Local Chalk Art Project Helps Highlight Importance Of Census

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – A dozen local artists from around Santa Cruz County have partnered with city and local arts council officials to use creative chalk art creations to encourage local residents to participate in the 2020 Census.

Artists will be working in downtown Watsonville, Aptos, Santa Cruz, Beach Flats and along West Cliff Drive where the work of Linda Cover, Paul Dee, Fanne Fernow, Piper Lee, Nessa Ledesma, Josue Lopez, Priscilla Martinez, Melissa Marzan, Yesenia Molina, Erika Perloff, Elija Pfotenhauer and Rica de la Luz Smith will all be on display.

In addition to the participating artists who will use chalk to express themselves, Santa Cruz County residents are being encouraged to create their own chalk art displays in front of their homes and businesses as a way of showing support for Census participation. The works of arts by both the professional artists and local residents will be displayed on the Census website and on social media platforms.

As of June 24, the county’s Census response rate is 68.5 percent, which is well above the national average of 61.7 percent, county officials said in a news release. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline for completing the census has been extended until Oct. 31. Residents can respond easily by phone or online.

Every uncounted person in the county results in a loss of $2,000 in revenue per year over a 10-year period. Over that period, even a 5 percent undercount would result in a loss of an estimated $272 million in funding to local municipalities, county officials said.

For more information on the U.S. Census, go to 2020Census.gov. For information on local Census organizing efforts, go to www.santacruzcountycounts.us or find updates on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.