The Mayor's Corner

2020 Census: 10 Minutes will Shape the Next 10 Years While you are at home, please take some time to complete the 2020 Census. By now, everyone should have received a letter in the mail from the U.S. Census Bureau, with a blue letter inside. If you misplaced your letter, or if you are displaced from your home – you can still participate. Go to http://www.2020Census. gov We need to make sure everyone living in Monroe is counted. The quick 10-minute survey simply takes a count of everyone currently living in your home. The information submitted cannot be used for any other purpose. So, you don’t have to be reluctant about participating. As of the week of May 18, official statistics show that 57.7% of Monroe residents have responded to the 2020 Census. That is higher than the overall response rate in the state (53.9%), but below the current national response rate (59.6%). Please complete your Census survey and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Ten minutes will shape the next ten-years of progress in our city. Federal dollars allocated for local governments, schools, healthcare, veterans, infrastructure, affordable housing, non-profit agencies, fire protection, law enforcement, and more will be determined by our official population count. Let’s get the count right. Let’s make sure everyone in Monroe is counted so we can receive our fair share of funding. A quick reminder about the free mobile coronavirus testing in Ouachita Parish. You must be 18-years of age or older, and a Louisiana resident with a valid ID. You do not have to be sick or have symptoms. Testing is being conducted Monday thru Friday from 8 am until 11am (or until supplies run out). Medical officials will administer 50 free tests per location each day. Testing locations for May 21 thru 29 are: Thursday (May 21) at North Monroe Baptist Church, 210 Finks Hideaway Road; Friday (5/22) at Marbles Community Center, 2950 Renwick Street; Monday (5/25) at West Monroe Community Center, 500 South 5th Street; Tuesday (5/26) at Sterlington Church of Christ, 1095 Highway 2; Wednesday (5/27) at Benoit Community Center, 1700 Oaklawn Drive; Thursday (5/28) at West Monroe Rec Center, 1802 North 7th Street; and, Friday (5/29) at East Ouachita Rec Center, 520 Lincoln Hills Drive. You can also get this information by calling 2-1-1 OR by texting NELAFRIENDS to 898- 211. We still need to follow CDC recommendations to help stop the spread of this disease. That means wearing a mask or face covering in public, washing our hands and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. Monroe is One City, with One Future. We are ALL in this together!