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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 7 March 2019

Judge: Census citizenship question is a threat to democracy

By SUDHIN THANAWALA ship question,” state Attor-
Associated Press ney General Xavier Becer-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — ra said in a statement.
The Trump administration’s California argued that
decision to add a citizen- the question would cost
ship question to the 2020 it a substantial amount of
census “threatens the very money and at least one
foundation of our demo- congressional seat by re-
cratic system” because it ducing the percentage
would cause a significant of Latinos and immigrants
undercount of immigrants who respond to the sur-
and Latinos that could vey. It said that would lead
distort the distribution of to an undercount in the
congressional seats, a U.S. state, which has a substan-
judge said Wednesday. tial number of people from
Judge Richard Seeborg both groups.
in San Francisco said the Census numbers are used
commerce secretary’s de- to determine states’ dis-
cision to add the question tribution of congressional
was arbitrary and capri- seats and billions of dollars
cious and would violate a in federal funding.
constitutional requirement The Justice Department
that the census accurately had argued that census
count the U.S. population. In this Nov. 27, 2018, file photo, Elizabeth OuYang, coordinator of New York Counts 2020, speaks officials take steps such as
“The record in this case during a news conference outside the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse. making in-person follow-up
has clearly established Associated Press visits to get an accurate
that including the citizen- Supreme Court last month for the U.S. Supreme Court including their immigra- count. Households that skip
ship question on the 2020 agreed to review that de- to consider. tion status, raising concerns the citizenship question but
census is fundamentally cision. The U.S. Department of Jus- among privacy and civil otherwise fill out a substan-
counterproductive to the The ruling in California, tice declined to comment. rights activists. tial portion of the question-
goal of obtaining accurate however, differed from the The ruling came as The As- Seeborg ruled in lawsuits by naire would still be count-
citizenship data about the January decision by U.S. sociated Press reported California and several cit- ed, Justice Department at-
public,” Seeborg said. District Judge Jesse Furman that the Census Bureau is ies in the state that assert- torneys said in court docu-
He became the second in a significant way. Fur- quietly seeking compre- ed the citizenship question ments.
judge to declare the move man also found the ques- hensive information about was politically motivated The Commerce Depart-
illegal, so the effect of his tion violated administra- the legal status of millions and should be kept off the ment announced the ad-
decision is limited. A fed- tive requirements, but he of immigrants. census. dition of a citizenship ques-
eral judge in New York had rejected an argument that Under a proposed plan, the “Justice has prevailed for tion a year ago, saying the
previously blocked the ad- it violated the Constitution. Department of Homeland each and every Califor- Justice Department asked
ministration from adding Seeborg found a violation Security would provide nian who should raise their for it and it would improve
the question to the popula- of the Constitution’s Enu- the Census Bureau with a hands to be counted in the enforcement of a 1965 law
tion count that occurs ev- meration Clause, which broad swath of personal 2020 census without being meant to protect minority
ery 10 years, and the U.S. could present another issue data about noncitizens, discouraged by a citizen- voting rights.q

U.S. judge eases wildfire safety

plan for California utility

He also proposed that a said it’s committed to com- that PG&E had pre-
court-appointed moni- pleting work on its wildfire viously suspended cash
tor oversee the utility’s ef- plan. “We continue to work dividends. Alsup is oversee-
forts to clear trees and with regulators, lawmakers ing a criminal conviction
branches. The judge previ- and our community part- against PG&E stem-
ously considered ordering ners across all sectors and ming from a 2010 gas line
PG&E to reinspect its disciplines to develop com- explosion that killed eight
entire electric grid, remove prehensive, long-term safe- people in the San Francisco
In this Dec. 3, 2018 file photo, a vehicle rests in front of a home or trim all trees that could ty solutions for our state,” a Bay Area. The judge’s pro-
leveled by the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. fall on its power lines and company statement said. posals follow devastating
Associated Press cut off power during cer- Alsup on Tuesday also pro- wildfires in California in 2017
By SUDHIN THANAWALA his proposals to prevent its tain wind conditions. posed ordering PG&E and 2018 — some of which
Associated Press equipment from causing PG&E pushed back not to pay any dividends to investigators have blamed
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A more blazes. against those proposals, shareholders until it meets on PG&E equipment
U.S. judge overseeing a Judge William Alsup said in saying in court documents his vegetation manage- — and would be part of
criminal case against Pa- an order late Tuesday that that they would endanger ment requirements, in- the utility’s probation in the
cific Gas & Electric he’s now considering mak- lives, could cost as much cluding compliance with criminal case.
Co. called the California ing PG&E comply with as $150 billion and would a state law requiring the Alsup said his goal is to
utility’s efforts to prevent targets in a wildfire mitiga- interfere with the work of utility to clear vegetation prevent PG&E equip-
trees from hitting its power tion plan that the compa- federal and state regula- within certain distances of ment from causing any
lines and starting wildfires ny submitted to California tors. In response to Alsup’s electric lines. wildfires during the 2019 fire
“dismal” but scaled back regulators. latest order, the company The judge, however, noted season. q