on Catalina Island next week to count residents. The local response rate is down and unless a Federal court rules otherwise, the deadline to respond could be as early as the last week of September.
“Avalon is lagging badly at only 29.2% vs LA County @ 65% of households responding,” wrote Tourism Authority CEO Jim Luttjohann in a Sept. 16 email.
“As you know, a poor response will result in far less funding for public programs and in the shadow of COVID-19, we need that support more than ever,” wrote Luttjohann.
“Census takers will be in Avalon on Friday September 25th with a pop-up tent outside of Vons in the morning (10 am to 1:30 pm) and Leo’s Drugstore in the afternoon (3 to 6 pm). There are incentives offered to participate illustrated on the attached flyers too. Responses are anonymous and you do not have to be a citizen or a registered voter to participate,” wrote Luttjohann
As previously reported, the city has even set up a Census Contest with drawings that began in August and are scheduled to continue Friday, Sept. 18, 25 and Oct. 2.
The Census Bureau recently annonced plans to stop collecting information at the end of the month. A court hearing scheduled for Sept. 17 could determine whether the count continues or not. Information about the hearing was not available by editorial deadline.
On Sept. 5, a federal judge reportedly issued a temporary restraining order that essentially put a hold on Census Bureau plans to stop collecting data at the end of this month. On Sept. 8, ABC News reported that the Census Bureau had ceased laying off Census takers.
However, the Associated Press has reported that some Census Bureau offices have already begun planning to shutdown the information gathering operations at the end of the month.
It is not yet known if the restraining order will be upheld or set aside by a higher court.
