Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz, Chair of the New York State Senate Puerto Rican /Latino Caucus and fellow Caucus members, Senator Hiram Monserrate, Senator Pedro Espada and Senator Martin Malavé Dilan, are calling upon community leaders and ministers to encourage all people who reside in the United States – whether legally or illegally – to be counted in the upcoming United States 2010 Census.
The Senators stated: "It is our responsibility as people who live in the United States to be counted in the upcoming Census count. Each Census count ultimately provides us federal funds for our communities – and more importantly – determines our representation in government, especially in our congressional districts. The 2010 Census count will determine the federal dollars that come into our communities to provide for health care, education, housing, senior care, and much needed social services. The consequences of not be counted will be detrimental to our families and our communities. We matter, our families matter, and we all need to be
counted. We have been assured that through the election of President Barak Obama and the election of a democratic congress that immigration reform is certain."
Senator Reverend Diaz stressed, "As a matter of social justice, I urge all members of the clergy to speak on Sundays from their pulpits to their congregations and stress the importance of the 2010 Census. We urge all immigrants and residents to come forward for the census and be counted."
Senator Reverend Diaz is also the President of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization and the Pastor of Christian Community Neighborhood Church in The Bronx. He will be making the Census 2010 issue a priority for upcoming meetings with ministers from the NYCHO.
For further information, please contact Senator Reverend Diaz at 518/455-2511 or Marlene Cintron, Executive Director of the NYS Senate Puerto Rican /Latino Caucus.
