By Steve Young
Special to the Herald
The decision by President Trump to require a citizenship question as part of the 2020 census has serious implications for the city of Benicia, Solano County and the state of California. The inclusion of this question, which has not been part of the regular census since 1950, virtually guarantees that there will be a significant undercount, with the result costing Benicia and the rest of California significant sums of money.
The inclusion of the question seems aimed directly at urban centers and states with large immigrant populations. These populations, already on edge with the deportation raids by ICE will be understandably nervous about any interaction with federal officials asking questions about their immigration status. Immigrants, documented or not, contribute heavily to the economy and pay significant taxes. They drive on the same roads and require many of the same services from local governments (although they are not eligible to receive federal benefits directly).
It has been estimated that the areas where people are undercounted will see their federal contributions for such things as transportation, public health care and infrastructure support decline by nearly $2,000 per person. Per year. For 10 years.
As soon as this change was announced, 19 states–including California– sued the Commerce Department. Among their arguments was that the move was clearly unconstitutional. Article 2 of the US Constitution calls for an “actual enumeration” of people every 10 years. Not just citizens, people. According to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, “including a citizenship question will diminish response rates, and the census will not be able to fulfill its constitutional duty to count everyone.”
More than $600 billion is appropriated across state and local governments each year based on the census reports. An immigrant-heavy region whose population is underreported could lose public health dollars — as well as funding for food programs, school programs, and funding for public health services.
Four former census directors warned in a 2015 legal filing that any effort to add a question about citizenship for all households in the count would seriously undermine its accuracy. “The sum effect would be bad census data,” they wrote of the idea. “And any effort to correct for the data would be futile. Not counting people translates into communities not receiving funding, and that’s equally egregious in a way… It really translates into dollars for services and healthcare.”
It is in the interest of the City of Benicia, our region and our state that ALL people be counted in the 2020 census, and that the citizenship question be removed from the census forms.
Steve Young is the vice mayor of Benicia.
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Another article by a true Socialist Progressive. Think Bernie Sanders. It appears Steve does not want the citizens to follow ,the law. It is very simple Steve, if you are in the USA illegally you just broke the law. It appears you want all that money to support all the services for the illegals. What about your voters who are American Citizens. Do they count Steve? In your mind I think not. This state is already way over the top on taxes and run by the Socialist Progressives {think Totalitarian government} give-away team. Sanctuary state, super majority in both houses and also the state elected House of Representatives. It appears Steve your only concern is about the money not responsible law enforcement. You care more about the illegals that American citizens. Steve I care about America. I assume the new organization “Progressive Democrats of Benicia” has you locked in big time. Their mission is to elect and appointment of public officials that are only “PDOB”. I guess that pill has you all excited and want a Totalitarian run city, county and state of California in which the government has complete control over the people. No one should have a Ring in any ones nose. It appears you are in hook, line and sinker. I am not. Think America Steve it has worked very well for all of us. Time to get back on track Steve. .
This for those who use this “public” forum as if it’s intended for them only:
“You have attracted people who are determined that ideology is more important than facts.” -Ted Koppel to Sean Hannity on Hannity’s own show
Vice Mayor Steve Young writes and I comment just as you have. Freedom of speech and the press.
“Let us be very clear. The addition of the citizenship question is to keep immigrants and their families in the shadows, it is to disenfranchise cities with large immigrant and minority populations, and it is to skew congressional redistributing that happens in 2020 to disenfranchise largely democratic states and cities that have large minority and immigrant populations.”
-Alex Wagner
American journalist and author
You, sir, are very fond of political labels as a distraction and gaslighting technique in your arguments.
This census question is so transparently racist.
I expect no less from that element in Benicia, of which you are an active member.
Jane you are wrong. Let us be clear my Political labels are what folks are by their actions. I am correct. The census question is not racist. Could it be others are and do not want illegals exposed? Think about it. It is not racist at all. Just very good info needed to actually help the states and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Dear Sir,
Please explain how you are more knowledgeable about this than former directors of the census, who have spoken out saying that adding a question about citizenship would result in inaccurate results and reduced response rates.
I have thought about this, and it’s clear to me that the question will be added to simply intimidate those of a different ethnicity.
The goal of the census is to accurately represent the demographics of the people living in the United States. In Trump’s world, accuracy doesn’t exist.
Think about that, sir.
By the way, you seem to believe you are right about 98% of the time. That’s an awesome record, sir!
Also, blessing America doesn’t go very far.
