The Garifuna Experience Podcast

Special Episode - URGENT: Act Now To Protect a Fair & Accurate 2030 Census

• Jose Francisco Avila

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"New York lost a Congressional seat in 2020 by just 89 people. We cannot afford to let history repeat itself."

In this urgent episode of The Garifuna Experience, we sit down with the New York State Census Partnership to discuss the high-stakes battle for the 2030 Census. While 2030 feels far away, the decisions made in Albany this monthwill determine whether our community is seen or rendered invisible for the next decade.

We break down the technical—but critical—LUCA (Local Update of Census Addresses) program. If your basement apartment, attic, or multi-family home isn't on the official Master Address File by 2027, you won't even receive a census form. We discuss why this "hidden" housing is the frontline of the fight for Garifuna representation.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The "89 People" Lesson: How close we came to keeping our seat in 2020 and why every single person counts.
  • The $15 Million Ask: Why Governor Hochul and State Legislators must fund community-based outreach now.
  • The 2026 Operational Test: Why the Census Bureau's plan to use English-only forms and fewer field sites is a major red flag for our community.
  • Your Call to Action: How to contact your representative before the March 3rd deadline.

The future of our schools, hospitals, and political power is on the line. We don't get a second chance at the Census. Tune in and learn how to protect New York’s representation.

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Books by José Francisco Ávila

[00:00 – 01:30] INTRO

(Upbeat, rhythmic Garifuna percussion fades in then lowers for background music)

HOST: Mabrika! Welcome back to The Garifuna Experience Podcast, I’m your host José Francisco Ávila. Today’s special episode is a call to action in partnership with the New York State Census Partnership. 

I am asking you to Contact Your New York  State Assembly member, Senator and Governor Hochul’s Office by Tuesday, March 3rd and Urge them to fully fund and authorize.

  • The $15 million census allocation
  • A State Census Assistance Office
  • A New York Counts Commission 

Because Our future is at stake

You see,  New York is projected to lose at least two congressional districts and electoral college votes after the 2030 Census, something we can help avoid with dedicated and targeted strategic investments in census preparation. 

It’s never too early to prepare for the census. But it can absolutely become too late to catch up. New York learned that lesson in 2020 when we lost a congressional seat by just 89 people.

Think about that. 89 people is a small church gathering or a big family reunion. Because those 89 people weren’t counted, our voice in Washington got quieter. 

Soundtrack 

[01:30 – 04:00] THE STAKES: A Decades-Long Decline

HOST: Let’s look at the scoreboard, and I’ll be honest, it doesn't look good for New York. Since 1980, we have lost congressional districts every single decade.

·       5 congressional districts after the 1980 Census

·       3 after the 1990 Census 

·       2 after the 2000 Census

·       2 after the 2010 Census

·       1 after the 2020 Census

·       2030 projection? We are on track to lose at least two more.

We cannot afford to go backward.  When we lose congressional districts, we lose Electoral College votes. We lose power. We lose billions in federal funding for our schools, our hospitals, and our infrastructure.

Preparations for the 2030 Census are already underway.

Governor Hochul’s proposed budget includes funding to support a full and complete count, including the creation of a census support office and resources to assist local governments with the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program, the only opportunity local governments have to review and correct the address list for the upcoming census. 

We strongly support:

  • A $15 million funding allocation
  • Authorization for a State Census Assistance Office within the Department of State
  • Creation of a New York Counts Commission composed of seasoned census experts to guide and implement state and local efforts 

[04:00 – 07:30] THE "LUCA" FACTOR: Counting Every Door

HOST: There is a technical term you need to know: LUCA. It stands for Local Update of Census Addresses.

HOST: Think about our neighborhoods. How many of our people live in basement apartments? Attic conversions? Accessory Dwelling Units? If the Census Bureau doesn’t have those addresses on their "Master Address File," the people living there do not exist in the eyes of the government, affecting political representation, federal funding, and planning decisions for the next decade..

The Local Update of Census Addresses starts in 2027. It is the only time local governments can fix the address list. If your apartment isn't on that list, you won't get a census form. You won't be counted.

We need the state to fund our local nonprofit organizations and community. Supporting trusted local organizations to help identify garages, basements, attics, accessory dwelling units, and other overlooked housing can make the difference between losing and preserving representation.

[07:30 – 11:00] THE WARNING: The 2026 Test

HOST: Here is the urgent part. On February 2, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the launch of the 2026 Operational Census Test. Frankly, it’s looking a bit weak. They are scaling it back.

·       They want to use the American Community Survey questionnaire instead of the decennial census form. This undermines the scientific validity of the test and limits its usefulness for evaluating 2030 operations, since the American Community Survey questionnaire and the decennial census serve different purposes..

  • They’re cutting field sites.
  • They’re even talking about using United State Postal Service employees instead of trained census workers to knock on doors.
  • Worst of all? They’re looking at English-only internet responses, this creates barriers for limited-English proficient households and reduce accessibility for individuals who rely on paper or phone options to participate.

For a community like ours—where many of us speak Garifuna, Spanish, or may struggle with digital-only forms—this is a recipe for a massive undercount. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is fighting this, and we need organizations to sign their letter by March 4th.

[11:00 – 13:30] CALL TO ACTION: What You Can Do

HOST: We aren't just here to vent; we’re here to work. Here is your checklist:

1.    Contact your State Assemblymembers and State Senators. Tell them to fully fund the $15 million census allocation. Tell them we need the State Census Assistance Office and the New York Counts Commission. Do this by Tuesday, March 3rd.

2.    Raise Awareness. Share this episode. Talk to your church leaders, your business owners, and your neighbors about why 2027 and 2030 matter now.

3.    Local Nonprofits: Start planning your Local Update of Census Addresse (LUCA) strategy today. Don't wait for the state to tell you what to do—be ready to lead.

[13:30 – 15:00] OUTRO

HOST: This is about our future. It’s about making sure that the Garifuna voice in New York stays loud and clear for the next decade. There are no second chances in the census. Once the count is done, it's done for ten years.

Check the show notes for links to find your representative and the template to send them an email. Special thanks to the New York State Census Partnership—including the NY Immigration Coalition and the New York Law School Census & Redistricting Institute—for leading this fight.

Thank you for listening. Remember: The future of the Garifuna people is in our hands.

Until next time, stay united, stay proud. Sungubei Lidan Aban. Ayo!

HOST: Find new episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods. 

Please follow, rate  and review The Garifuna Experience Podcast,it helps our history reach the world.

(Music swells and fades out)



 

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José Francisco Ávila

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