Iris Gets An All-Star Census Pitch

New Haven’s mayor, Connecticut’s lieutenant governor, and one of the state’s U.S. senators were looking for someone exactly like Iris Monday when they went door-knocking in Newhallville.

When they first knocked on the door, there was a silence.

As Mayor Justin Elicker, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal began to depart, a voice issued from the door: ​“Who’s there?”

The trio urged Iris to fill out the U.S. Census form. The trio were engaged in a final-lap quest to get hard-to-find New Haveners to register with the census so the city and state can get its full share of federal funds over the next decade.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” said Iris, who tentatively opened her door. ​“I don’t fill these things out, because I don’t care.”

Iris (who declined to give her last name or be photographed) said she is living with her daughter temporarily. She doesn’t have a home of her own.

Iris has tried to get help from the government before. ​“I’ve been on the housing list since 2007,” she said. ​“Every time I got close, I got down again. It’s cause they prioritize people with little kids, and all of mine are grown.”

“Well, that’s why we’re encouraging people to fill out the census … ” began Blumenthal.

Iris had more to say.

“I have cancer,” she said, pointing to her patterned head scarf. ​“After I started chemo, I thought I’d get help. But I kept on applying for aid and still haven’t gotten any.”

Tears of frustration came out as she looked at the three squarely in the face.

“I don’t think anyone really cares,” she cried.

Extended Deadlines

“People ask me, why do you care about” finding every last person to sign up, said Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz. ​“Because each person counted brings in another $2,900 a year [in federal funds]. That’s $29,000 over ten years.”

“Let’s say a family of four living in that home doesn’t fill out the census,” said Bysiewicz as she pointed to a blue house behind her. ​“That’s $120,000 lost that could’ve helped New Haven.”

Bysiewicz gathered with Elicker, Blumenthal, and members of the New Haven Count Committee on Monday at 10:15 a.m. to set out looking for neighbors who hadn’t yet filled out their forums. The event began by the Black Lives Matter mural on Bassett Street in Newhallville, followed by door-knocking around the neighborhood.

Thanks to a court ruling on Friday, the deadline to complete the census has been extended until Oct 31. This means that citizens can still self-respond to the census through the telephone, internet, or mail-in form.

“Now they’ve got an extra month to reach undercounted communities,” said Bysiewicz, who has spearheaded the statewide census effort.

The extended deadline, however, is still subject to change.

“The court’s ruling, granting an extension, is now being appealed by the [Trump] administration,” noted Blumenthal. ​“Counting could end literally any day, at any moment.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has suspended Senate sessions until Oct. 19 in the wake of the spread of Covid-19 among members. This is a problem, Blumenthal argued, because Senate Democrats had proposed legislation to ​“extend census counting for months to come.”

“We could’ve tried to pass this bill and brought clarity,” said Sen. Blumenthal. ​“Now, it won’t even be considered until the 19th.”

He ended with a dire warning: ​“If you fill out the census now, you’ll get counted. If you wait a day, or a week? Maybe not.” 

Everyone present, however, agreed that the lack of transparency was not an accident.

“The Trump administration is trying to suppress the census count,” said Valencia Goodridge. Goodridge works for the Community Action Agency, one of the 33 organizations that make up New Haven’s Complete Count Committee.

“We’d be kidding ourselves if we said this confusion wasn’t deliberate,” added Elicker.

“Frankly, it’s this administration that has undercut trust in the census,” said Blumenthal. ​“They have explicitly tried to create fear, especially for undocumented people.” 

With suppressed census efforts, New Haven stands to lose in a very real way.

“New Haven is already vulnerable to being undercounted,” said Elicker. The city has a high percentage of undocumented and transient populations (which occur when people have to move for economic necessity). Neighborhoods like Newhallville have higher percentages of people moving in and out, making census counts difficult.

“I’m especially concerned because I’ve seen policies come from the head of the Census Bureau that are aimed at dis-investing in urban communities, particularly those of color,” said Bysiewicz.

After brief remarks, the three leaders went around the neighborhood. They knocked on doors and approached people walking on the street, handing out flyers and water bottles.

Some community members did not approve.

“It’s disturbing to me that top officials come to our neighborhood and don’t notify local leaders,” said Shirley Lawrence. Lawrence, a community activist, had heard of the event only moments before when neighbors called to ask about the media crew walking around.

Iris’s Priorities

Back at Iris’s house, the mayor, senator, and lieutenant governor stood and listened to her story. Bysiewicz gave her a contact card. The mayor got her daughter’s phone number. Then they departed. 

Lawrence watched the interaction in silence, then asked for a piece of paper.

“I’m gonna go give her my information,” she said. ​“I’m not sure if any of the three will follow up with her.”

In a separate interview with the Independent, Iris spoke about her struggles.

“I’ve been diagnosed with cancer since 2014,” she said. ​“I go to get chemo every 21 days. When I get out of chemo, I just want to come to a home that’s my place.” But with her income –- especially given her health conditions –- she can’t afford any apartments in New Haven, she said.

She said she does not plan to fill out the form.

“Filling out the census was probably the last thing on her mind,” added Lawrence.

“Why even take the time to do it?” asked Iris. ​“At the end of the day, it always feels like it’s the minorities who get the short end of the stick. You start giving up, you start not believing, because you see empty promises.”