“The goal of the census is to accurately represent the demographics of the people living in the United States”
That sounds like an argument in favor asking all residents their status: Citizen, non-citizen, legal resident or non-citizen illegal resident.
Huh? It takes a lot of mental gymnastics to arrive at a statement like yours. It seems you suffer from the malady of fear :
“What would happen if this nation would admit that white supremacy exists and that it has traumatized an entire race of people? What would happen if America engaged in a process of truth and reconciliation, much like South Africa did? South Africa admitted its horrid racism; Germany admitted theirs, but America has never admitted anything. And perhaps that is, at least, part of the reason that the malady affecting white America is fear. There has been no resolution of the contradiction between American idealism (democracy) and American realism (separatism, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia).”
-“Whites and the Fear Caused by White Supremacy,”
by Dr. Susan K. Smith
Jane,
It takes no mental gymnastics to come to the conclusion above. It only takes logic, common sense, an a reasonable level of intelligence.
Intent is everything in this census question; and under the Trump regime, it is not what you claim through your evasive comment.
It’s interesting that no one in this thread would touch the quote about the rampant fear among white people towards anyone who is not white. Without acknowledging that this is a serious malady, we are doomed to reap the consequences of a population in denial.
Signed,
a woman lacking “a reasonable level of intelligence”
Well if Blessing America does not go very far you are in the wrong country.; Actually Jane I am right about 99.8% of the time JD Power confirmed. Cannot top that.
If this country continues on the path supported by evangelicals, then I will be in the wrong country, sir.
Just how many Evangelicals are there? You may be surprised. Do you think there are more African Americans, Hispanic and Asian than Evangelicals? Now tell me who is running this country. The title of the article is “Count Every Person in The 2020 Census”. I do believe that is what we are saying. Everyone counts.
You do not bless America? Very strange.
Dear Sir,
What you find “very strange,” I find offensive.
I had to suffer the “blessed” Christian comments for years while working in your town. Believe it or not, there are people in the world who don’t believe in religion. In fact, I see religion as “the opiate of the people.”
Re: Opiate of the people
Yes, so you are n the same page as Karl Marx.
Dear DDL,
It seems you need to assign labels to people. Why?
The answer to your one for me is a hilarious no.
I just think the term best describes people hooked up to religion, which I never could understand.
I happened to be born to Jewish parents, but at a young age I knew I wasn’t buying into the religious stuff. Culturally, I’m Jewish though- the sense of humor, self-deprecation, and a real understanding of what it feels like to be the target of anti-semitism. All of that makes me feel simpatico with people of the tribe.
I do appreciate your arguments about the census question and,as some have said, “everyone counts.” But what you fail to mention is how the information harvested from the question will be used. In this administration, I can only expect the worst.
In the end, I truly believe that each time we categorize and label people, it’s not a good thing for the world. I don’t want us to be divided any more than we are already.
THANKS.
When you chose to quote Karl Marx as a source for words and wisdom to live by, you leave yourself vulnerable to being classified.
I don’t care.
Obviously you do.
I know what’s true about me, and it’s not what you say. I’m sorry you have this need to put people into boxes in order to divide them.
Jane- Save the high horse comments. In virtually every thread you post on you devolve into putting all of the people of Benicia, or all the people you worked with at the school into a category. You do the same for Christians or people of faith. So if you are going to point fingers, I suggest you take a closer look at yourself.
Matthew 7:3 3″Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
God Bless
Dennis
Jane I was in the wholesale apparel business. One of the very few that was not Jewish. I was verbally abused constantly. They would say you are not Jewish, you do not think like a Jew, just a token Goyum. Plus many, many more that I will not comment on. I was never accepted in their crowd. That was fine with me. I was very successful and proved to them that maybe you did not have to be Jewish to be successful. I proved I was no Willie Loman. I have not talked about it in these comment sections. I felt it was not necessary and part of being successful. You talk about it all the time as if you are the only one that has ever had folks abuse you. Back to the article. The question of citizenship is a very good question. Why would anyone be afraid of who they are.
Dear Sir,
Here are some excerpts from previous posts, for your information:
The treatment I experienced in Benicia is something about which you have no idea. The lawyer hired by the teachers’ union warned me not to speak or write of my experiences again if I wanted to keep my job.
I write my story because it needs to be told, it is a form of therapy, and my words are the sanctions imposed on those who are guilty of wrongdoing.
If you’ve never been emotionally traumatized, for years at that, I can tell you a side effect is feeling the trauma again when anyone or anything associated with the place of the trauma resurfaces. That means Benicia has that effect on me. To me, it is a toxic place, both literally and figuratively.
