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Subscribe to City LineMarch 19, 2010
From the office of Mayor George Schloegel
Please allow me to stress the importance of being counted in the upcoming census.
There has been a census every 10 years since 1790, making this the 23rd survey to fulfill a constitutional mandate to fairly determine how many representatives each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2000, only about 72 percent of the nation’s households returned a census form, and because of a poor response from homes in Mississippi, our state lost a congressional seat ten years ago.
We simply cannot afford that same type of response this time around.
There is even more at stake for local and state governments. Figures from the census are used to distribute $400 billion in federal funding.
So today, I am calling for citywide participation in this year’s census.
Starting this month, the 2010 Census form is being sent to 210 million households asking residents to answer 10 questions and mail the form back to the Census Bureau.
Federal Census workers, called enumerators, will contact households in person that have not yet responded.
The 2010 Census is short and confidential. It consists of ten questions that take only ten minutes to complete, and by law, the Census Bureau is prohibited from sharing an individual’s answers with anyone including federal, state and local agencies.
Social security numbers are not required on the forms. So if anyone, even a census worker, should ever request your social security number, please do not provide it. Unfortunately, there are those who would use something so valuable to our nation as the census to pull cruel and deplorable scams.
This year, do yourself and your fellow residents of Mississippi a favor by filling out and returning your 2010 Census form.
It only takes a few minutes, but the benefits will last for years.
Sincerely,
George Schloegel
Mayor
Council hears from property owner
The City Council on Tuesday voted to give the owners of the Markham Building 30 days to make progress.
During a hearing with owner Michael Eckstein, the council viewed photos, including one that showed ferns growing on one of the floors at the Markham.
In addition, the council heard testimony from Code Enforcement Chief Rick Ryan, Deputy Fire Chief Billy Bragg and Police Chief Alan Weatherford on the safety of the building.
See the video here.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
