Leaders call on SE Queens to submit their Census forms after dismal 2010 showing

Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman implored Southeast Queens residents to respond to the 2020 U.S. Census. Eagle photo by David Brand.

By David Brand 

Southeast Queens accounted for the lowest response rate in the borough during the 2010 census and local leaders are determined to ensure that doesn’t happen again when census-takers begin knocking on doors in March 2020.

Analysts predict that New York could lose up to two seats in Congress based on population estimates. A widespread failure to complete the Census would exacerbate those losses while stripping the region of crucial federal funding, said Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, who is running for Queens borough president.

“Census, census, census, census,” Hyndman told the crowd at a Richmond Hill town hall meeting Saturday. “Every community member must be counted … We need to keep our Congress members here.”

Overall, 61.9 percent of New York households self-responded to the 2010 census, compared to a nationwide average of 75.8 percent, according to federal data. The turnout was far worse in much of Queens.

A map of 2010 census response rates compiled by the city shows that an overwhelming number of census tracts in Southeast Queens had response rates below 55 percent of households 

St. Albans had a response rate of 54.3 percent, Rosedale had a response rate of 49.4 percent and South Ozone Park was at 48.5 percent during the last decennial census. 

The area also has a diverse immigrant community, with large pockets of residents from Latin America, the West Indies and South Asia. Hyndman reminded residents that there will be no immigration status question on the 2020 Census after a federal court struck down the Trump Administration’s attempt to include one. The question could have discouraged noncitizens from filling out their forms for fear of identifying themselves to federal law enforcement.

Hyndman joined U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks and State Sen. Leroy Comrie Saturday in reminding Southeast Queens residents that federal funding is tied to population totals gleaned from the Census.

“We have a real problem in Southeast Queens with being counted,” Hyndman said. “We need these dollars to come into the community.”

Meeks referenced conservative maneuvers to suppress the vote among people of color who tend to vote Democratic. Those efforts include undercounting communities of color to diminish their political influence, he said.

“The census is absolutely key,” Meeks said.