THE REVERE ADVOCATE – Friday, February 7, 2020 Page 3 Census responses kept confidential but vital for federal grant money By Tara Vocino A pproximately 50 community members and four elected offi cials attended Tuesday’s 2020 Census Kick-Off at City Hall. A Civil rights complaint filed by non-English speakers over Suffolk Downs development By Th e Advocate ccording to a story by a North Shore news outlet, Census 2020 Complete Count Committee Co-Chair Diane Colella, who is Election Commissioner, said the city census was sent out in January, and the federal census will be sent out in March. Mayor Brian Arrigo said census data will provide billions of dollars in federal funds, grants and support that is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) like Revere, get their fair share of funding.” Lowe said census data guides how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed each year. She spoke about confi dentiality. “Census data is used every day to solve problems, such as helping communities create jobs, provide housing, prepare for emergencies and build schools, roads and hospitals,” Lowe said. “We proa civil rights complaint was fi led on Monday accusing the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) of violating federal law by failing to ensure nonEnglish speakers can participate in discussions about the development at Suff olk Downs horse track. The complaint filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights says Boston Planning & Development hasn't translated important documents or provided “competent and complete” oral interpretation at meetings in the review process for the development. The HYM Investment Group, LLC of Boston has proposed turning the former horse track in East Boston and Revere into approximately seven city blocks of mixed-use residential and commercial space, including shops, offi ces, parks, condos and townhomes. The complaint was fi led with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on behalf of two groups that are pushing for the project to include more aff ordable housing and climate-resilient construction. “By denying non-English speakers access to the review process for Suff olk Downs, the BPDA has precluded residents, community-based organizations, and the developers themselves from hearing from the communities most impacted by the project,” the complaint says. U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Anne Williams said information can’t be shared with immigration services or law enforcement, and for the first time, the census will be available in 13 languages online or via telephone. Revere’s Census 2020 Complete Count Committee CoChairs, Diane Colella and Dimple Rana, as well as United States Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Anne Williams, shared information and concerns about the advantages of fi lling out the census on Census Day, April 1. “The 2020 census is important, because it aff ects our voice in government, how much funding our community receives and how our community plans for the future,” United States Census Bureau Supervisory Partnership Specialist Georgia Lowe said Wednesday afternoon. “Responding to the census helps communities, According to the news story, a BPDA spokeswoman said in an email that it has “prioritized creating a public process for the Suff olk Downs proposal that is inclusive for all.” BPDA Director of Communications Bonnie McGilpin said there has been Spanish language interpretation at every public meeting for the proposal and two public meetings exclusively in Spanish. The agency has also translated meeting materials and documents about the development, she said. Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! Saturday, February 8 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits from House to Techno DJ LOGIK Friday, February 7 at 9 PM MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters Book your next Function with us! Free Parking • Water Views Call 781-629-3798 SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING AMAZING WATER VIEWS Dance to the Huge Hits with.. DJ BIG RICK Healthy Initiatives Offi ce Communications Intern Rhiannon Alter directed guests to ma2020census.org for state information. CENSUS | SEE PAGE 9
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