I think it’s important to call out those in power who behave unethically, while causing emotional harm to others. Time and time again, that was my experience working in the school district. Those people recognize themselves, and should not be afforded the luxury of sweeping their misdeeds under the rug; I made sure that didn’t happen when two of my commentaries were published in three local papers. Writing these was therapeutic for me too.
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/10/21/emotionally-ill-students-need-options/
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/letterstotheeditor/ci_26253866/my-turn-you-are-not-liked-here
Speaking out publicly, responding to people like you in this forum, and repeating my story has helped me regain my power and happiness.
Your story about the ignorant and mean-spirited Jews in the apparel business is an important story too.
All of us need to tell our stories. Our humanity depends on them.
Dear Sir,
Here is a copy of the Times Herald commentary, since the page could not be found. I remembered to copy it after the superintendent had “Emotionally Ill Students Need Options” censored from the Benicia Herald the day the editor said he would run it the following day.
My Turn: ‘You are not liked here’
By: Vallejo Times-Herald
Wednesday, July 30, 2014 – 9:00 p.m.
Years ago, after area newspapers printed my commentary about the school district’s indifference to serving emotionally disturbed students, it didn’t take long for the administrators to hold a meeting to inform me that I had committed a sin. I met with legal counsel provided by my union, and was advised not to repeat anything that was said at that meeting. Strikingly, what wasn’t mentioned in the meeting made the biggest impression on me: The safety and well-being of the students and their teachers. It seemed that the image of the school district and its own town took precedence. One thing was clear: They couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
That was 2007 (www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_7241927?source=email), and I needed to work until 2012 if I wanted to retire with the pension for which I worked so hard. (Teachers in California don’t receive Social Security.) If I made any more waves, I could kiss that pension goodbye. But the wheels of retaliation were already set in motion to drive me away.
Before I became a whistleblower, I was a creative, hard-working and well-liked teacher. I loved my job. But that changed when the school principal began filling my classes with a disproportionate number of students with behavior or emotional problems, the kind of students I had addressed in my article.
One year of having this kind of class takes a toll on a teacher’s physical and emotional health. But having this kind of class for five consecutive years, without anyone’s support, almost killed my soul and faith in people.
There was no support when a large boy threw a chair across the room, and his foster mother verbally abused me. There was no support when an emotionally disturbed girl threw tantrums. There was no support when I asked for help with the student who verbalized 75 percent of his thoughts during instruction and quiet work times. There was no support when a boy begged me not to tell his dad about fights he had with other kids, because his dad would hit him with the belt.
The principal retaliated against me every way she could. I couldn’t even get faulty electrical wiring fixed in my classroom. Frustrated that it still hadn’t been repaired after my third written request, I asked her in person.
She was leaning back in the office manager’s chair, a favorite parent and janitor sitting on chairs facing her. “Now, now, Jane, ask nicely!” were the next words I heard as the janitor and parent laughed along as she ridiculed me.
Gradually my health did suffer from a toxic work environment. I was physically exhausted and became anxious and depressed. There was nothing left inside of
me to create lesson plans, correct papers, have good judgement and be the good, well-liked teacher I had been for the 18 years prior to this nightmare.
That was unfortunate for the student teacher assigned to me in my final year. Rather than watching me demonstrate good teaching, he took my place. My personality had changed so drastically during those final years, I didn’t recognize myself. Behind my back, untrue rumors were circulated among some staff and parents. Eventually I was ostracized by most of the staff.
Teaching at the end of my career took all the will and perseverance I could muster. I was numb and operating on automatic. To this day, I don’t know how I made it to the finish line.
So, it felt like a miracle when I could finally retire in 2012, as I had planned. On my last day, one of the teachers looked me in the eye and said, “You are not liked here.”
After I retired, therapy helped me recover and heal. In counseling I learned that I was in a crisis for five years, and anyone or anything associated with the school became triggers that brought terrible feelings back, a symptom of post trauma.
I paid a huge price by sticking it out until the brutal end, but whistleblowers always do. I am proud that I spoke out when my first piece published.
I would do it again in a heartbeat … and I guess I just did.
Jane Hara/Recovering teacher
Re: the census question
“Why would anyone be afraid of who they are?”
The only response to your question that I can think of is that a person of color would never ask this question, (maybe with the exception of HUD Secretary Ben Carson).
I have to agree with you Jane, religion is the opiate of the people. Regardless of who stated it this way, it is hard to deny. Agreeing with it, does not a Marxist make. Maybe it should be updated to “security blanket of the people”.
