As the Tampa Bay region sits at the forefront of new development and economic growth, Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) joined Senate Democrats’ calls for Governor DeSantis to take executive action to ensure Florida is completely accounted for in the 2020 Census.
“An inaccurate count of Floridians will cause our state to lose federal funding we rely on for infrastructure, education, and disaster relief,” said Senator Cruz. “Governor DeSantis should use his authority to create a Census Statewide Count Committee to ensure Florida is fairly and accurately counted – as required by the United States Constitution.”
Census data is used to establish the electoral representation Florida receives for members of Congress, district boundaries for state legislative offices, and data to distribute federal funding for Florida’s priorities.
Senator Cruz’s comments echo Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville), Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando) and Senator Bobby Powell (D-Palm Beach), all seeking the governor’s assistance to ensure accuracy in the upcoming census count.
“Tampa Bay and Florida as a whole cannot risk being undercounted and we must be proactive to protect the best interests of all Florida residents, even those who may be normally overlooked,” she stated. “I join my colleagues in urging Governor DeSantis to take action to make certain Florida is prepared to handle the pressing demands and priorities that our growing state is counting on.”
