Monterey County looks to increase participation in 2020 census

How many people live in Monterey County? We’ll find out next year.

On Monday, several county officials gathered in Castroville to discuss changes being made to the upcoming census.

Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo said the biggest change will be “Technology. Now you are going to have people who will have iPads and phones, where they could be doing this count going door to door.”

While technology may add some new challenges, the ultimate goal is to reach more people, which has been a big problem in the past. Only about 60% of those in Monterey County participated in the last census.

The Trump administration is pushing another change next year, adding a question regarding citizenship. It’s a question not welcomed by our community. Monterey County Supervisor Mary Adams said, “I do believe that we have a responsibility, all of us, to ensure that that question is not on the census. It has no place being there.”

Monterey County has a large number of noncitizens. While the citizen information from the census is kept confidential, there is fear that having the question could drop participation numbers. Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter said that is “because they are afraid of the government knocking on their door, saying, ‘Hey, I want to know all about you.'”

Regardless, officials continue to urge everyone to participate because, in the end, “Whether you are a citizen or not a citizen, by being counted, your community is going to get billions of dollars over the next ten years for your local county, your local community, your local schools,” Alejo said.

The U.S. Supreme Court will be reassessing the question about citizenship late April.