“For centuries, the mystics of spirit had existed by running a protection racket – by making life on earth unbearable, then charging you for consolation and relief, by forbidding all the virtues that make existence possible, then riding on the shoulders of your guilt, by declaring production and joy to be sins, then collecting blackmail from the sinners.” Ayn Rand (not a Marxist)
“Security blanket of the people” works too.
Thanks, Thomas.
Dear Sir,
I’m waiting for you to explain how you are more knowledgeable than former directors of the census, who have spoken out saying adding a question about citizenship would result in inaccurate results and reduced response rates.
In fact, it seems that each respondent here believes he is more qualified than past census directors to post an evaluation of the issue. You guys rock!
“political labels as a distraction and gaslighting technique”
Identifying illegal aliens as “Immigrants: is an example of using a label to falsely identify people for political reasons. It is also an insult to the millions of people who reside here legally and went through the legal methods of immigration.
And “illegal aliens” is a hateful term.
Words can be loaded with fear and hate.
“illegal aliens” is an accurate term and only defined as “hateful” by overwrought leftists and others who are willing to ignore the law. It is also the official term used in the legal codes of this country. United States Code, Title 8, §1365(b) is one example
The fact that “illegal aliens” is the official term used in legal codes of this country is even more disturbing to me; but I’m not surprised.
Through studying immigration and the Chinese Exclusion Act, I learned how racist our country was, and is, when it comes to immigrants.
If you think about the meanings of the words alien and illegal, out of this context, what images come to mind?
Think about it.
Thanks.
Jane has some good points. It is likely that a citizenship question would make the census less accurate in terms of just head count and might, in fact, help skew the number of electors (representatives) in Congress toward something more representative to legal citizens instead of just bulk population. I don’t care. In CA my vote will never count since I hate a tax and spend mentality–politicians who pander to the folks content to be on the dole are too stupid to represent me. . OTOH, Jane isn’t correct in believing the question itself is racist. And just for fun, when I picture “illegal alien” in my head, I see Spock when they went back in time to save a whale.
Excellent.
DDL,
It’s not a high horse I ride; it’s finally getting my power back after being freed from a very oppressive place. The treatment I experienced there is one about which you have no idea. I write my story because it needs to be told, and my words are the sanctions sent to those who are guilty of wrongdoing.
If you’ve never been traumatized, I can tell you a side effect is feeling the trauma again when anyone or anything associated with the source of the trauma resurfaces. That means Benicia has that effect on me. To me, it is a toxic place.
You say I need to get off my high horse and take a good look at myself. In recovering from the trauma I experienced there, I had to do just that, and I wouldn’t have found the wisdom and happiness I have now without some painful introspection.
So your advice and judgements and Bible quote are way off base.
If Benicia is such a tramatizing place for you one has to wonder why you come back to this site and time after time tell and retell your story.
Is it theriputic?
If you meant therapeutic, it’s that too.
I think it’s important to call out those in
power who behave unethically while causing emotional harm to others. Time and time again, that was my experience working in the school district. Those people recognize themselves, and should not be afforded the luxury of sweeping their misdeeds under the rug. Knowing this is very therapeutic for me.
Speaking out publicly, responding to people like you in this forum, and repeating my story has helped me regain my power and happiness. I highly recommend it.
I think it would be good to have an actual enumeration of legal citizens and legal immigrants. Illegals are going to hide no matter what, anyway, because they know they are illegal. Long term illegals will simply not disclose the truth about their status and census workers will take their statement as fact.
Mr. Young is hiding his real intentions. He wants illegals to vote. That is the basis of his concern. Illegals get drivers licenses in Ca and are automatically supplied with voter registration forms. The CA Secretary of State claims that office does not conduct serious citizenship check as that is a federal responsibility. Mr. young is worried that if the illegal population is exposed quantitatively, it will lead to data showing that illegals vote.
Very true comment Matter. The truth is out.
I’m sorry Steve. You don’t know your constitution very well. Article 2 has to do with the Executive Branch…what calls for an enumeration (census) is in Article 1, Section 2 and the actual text excludes Indians which (to me) indicates the framers were trying to count citizens. It did count indentured servants and I think (Not being a constitutional scholar, but at least I know which article to look at) it allowed for counting 3/5 of slaves. Presumably, f we choose to count non citizens and apply the 3/5 rule, we’d STILL have to ask the citizenship question. I know it is comfortable to make stuff up to suit your own political viewpoint, but PLEASE don’t create more FAKE NEWS. READ the constitution. Part of the enumeration clause was later modified by the 14th Amendment which deals specifically with Citizenship Rights, so I can’t see how that applies to non Citizens. https://usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec2.html
You should have read the relevant sections before misinforming people. It is quite clear that it is persons not citizens to be counted. And the Supreme Court has long ruled that person means person not citizen. The right to vote can be based on citizenship and denying citizens the right to vote will reduce representation (think segregation and the post Civil War South) but the census is required to count persons not citizens.
