AURORA | With more than a fifth of Aurora residents foreign born, the Aurora City Council is urging that a citizenship question be left off the 2020 census.
The question, which originally came as a proposal from the Justice Department, has gained support and opposition from politicians near and far. Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, threw her support behind the question earlier this week.
But you won’t hear that advocacy from Aurora’s city leaders, conservatives or liberals.
In a study session earlier this week, Aurora City Council agreed to pen a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross with concerns “that a citizenship question will unduly burden respondents and lower participation by immigrants who fear the government’s use of such private information.”
While the census, completed every 10 years, provides an accurate headcount of a community, it also helps decide how many dollars are funneled into municipalities.
“Cities like Aurora are going to get hit really hard in a very negative way because of the composition of our communities,” councilman Charlie Richardson said of ramifications of including the question.
Councilwoman Nicole Johnston, who requested the letter be sent, also wanted to encourage the Department of Commerce to add a question on whether respondents identify as LGBQT.
“We believe that accurately tracking the size and demographics of this community in the future is important for policymakers in more effectively addressing their needs,” the letter said.
But councilmembers decided against that.
“I think the census is supposed to be how many people we have in our area. Period,” Councilwoman Francoise Bergan said, adding that she didn’t really want to see any other specific questions. “I’m confused to as why anybody would want their status (reported). I kind of think that’s none of anybody’s business.”
But Johnston said adding the question would help different organizations that serve the LGBQT community in the region.
“LGBQT advocates have said this would be helpful because they rely on census information,” she said.
Council members who supported asking for a LGBQT question are still able to send a letter expressing their support for such a question, so long as the letter isn’t expressed as the opinion of the entire council.
— KARA MASON, Staff Writer