Jamaica bested Canarsie, Brooklyn, in the first round of New York City’s “Census Subway Series,” Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The competition was created to increase the self-response rate for the 2020 Census among New York City residents. The first round of the Census Subway Series saw Jamaica residents’ response rate jump from 50.7 percent to 51.6 percent, while Canarsie residents’ response rate rose from 48.5 percent to 49.2 percent.
The effort, sponsored by New York City Census 2020 team, is one of several competitions aimed at increasing New Yorkers Census response rate. At the time the first round of the Census Subway Series was announced, the city’s response rate was around 56 percent, about eight percentage points below the national average.
In addition to the Census Subway Series, prizes will be awarded to New York City residents who fill out the Census form.
Every New Yorker who fills out the Census is eligible to win prizes from Seamless, the Museum of Modern Art, Lyft and Citi Bike. Six New Yorkers will receive a $1,000 gift card from Seamless, 25 will receive a year-long membership to the Museum of Modern Art and the MoMA PS1 in Long Island City and 100 New Yorkers will receive $50 in Lyft credits and an annual Citi Bike membership.
The second round of the Census Subway Series between the Upper East Side and Midwood, Brooklyn began on Monday, Aug. 31 and will run until Sunday, Sept. 6. New Yorkers can enter themselves for the Census prizes at nyc.gov/censuscontest.
The deadline for the 2020 Census is Sept. 30.
