Mayor, Commissioners calling McAllen residents, RGV residents invited to call help number Special invited guests throughout the day
Texas Border Business
WHO: McAllen Mayor Jim Darling & McAllen City Commissioners
Dist. 1 Comm. Javier Villalobos – Dist. 2 Comm. Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora – Dist. 3 Comm. Omar Quintanilla – Dist. 4 Comm. Tania Ramirez – Dist. 5 Comm. Victor “Seby” Haddad – Dist. 6 Comm. Veronica Whitacre
McAllen Complete Census Count Committee – Special Invited Guests
WHAT: City of McAllen 2020 Census Telethon
WHEN &: Thursday, August 20, 2020 7:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: McAllen City Hall Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor, 1300 W. Houston Ave.
As the 2020 U.S. Census deadline looms – moved up to September 30, 2020 – the City of McAllen hopes to move the needle on the response statistics for McAllen, Hidalgo County, and the Rio Grande Valley. To that end, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling and the McAllen City Commissioners will host a reverse telethon, calling on McAllen Public Utility customers to remind them to fill out the 2020 Census. For anyone who needs help, has questions or doubts, or needs further information about filling out the Census, phone number 956-681-4900 will go live this Thursday – and be available through September 30, 2020, where ANYONE who lives anywhere in the Rio Grande Valley can call for assistance. Further, iPads are available today and through that day at McAllen City Hall, McAllen Public Library, and McAllen Community Centers, including Lark, Las Palmas, and Palmview, where anyone can fill out the Census application.
Census funding is used to provide representation in the U.S. Congress and provides funding and resources for schools, infrastructure, highways, medical services, disaster relief, and community services to name a few.
Special guests who will join Mayor Darling and Commissioners throughout the day include Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (2 PM); Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez (8:30 AM); Chairman Terry Canales (9:30 AM); TX Senator Chuy Hinojosa (11:30 AM); and Rep. Bobby Guerra (3 PM); as well as South Texas College VP of Admissions Matthew Hebbard (9:45 AM); McAllen I.S.D. Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez (10:30 AM); and UTRGV Pres. Dr. Guy Bailey (1 PM). Other special guests include representatives from Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc.; Boys & Girls Club of McAllen; Comfort House; Community HOPE; Silver Ribbon Community Partners; CAMP University; and Easter Seals of RGV, all agencies who receive funding through the Community Development Block Grants, thanks to Census population numbers.
Watch the City of McAllen 2020 Census Telethon LIVE on McAllen Cable Network Spectrum 1300; KAZH-LP 57-1 McAllen; live on the McAllen 3-1-1 app; live-streamed to the City of McAllen website at https://mcallen.granicus.com/livestreams/3/player; on any of the City of McAllen social media platforms; or on any of the City of McAllen 2020 Census Telethon media partners’ social media and digital platforms. As of August 18, 2020, the response rates were: City of McAllen-56.8%; Hidalgo County-49.9%; Texas-59.2%; and the U.S.-64%.
