YONKERS (WCBS 880) – The mayor of Yonkers and other officials hosted an event Saturday to encourage residents to fill out the census by a Sept. 30 deadline after the last census brought out a low turnout.
Only about 57 percent of Yonkers residents were counted in the 2010 Census, a number Mayor Mike Spano wants to see increase this time around.
The neighborhood near Elm Street and Linden Street is considered a census target area.
“The target area was the most undercounted area in the city, and we want to make sure it is the most counted area by the time we’re done,” Spano said.
He said some families in undercounted communities are undocumented and are concerned they’ll be placed on an INS list.
“That’s not the case. That’s a different issue. This is about being counted so that we get the right representation and the proper funding,” Spano said.
The mayor invited residents to a community event with live music, food and hand sanitizer and mask giveaways to encourage neighbors to boost the census count.
Spano said Saturday's event brought about 100 new census registrants.
“Now remember, with every resident comes approximately three family members, so we’re talking about 300 people that they were able to put in the system today,” the mayor said.
He said increased census numbers could mean millions of dollars more in aid.
“What we want to do is make sure that everyone is counted so that we’re not losing,” Spano said. “We’re talking about millions of dollars in aid, not tens of thousands, but millions of dollars in total aid over the next 10 years.”