14th amendment article 2: “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State”
Don’t be ridiculous; the 14th amendment ONLY applies to citizens. Read the thing. And don’t wiggle about Supreme Court rulings unless you also quote the entire thing INCLUDING the dissenting opinions. I should change my moniker on this site to “Speaker to Vegetables”.
I have read it. Numerous times. It uses person when it means person and citizen when it means citizen. The SCOTUS decisions on that are numerous and you can look them up yourself. You are simply dead wrong.
Greg I think it is very important to count every person. Whether that person is a citizen or a non-citizen. When a person is seeking to run for election they get the registered voters by party to determined their campaign strategy. Yes that is done by registered voters but at they same time the folks that they could represent will be both citizens and non-citizens. That just makes sense to know all that info. In the City of Benicia, Solano County and the State of California we do have both citizens and non-citizens. Many non-citizens are in the country both legally and illegally and should ,be accounted for. In a state like California that info is very important to know. We give drivers licenses to illegal non-citizens and legal non-citizens. Just from a pure financial issue the state, city and county should know what the potential financial burden will be. I think the question of citizenship should be on the census form. If the illegal resident has fear it is false. Many non-citizens are in this country illegally and have been here for many years. They do not seem to fear that. To know your population is very important to all residents. I do not think a legal citizen of the USA is going out and look for an illegal resident. In California where ever we go we are serviced by illegal non-citizen residents. And in most cases we do not ask or even care. So why should a non-citizen in this country illegally even have any fear. Commit a crime and any legal or non legal resident is going to have a problem. The consequence of being illegal could be a grave one or in most cases no consequence at all just like a legal resident. We are a caring and giving country. The folks that want to help the illegal get residence visas or became a USA citizen should spend more time on that. When and if you became a United States of America citizen you pledge loyalty to the USA. I like that and want all citizens to take great pride in that. Being an American citizen takes more than just being a citizen it shows pride in who you are and are proud to be an American citizen. Anything wrong with that. I THINK NOT.
I’m just not sure what really use anyone can get out of putting this kind of question in the census. As Matter already pointed out, individuals who are not US citizens would likely just state they are on census forms, so it wouldn’t be a reliable way of getting accurate data. At the same time, putting a “gotcha” question on a census could easily be missed or improperly answered by the elderly, those hard of seeing or reading, and the occasional accident. If that’s the case, we either need to spend additional resources checking in on individuals who marked that they were not citizens, or the census data of trhat category wouldn’t be verifiably accurate. I understand the intent behind it, but it doesn’t seem realistic for it to do much.
“The inclusion of this question, which has not been part of the regular census since 1950”
Mr. Young,
The question was included in the long form census in 2000:
13.__ Is this person a CITIZEN of the United States?
__Yes, born in the United States →Skip to 15a
__Yes, born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
or Northern Marianas
__ Yes, born abroad of American parent or parents
__ Yes, a U.S. citizen by naturalization
__ No, not a citizen of the United States
Here is the link
https://www.census.gov/dmd/www/pdf/d02p.pdf
You are correct that the long form Census used to include the citizenship question
.The question was removed from the long form in 2010.
However. the long form only goes to one in every six households.
The last time the Census Bureau asked all U.S. households a question about U.S. citizenship was in 1950. That form asked where each person was born and in a follow-up question asked, “If foreign born — Is he naturalized?”
In 1960, the question was removed and has not re-appeared on the short form census since.
7
Mr. Young,
Yes all of what you said in your response is accurate. Your original comment though was misleading.
Since when is asking about citizenship status racist or unfair or bigoted? It’s a legal question. When entering the USA or any country, one has to pass through customs, where, among other things, citizenship status is c9nfirmed.
I see no problem with a census asking the question. It may or not be accurate. But to object to the question has to be tied to not wanting to know the answer. Those who oppose want the illegals counted as legal voters. This is all about gaining votes those that are ineligible.
Very good comment Matter.
Is the issue resolved? it does appear the question about citizenship will appear on the census form.