Hamtramck has a lot to gain in Census 2020

Census 2020 is about to gear up this fall, and as usual, it’s a unique chance for Hamtramck to get its full share.
That’s a full share in state and federal revenues, that is, or in other words: money and development projects. We’re talking about things like more money to repair our streets.
There is a lot at stake, and we agree with city council candidate Robert Zwolak that the city – all residents included — needs to step up for the once-every-10-year population count.
It is estimated that each person counted is worth about $1,800 in revenue.
Hamtramck has proved in the past that it can rise to the challenge. For the 2000 census count, the city administration at that time organized, and then had a committee formed to get the word out to the neighborhoods.
That effort paid off well.
The city’s population count went from about 18,000 to 23,000 – a total that was, and still is, short of the actual number of folks who live here. It is estimated Hamtramck has approximately 27,000 people living here.
It’s not easy to convince people of the importance of the census. And there are some who are fearful that the information they provide will somehow be used against them down the road.
Census information is private, and is not shared with government agencies.
This year, the city administration has appointed Virginia Skrzyniarz of the Piast Institute to head up the volunteer effort.
When forms finally arrive, we will need a lot of volunteers out on the streets, going door-to-door, to urge residents to fill out the census form.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about this effort in the months to come. In the meantime, spread the word.
Aug. 2, 2019