Menin and James announce task force against Trump census proposal

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and New York State Attorney General Letitia James formed a joint task force, along with other civic leaders, to “fight back against the Trump administration’s recent attacks on the U.S. Census,” according to a release from the council on Oct. 1.

In September, the Trump administration released a proposal to make changes to the U.S. Census, which would exclude noncitizens and those who are not permanent residents from the census apportionment count, the release said.

Menin and James argued this change goes against constitutional requirements to count the “whole number of persons” living in a country. They also took issue with the fact that it would take away questions about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

Menin and James will submit public comments against the proposal, the release said, and are calling on the administration to extend the public comment period.