Illinois Valley Times

A noted journalist and comedian of Palestinian descent questioned the process of taking a census count in Illinois and alleged that the governor is playing politics and ignoring Arab-Americans.

“Are census funds and the census about counting people? Or, is it really all about politics and money? Lots of money?” Ray Hanania asked in a op-ed piece for Suburban Chicagoland.

Hanania said Pritzker, a Democrat, allocated $20 million for the census count taken every 10 years to determine the country’s population. But he said the biggest slice of the $20 million, more than half, is going to seven organizations in Chicago, the Cook County Suburbs and certain counties that do not reflect Arab-American populations.

The list he provided included Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) with $3.75 million, Habilitative Systems Inc  with $2.35 million, Community Assistance Programs listed at $1 million, Illinois Action for Children with $1 million, Rincon Family Services at $1 million, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago with $1 million and the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus for $1 million.

“The largest recipient, the ICIRR, doesn’t have one Arab or Muslim board member,” Hanania said and reported by Suburban Chicagoland. “They have assigned funds to only two of the state’s 60 qualified Arab/Muslim groups, the Arab American Family Services and the Arab American Action Network.

"Both by the way were instrumental in protesting against Sharon Brannigan in Palos Township," he added. "They are only two Arab organizations among the more than 50 Arab/Muslim organizations that could be funded in Northern Illinois and that are less politically focused.” 

Brannigan, a trustee of the Palos Township Board, generated controversy when she allegedly made racist comments about Muslims and Arab-American residents on social media two years ago. Brannigan has refused calls to resign and remains on the board.

Hanania said Arabs-Americans are not being counted.

“The sad truth is, not in Illinois and not at the rate they should be in the rest of the country,” Hanna told Suburban Chicagoland. “Most Arab and Muslim groups are being excluded. Arabs and Muslims are the most undercounted immigrant constituency in America and especially in suburban Cook County and Chicago. The biggest undercounted constituency is in the 3rd Congressional District (Cook County), which has one of the largest Palestinian, Christian and Muslim constituencies of any congressional district.”

Hanania said Pritzker isn’t even trying to disguise the discrepancy and that he bragged in a recent press release that his priority is to count Hispanics. According to Hanna, Pritzker didn't mention other ethnic groups such as Arabs or Muslims. 

Reader’s note: 

Information on the census reported that the Northwest region of Illinois including Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Henry, Mercer and Rock Island Counties were not awarded a competitive grant in this round due to the lack of an applicant that met the necessary criteria. A new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is being released to ensure that every area in Illinois is fully included in the Census 2020 program. 

Visit census.illinois.gov for more information on how to apply for the Northwest region NOFO."