Ocean Beach Town Council hears pitch for 2020 Census
The oppressive heat and humidity forced the Ocean Beach Town Council to expedite proceedings at its Aug. 28 meeting in the Masonic Hall. Civic leaders provided quick updates on projects and the meeting ended with a presentation, “The Road to 2020,” by Census Bureau specialist Alex Aguilar about next year’s U.S. Census.
Aguilar explained that the U.S. Constitution requires a population count be taken every 10 years, and to receive its fair share of federal funding and representation, Ocean Beach residents must be ready to be counted.
He said by April 1, 2020 the Census Bureau plans to send a letter or a door knocker to every U.S. household.
The 2020 count will be the first one to allow all households to respond online. Paper forms will still be available, and, for the first time, one can call 1-800 numbers to give responses over the phone.
In response to queries from the audience, Aguilar said 1) there aren’t any questions about citizenship in the Census; 2) the trickiest issue is when short-term rental owners are not there and therefore not counted; and 3) the federal government needs the help of community groups to connect and count homeless people.
The Census Bureau is expected to announce the new population totals by Dec. 31, 2020. The Bureau is now hiring with hundreds of jobs listed at 2020census.gov/jobs
Dog Beach ramp
Regarding the ADA-access ramp fix at Dog Beach, which has generated protest letters over its $1.1 million pricetag, District 2 City Council member Jennifer Campbell’s rep Seamus Kennedy explained it will cost so much because the path sank due to never having a foundation.
“Whoever designed it, didn’t do it right,” Kennedy said. “Now we have to dig down and create an actual foundation.”
He also announced that he would be leaving his post and introduced his replacement Teddy Martinez.
Other meeting matters
- Town Council president Mark Winkie said a $1,200 Council grant will be used to spruce up the landscaping around Fire Station 15 at 4711 Voltaire St. He reminded all that the OB Pier Pancake Breakfast fundraiser runs 7:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 21 at the foot of Niagara Avenue.
- Laura Dennison of the OB Library Friends Committee announced the next Used Book Sale would be 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4801 Santa Monica Ave. She added that renderings of the library expansion project were reviewed and will be sent out for feedback and discussion at an upcoming OB Town Council meeting.
- A member of the Ocean Beach Green Center extended a community invitation to its meetings, 6:30-8 p.m. first and third Tuesdays at 4862 Voltaire St.
— OB Town Council next meets 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Masonic Lodge, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. obtowncouncil.org
