Dear editor,
I was saddened to read
a submission in last week’s
paper concerning what the
reader perceived to be Senator
Biaggi’s lack of involvement
in our neighborhoods.
I’d advise him to broaden his
news sources and he will fi nd
many examples of our new
senator not only fi ghting to
make life better for Bronxites
but winning many of
those battles.
In only the last two
months, Senator Biaggi has
been a part of passing historic
legislation to toughen
New York’s gun control laws,
limiting the ability of corporations
to infl uence our government,
and protecting the
rights of women and other
marginalized groups. When
back home, I see an elected
offi cial I was not only proud
to vote for but one who is
easily accessible to her constituents
in a way too few
are. She’s been hosting town
halls, holding regular offi ce
hours where you can meet
with her directly, even budget
hearings that are open
to the community. Many of
these initiatives are new and
welcome additions to our
community’s discourse.
With due respect, the only
area I see Senator Biaggi
‘missing’ from is the scandalous
headlines that too many
Bronx offi cials have occupied
over the years. And that’s a
change I and many other constituents
are thankful for.
John Doyle
GJONAJ MEETS WITH RESIDENT COUNCIL
Councilman Mark Gjonaj and Assemblywoman Nathalia recently
had the pleasure to attend and meet members of Pelham Parkway
Residential Council. Photo courtesy of Councilman Mark Gjonaj’s Offi ce
Q&A: with Julie Menin The United States Census
What is the Census? The
U.S. Constitution mandates
a population count every 10
years of everyone residing in
the United States, and the fi rst
census was conducted in 1790.
The population totals from
the 2020 census determine the
number of Congressional representatives,
and states use
these totals to redraw their
legislative districts. The federal
government also allocates
more than $700 billion nationwide
based on this decennial
data.
What’s at stake? We are
fi ghting for our fair share of
the $700 billion allocation. If
we don’t get an accurate headcount,
we could lose funding
for our public schools, senior
centers, public housing, Medicaid,
roads and bridges, and
much more!
How does New York City
compare to the rest of the
country? While we lead in
many issues, we are far behind
when it comes to the
Census. In 2010, the initial response
rate for New York City
was 61.9%, compared to 76%
nationwide. We know we can
do better than this. We are
motivated by the Washington
Heights neighborhood that
reached a remarkable 78.5%.
They made a conscious effort
to organize their community
around the Census and
achieve a high response rate.
Is there anything new
about the 2020 Census compared
to 2010? For the fi rst
time ever, the U.S. Census Bureau
is accepting survey responses
online and over the
phone. We are excited that
technology is being incorporated
to bring the Census survey
into the 21st century. This
is also the fi rst Census that
will recognize same-sex relationships.
What’s happening with
the citizenship question?
For the fi rst time in 70 years, a
question has been added by the
Trump Administration asking
The New York City Law Department,
York State Attorney General’s
Offi ce and other states and cities,
the citizenship question as unlawful.
on January 15 that Judge Jesse
Furman rendered an opinion,
striking down the citizenship
question as violating the Administrative
The case is now going to the
U.S. Supreme Court and oral
arguments will be heard in
April. We remain confi dent
that the facts and law are on
our side.
timeline look like? In mid-
March 2020, every household
the mail to fi ll out the Census
BRONX TIMES R 12 EPORTER, MARCH 8-14, 2019 BTR
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Defends new
state senator
“Are you a U.S. citizen?”
along with the New
fi led a lawsuit challenging
We were very pleased
Procedures Act.
What does the Census
will receive a notice in
survey. There are additional
notices after that, and
if a household does not respond
after several attempts,
the Census Bureau will send
doorknockers in May to visit
individual households to collect
the data. Our goal is to
encourage self-response as
early as possible.
So what’s next? Our role
as the Mayor’s Offi ce for the
Census is to coordinate new
and existing efforts among
civic, community, labor, faithbased,
and all relevant stakeholders
to get every New
Yorker counted and make certain
that New York City gets
its fair share. The future of
our City depends on the Census.
We’re counting on you to
help us get everyone counted!
Julie Menin is the Director
of the Mayor’s Offi ce for the
Census and Executive Assistant
Corporation Counsel for
Strategic Advocacy
OPED: by Councilman Ritchie Torres HIV cases in boro too high
Continued on next page
New HIV diagnoses are
down to a record low of 2,157 in
New York City, according to the
latest data from the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene.
While these numbers should be
celebrated as signs of progress
for HIV prevention city-wide,
the Bronx continues to be heavily
affected by HIV. Over 30,000
Bronxites are currently living
with HIV or AIDS, and the HIV
diagnosis rates in neighborhoods
like Crotona, Tremont,
Fordham and Bronx Park are
disproportionately higher—
about 1.5 times the citywide average.
We must change this.
If we’re to realize New York’s
goal of ending the HIV/AIDS
epidemic by 2020, more needs to
be done to address the needs of
communities most impacted by
the epidemic. The State’s Blueprint
to End the Epidemic identifi
es men who have sex with
men, people of transgender experience,
women of color, HIV
negative partners in couples
with a mixed HIV status (where
one person is HIV negative and
the other is HIV positive), and
people who inject drugs as populations
at higher risk for HIV.
These communities need access
to health care services and
resources that will help people
living with HIV become vi
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