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Tonko talks up census

Sep 05, 2019 12:32 am
Kenneth C. Crowe II reports for the Albany Times Union that Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat from Amsterdam who represents Albany County, is already working on getting an accurate, full census count next year. Tonko estimates that about a third of the Capital Region’s households, or 114,045, won't complete their 2020 Census forms after they arrive next March. Estimates are that each uncounted person costs the New York $2,000 per person per year in federal funds. Tonko mentioned that an undercount could cost his own job, as a low count could reduce the size of the state's congressional delegation. “We need to be committed to a fair and accurate count,” Tonko said at a press conference Sept. 3 in Albany. He was also hosting events promoting census awareness in Halfmoon, Troy, and Schenectady. Read more about this story in the Albany Times Union.