Alabama’s Census Leader Hopes For A “Second Wind” To Boost Census Participation
Time is running out on the census, and Alabama is not where its leaders want it to be. The state’s response rate is about 61%, which is a bit under the national average. The state is at risk of losing a congressional seat, but the census also affects how federal funds are divvied up. Kenneth Boswell chairs the Alabama Counts census committee. Boswell believes the low response rate is due to COVID-19, apathy and distrust of the federal government. He gave an update on efforts to turn that around to WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
Changes because of the pandemic:
We had actually planned a lot of outside venues and face-to-face venues and things of that nature, but we have gone to virtual things such as texting, Instagram [and] radio — things that we can reach out to people from the virtual side of the house, using the internet. It has had some successes, but there’s nothing like someone that I know, that I may have influence with, to encourage them to fill out the census.
If I ask my friend to do something, then they’ll take it more serious than just seeing it from the standpoint of an ad or a radio announcement.
Groups census organizers are focused on:
We’re wanting everyone to fill it out, but we do have a very large Hispanic influence in the state of Alabama so we are working with those Hispanic groups to encourage them to fill out the census. We are doing things such as tailoring our messages for Hispanic immigrants who are living in Alabama, to help them understand the simplicity and the importance of the census itself.
Contending with a deadline that was moved up by the Trump administration to Sept. 30:
We have altered the plans to accommodate that. One of the things that I think is going to have a big impact right now is that we do have the census workers in the field currently. [They are] taking the information or knocking on the doors or ringing the doorbells for those that have not filled out the census. So I think that will help, but it has been a little bit of a challenge to pivot and make changes to accommodate that.
Boswell’s biggest concern:
I think apathy is the most important thing that we have to combat against right now. We’re making every conscious effort, in my opinion, to literally take some of that fear or apathy away in making sure that they (Alabamians) are seeing it everywhere they go, and encouraging them to fill out the census and encouraging and letting them know the simplicity of it all.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
The Alabama Counts committee is sponsoring the Census Bowl contest during September among 32 counties with low response rates. The top prize is a $65,000 grant to the winner’s local school system. More information on that can be found here.
How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country
In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.
No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS
The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.
Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue
Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.
Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book
Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
