Santa Barbara County census workers and cities prepare for census amid coronavirus concerns

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - As the 2020 Census begins, cities and workers are preparing for the count in the midst of the coronavirus.

The city of Goleta is postponing Make Goleta Count Day on Saturday, because of event size limits.

Governor Gavin Newsom recommended Thursday that events with more than 250 people be postponed or cancelled.

Kelly Hoover, Goleta city spokeswoman, said the event is meant to answer questions about and create awareness of the census.

She said the census is very important to the Goleta community. Their last census counted 29,888 people in 2010.

Hoover said there is a lot at stake for the city of Goleta, aside from the federal money they would receive for the next ten years.

"For the first time, we'll be going to district elections," she said. "Understanding the population, knowing who lives where is really important to create equal districts."

California residents will receive census information in the mail starting today.

Vanessa Moreno, media specialist for the US Census Bureau, said that the bureau has contingency plans regarding the coronavirus.

"Our main one is to encourage people to self respond in the three ways that do not require person to person contact," said Moreno. Those include online, over the phone or by mail.

"That is the best way to ensure that you and your family are safe and also counted," she said.

US Census day is April 1, 2020.