Roy Shepherd wants every head counted.
Shepherd, president of the Tri-State Chamber of Commerce in Port Jervis, said the 2000 U.S. Census negatively impacted the area his chamber represents: western Orange County, Pike County, Pa., and Sussex County, N.J. That”™s why he went to the ribbon cutting for the new Newburgh office for the U.S. Census Bureau on Route 300 Jan. 5.
“When companies are looking for a place to relocate,” Shepherd said, “the first place they”™ll go to is the Census statistics: How many people live there? What is the average age and income? The average home price? When people don”™t return the Census form, they are essentially letting potential businesses know it is not worth moving to that area. It”™s a blow to the community, because we lose the potential to have franchises and site selectors take a closer look and help build business and bring jobs. I”™m here to learn more and to encourage people in our area to apply for the jobs they are offering. We need every head counted.”
The Census has simplified its format, asking 10 questions. It has also changed the hours when Census takers can canvass neighborhoods. With more flexibility, it allows them to work in the evening, when people are more likely to be found at home.
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“It would be ideal if every bell were answered,” said U.S. Commerce deputy regional director Bruce Kaminski. “For every 1 percent of those who do not return the form, it costs the government between $80 (million) and $90 million to send people back out until they manage to get their response. That”™s why we”™ve simplified the form and are hiring people who speak a variety of languages to go into neighborhoods where a language other than English is spoken. America is truly a melting pot.”
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With New York”™s population exodus and potential loss of seats in the House of Representatives, “It”™s all the more important that New Yorkers be counted,” said U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley.
“Expect Census workers to be knocking on doors starting in March,” said Kaminski. “Since the form has been simplified and the hours workers can go door-to-door have been expanded, we are hoping for a much better response than we had in 2000.”
The ribbon-cutting in Newburgh drew officials and chamber representatives from across the Hudson Valley, including Sullivan County village of Monticello”™s Mayor Gordon Jenkins, who said, “We”™re here to have the Census bureau come up and test people to become Census takers and do office functions for them. This is an opportunity to work.  People in Sullivan county are tired of hearing about the casinos and gambling. These are real jobs, even if they are only for a few months, and they are good-paying jobs.”
The Census Bureau is still testing and hiring for hundreds of positions. Applicants who take the test and do not pass the first time are encouraged to try again. Col. Charles Faro of the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New Windsor said applying for the Census jobs “just makes sense, especially for college students and people who are caught between jobs. Why not take advantage of the income and help make a difference?”
Kaminski said this time around, “We just hope people will be responsive, especially since we”™ve shortened the form. It takes a few minutes to fill out. It”™s important every person be counted.”
This decade”™s Census takers will be out in force from March through June, making follow-up visits where needed. The final tally is due Dec. 31.
