Reynolds-Jackson, Verrelli on Critical Need to Wait for Census Data, Ensuring Fair & Just Legislative Restricting Process

(TRENTON) – Legislative District 15 Assembly members Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Anthony S. Verrelli (Both D-Mercer, Hunterdon), in a joint statement, emphasized why waiting on accurate, and complete census data to ensure a fair redistricting process is critical:

“Legislative redistricting is the key to fair and just community representation in the State House. COVID-19 has thrown us a curveball by pushing the release date for Census data possibly months beyond the originally scheduled deadline. Without the accurate and complete information that is provided through the Census count, we run the risk of not counting the vast growth of New Jersey populations as we draw new district lines.

“Having an accurate census count is extremely important. Communities of color, African-Americans, Hispanic and Asian populations have increased significantly since the last redistricting process in 2010. An undercount of populations would mean we could lose billions of dollars for our communities. Census data is used to determine how much New Jersey will receive in critical areas such as housing, education, and community development grants.

 “Trenton, being one of the cities that can fall into a hard-to-count area and seeing new growth in its culturally diverse population, needs to see those final Census numbers. All of its residents deserve to be counted and deserves the time to do so. Currently, at a 42 percent response rate compared to the 64 percent statewide, as the Capital City, it is the best interest of the state to wait for Census data before we begin the redistricting process.

“If we don’t extend the redistricting deadline to coincide with new Census data, it will impact residents and their representation for the next ten years. There was no way to foresee coronavirus hitting our country now nor the impact it has had on our communities.”