Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 1 April 2010 — Page 32

Page 32 • The Muncie Times • April 1, 2010

continued from page 31 Here is a list of the questions along with the responses 1 received: QUESTION: What happens if I fill out the form but don't give out complete information (i.e. I give a person's name but don't supply their complete date of birth)? ANSWER: All answers should be filled out. If people don't provide sufficient information, the Census Bureau will contact people by phone (first try) and then in person.

QUESTION: What happens if I list the age, race, and sex of a person but withhold their name? ANSWER: See above. The name of the person is necessary to help ensure that the data on the form is more accurate, and it also helps retrieve the information. (The information is kept confidential from public view for 72 years, but can be used for genealogy purposes after that). QUESTION: Why does the Census need my phone number? ANSWER: The Census Bureau asks for a phone number to clarify information, in case they need it. All information is kept confidential, even from other federal agencies. If something is unclear on the form, the Census will try to call first. If that doesn't work, they will come to your door.

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QUESTION: Why do they need to know the relationship(s) of other people who live in the house? ANSWER: Its useful data for a variety of purposes, for example — how many grandparents are raising grandchildren, foster care numbers including the need for additional foster care dollars, etc. All questions are tied to a federal regulation or program that needs to ask particular information for its operation or funding. QUESTION: How long do I have to return my completed Census form? ANSWER: Return the form ASAR Don't wait for Census Day on April 1. We will send people out to track down nonresponses in late April. The whole operation wraps up in June. QUESTION: If I have split custody of a child/dependent should I list that person on my Census form? ANSWER: You should be counted where you live and sleep most of the time. In a split custody situation, put where the child lives most of the year. If its 50-50, put down where the child is on April 1, 2010. QUESTION: I have a relative who uses my house as their permanent residence but floats between different places to live, should I list them in my census form?

ANSWER: If they are with you on April 1, by all means. If they are mainly using your address, yes. Use your best judgment, but it looks like the situation here would be "yes." QUESTION: What about a person who may be reluctant to fill out the census or have their name used because they may be trying to avoid someone or a situation... (i.e. a woman who is hiding out from an abusive husband/boyfriend/other, a person who may have warrants, parent who owes back child support, etc...)? Or a person who is afraid that disclosing this information will hurt them more than helping them because the Census is part of a public record? Answer: Information from the Census is confidential for 72 years. It is not given out to anyone, including other federal agencies...no law enforcement, no tax officials, not even the president of the United States can obtain information on individuals. They can just get the bottom line numbers. All Census employees take an oath for life, punishable by $250,000 and or 5 years in prison. Historically, African Americans have been undercounted in the U.S. Census. And undercount of 5% - 10% in our community could cost us billions of dollars annually to our community. According to the Census

Bureau, every 100 people missed by the census results in the loss of $1.4 million to our community over the span of a decade. Ultimately the choice to respond to your census form belongs to you. But remember, the Census Bureau will make every attempt to contact you for non-response. This includes calling your home and coming to your door repeatedly until they get a response or until the operation comes to an end in June. In addition, your non-vol-untary participation in the census costs the taxpayers of this country money. If you simply return the census form when you receive it, it only costs taxpayers the cost of postage. If you don't respond and they have paid census workers come by your house or call you it costs us much more. The new census form has only 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to fill out. Regardless of what apprehensions that you may have about the census, I'm urging you to consider the benefits to our community and stand up and be counted. Debate Rages About Holding First Black President Accountable By Charlene Muhammad, Special to the NNPA from the Final Call Tavis Smiley, popular

radio and TV talk show host, and Rev. A1 Sharpton, a national civil rights leader, have clarified their positions and moved on since they hotly debated President Barack Obama's Black agenda-or lack of one-on the reverend's nationally syndicated radio program. But the treatment of Black issues by the first Black president remains a hot topic as are discussions about whether raising issues important to the community or views critical of the president's policies, or non-policies, is the proper thing to do. According to Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of African Studies at California State University of Long Beach, the problem of pushing President Obama to be more responsive to critical issues facing the Black community is complicated by several factors. “These include vicious attacks of the right-wing on President Obama; the disruptive practices of the Republicans; the concealed opposition of some around him; the lukewarm and lacklustre support of his party; and the historical meaning of the Obama presidency to us as a people and the progressive future of this country,” Dr. Karenga told The Final Call via email. When Rev. Sharpton, Marc Morial, of the National Urban League, continued on page 33