"I refuse to send my agents to the pipe breaker": in Chanteloup-les-Vignes, the mayor says no to the census campaign

“A matter of common sense.

This is how Catherine Arenou sums up her position regarding the census campaign which opens this Thursday everywhere in France.

The mayor (DVD) of Chanteloup-les-Vignes (Yvelines) has decided to refuse to launch her enumerators on her town of 10,500 inhabitants.

A refusal imposed by the health context.

“The priority of priorities today is the management of the health crisis, justifies the person concerned.

Me, I refuse to send my agents to the pipe breaker to go door to door at the administered.

“The elected official recalls that her town is classified as a priority district and that in certain sectors, the population “is either not vaccinated, or far from care”.

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Since January 5, the town, in partnership with two pharmacies, has also opened a Covid-19 screening center at the Paul-Gauguin space.

The place is always full, as noted by the 68-year-old elected official, herself, who came to give her time on weekends as a former general practitioner.

Up to 70% positivity in neighborhoods

“At the start of the school year in January, when I saw these long queues of families in front of pharmacies, I was ashamed for my France.

Within 24 hours, we opened this screening center and I was there to set an example.

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Two weeks later, more than 5,000 people were tested in Chanteloup, with positivity rates "reaching 70% in the first two days", according to the mayor.

Since Wednesday, January 5, 2022, the City has been organizing, in partnership with the pharmacies of the municipality, screening for #COVID19.

If you need an antigenic test, go to the Salle des Fêtes (Paul Gauguin Cultural Space) Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

pic.twitter.com/IEkbpCEV9k

— ChanteloupsVignes (@ChanteloupLV) January 14, 2022

Canceled last year due to the pandemic, the national census campaign will end this time on February 19 in municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants and on February 26 for those above, such as Chanteloup.

Since 2004, INSEE has distinguished the two in its methodology.

The census thus takes place every year in towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants and concerns 8% of citizens each time.

Agents having to go to the inhabitant, "sometimes for an hour"

The enumerators, eight in number in this city, are recruited by the municipalities.

They have an official card to identify them.

For two years, the protocol has been modified, they no longer systematically ring at each door.

In individual houses, they simply drop in the mailbox, a notice to answer an online questionnaire.

"But here, their mission goes further because some residents do not even have access to the Internet," says Catherine Arenou.

You have to accompany them, stay at home sometimes for an hour.

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The chosen one knows that she is risking sanctions.

Indeed, census figures derive the participation of the State and institutional actors (region, agglomeration, department) in the budget of the municipalities.

They also help to identify housing needs.

“I am not opposed to this census campaign because it decides a lot of things at the community level, specifies the vice-president in charge of integration and urban renewal at the Yvelines departmental council.

I simply ask for a postponement of a few weeks depending on the evolution of the health crisis.

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