Res. No. 1156
Resolution calling on the Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.6898/A.5864, the New York Counts Act, creating a state office of the census.
By Council Member Menin
Whereas, The United States constitution mandates a census be taken every ten years; and
Whereas, The United States census determines how many seats each state receives in the U.S. House of Representatives; and
Whereas, Data captured by the census is used to distribute hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding; and
Whereas, New York’s population numbers have been down in every census since 1950; and
Whereas, New York’s population decline has led to a reduction in the size of the state’s Congressional delegation; and
Whereas, The Brennan Center for Justice predicts that New York will lose at least two Congressional seats after the next census; and
Whereas, President Trump has already indicated that he wants the 2030 census to exclude individuals who do not have legal status; and
Whereas, Excluding New Yorkers who lack legal status from the census count would serve to further reduce New York city’s population numbers; and
Whereas, New York State needs to ensure that the 2030 census counts every person; and
Whereas, A.5864, introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, and pending in the New York State Assembly, and its companion bill, S.6898, introduced in the New York State Senate by Senator Jeremy Cooney, and pending in the New York State Senate and referred to as the New York Counts Act would create a dedicated state office of the census; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would ensure that all New Yorkers have access to accurate and timely information about the United States census; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would ensure that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to participate in the census without fear of fraud, intimidation or harm; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would focus on ensuring that historically undercounted communities are included in the census count; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would educate hard to count communities about the importance of participating in the census; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would improve efforts to increase awareness, support and participation in an accurate census count; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would develop a grant program to support the efforts of local government, non-profits, community-based organizations and academic institutions to ensure an accurate census count; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would coordinate, plan and fund the Local Update of Census Addresses (“LUCA”), which ensures that the United States Census Bureau has an up-to-date and accurate residential address list; and
Whereas, The state office of the census created by the New York Counts Act would help combat recent efforts by the Federal government to hamper the census counting process; and
Whereas, An accurate census count is crucial for New York State and New York City to receive the representation and financial resources our residents deserve; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.6898/A.5864, the New York Counts Act, creating a state office of the census.
LS #20228
9/25/25
EHC