CBS Dallas/Fort Worth: An East Dallas woman is outraged after she claims one U.S. Census worker showed up at her door for a housing survey and would not take “no” for an answer. Sonia Platz said the worker went as far as to camp out in her yard as she waited for Platz to change her mind. Said Platz.
The East Dallas resident said it started with a series of three letters from the U.S. Census Bureau. A few days later after receiving the third later, a census worker showed up. Her husband verbally declined.
But a few days later, a different worker showed up at their home and would not leave according to Platz. “That is a whole, other level. That’s not following up. I felt like she a part of the mob,” said Platz.
The census worker sat on the bumper of her van for the next 30 minutes. Sonia said the worker would only get up from the back of her van every few minutes to see if she had changed her mind about taking the housing survey.
“Some people were stunned. Some people couldn’t believe it. They were kind of shocked like, ‘that can’t be a true government census bureau worker,’” said Platz.
It was a real federal census worker according to the regional office that covers Dallas. A supervisor confirmed more than 100 other workers are out in the area conducting the same work. The regional office said employees are encouraged to be “pleasantly persistent” and never take “no” for an answer at first.
Platz said it is not a good look for a government agency that survives on voluntary participation. The U.S. Census Bureau said anyone who feels they are being visited too frequently can request to have their address removed from the list.
Dallas is one of 25 cities targeted in the housing survey which runs through August.
DCG