The Census Bureau is asking Congress for four additional months to complete its count after being knocked off track by the coronavirus. But despite being sidelined by the outbreak, the once-per-decade count remains critical, said State Assemblymember Monique Limón, who represents Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
“It’s such an important civic duty,” said Limón. “This is not about any one individual, but our collective knowledge of the people that are in our county and the resources we need to make this a thriving community.”
While the Census Bureau is legally required to deliver the final figures to the president by December 31, census officials have proposed moving the deadline to April 2021. The extra time will be crucial in California, which is considered at high risk of an undercount.