News Flash

May 29, 2020 - The cities of Hampton and Newport News are joining forces to encourage people to respond to the 2020 Census. Mayor Donnie Tuck of Hampton challenged Mayor McKinley L. Price of Newport News to a friendly competition to see which city has the highest percentage of responses by July 1.  

“It’s imperative that all residents, regardless of where they live, respond to the 2020 Census,” said Price.  “For every person who does not respond, localities lose $2,000 per person, per year.  Mayor Tuck and I are committed to working together to ensure our cities are completely counted, so we have the funding and resources we need for the next decade.”

To make the challenge fun, Tuck has offered to give Price a dozen Hampton crabs if Newport News has a higher response rate on July 1.  Not to be outdone, Price has wagered James River oysters if Hampton comes out on top.  View the Mayor’s Census Challenge kick-off video for details on the competition.

“The more people talk about how Hampton is going to win this competition – I mean, how well the two cities work together on projects like this – the more they are reminded to fill out their forms,” said Tuck. “People may not think of themselves as residents if they are here temporarily, for the military or college, but they count for the Census.”

The self-response rates in Hampton and Newport News, as well as other localities in Hampton Roads and across the country, are lower than anticipated.  The coronavirus pandemic began just as campaigns were ramping up, and plans for community events and outreach efforts had to be canceled.  As of May 25, Hampton’s self-response rate was 62.7%, followed closely by Newport News at 60.6%.  The U.S. Census Bureau plans to place staff in the community in late summer to follow-up with residents who have not yet responded. 

To respond, visit www.my2020Census.gov, call 1-844-330-2020, or return the Census envelope that came in the mail.  To learn more about the Census, Newport News residents can call 757-933-2311 and Hampton residents call call 757-727-8311.