Vice Mayor Michael Johnson's
Arizona Informant Column
Sept. 28, 2005

Second round of Census surveys sent

More than 40 percent of Maricopa County residents who received a Census survey earlier this month have filled out and returned their copies in the mail.

We thank you very much for filling out this survey early that literally means millions of dollars to your city or town.

It doesn’t matter if you live in Phoenix, Avondale, Chandler, Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale or Peoria. Your city or town needs your participation in the Census so that your community gets the money it deserves.

This money is used by your community to provide basic services you depend on and deserve, like police and fire protection, libraries, parks, senior services, public transportation and much more.

As I’ve said before, the information you provide is totally confidential. The Census Bureau uses it only to calculate how many people live in your city or town. That’s it.

The information cannot be shared with or extracted by another governmental agency such as police, courts, immigration officials, F.B.I. or welfare authorities.

If you received a survey and didn’t return it, you’ll soon be getting another one. Please fill it out, because if you don’t then you’ll receive a follow-up phone call from the Census Bureau asking you the survey questions.

If that also fails, then a Census representative will come to your home or apartment to ask you the survey questions.

The easiest thing to do is fill it out and return it by mail. You don’t even have to buy a stamp, since the survey comes with a postage paid envelope.

This year’s slogan for the Census campaign is “Count Me In!” and many of you have probably seen or heard the Census advertisements encouraging Valley resident to fill out their surveys.

So do the right thing. Fill out and mail the Census survey and say “Count Me In!”

Michael Johnson is Phoenix Vice Mayor and represents District 8. His office can be reached at 602-262-7493 or at michael.johnson@phoenix.gov via e-mail.