By Larry Jones
July 16, 2007

A panel of experts from the U.S. Census Bureau and a local agency in California told mayors their active involvement now will go a long way to help the Bureau achieve a fair and accurate count of all people residing in their cities in the 2010 census. In a June 24 panel discussion moderated by East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser, panelists provided valuable information on how the census has be redesigned, the importance of mayors’ involvement in developing the local address list, and local outreach to ensure all people are counted.

Renee Jefferson-Copeland, acting chief of the Census Bureau’s Customer Liaison Office in Washington, D.C., told mayors that the 2010 census will feature the shortest questionnaire in our history. The questionnaire will only ask for a person’s name, age, gender, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether the person rents or owns a house. All other questions will be a part of the American Community Survey, which will be conducted on an annual basis to provide more up-to-date information on a variety areas that will help leaders at all levels of governments as well as the private sector better plan for the future.

Jefferson-Copeland mentioned a number of changes the Bureau has made to improve data collection including: providing bilingual questionnaires in designated areas where respondents speak a language other than English; improving data collection methods in group quarters such as dormitories, correctional facilities, and nursing homes; using handheld computers with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology for field data collection and support operations; and mailing replacement questionnaires to increase the response rate and minimize the need for personal follow-up visits.

Linda Franz, also from the Census Bureau, discussed the importance of the LUCA program. She reminded everyone that every mayor will have the opportunity to participate in the LUCA program by reviewing the address list the Census Bureau plans to use to conduct the 2010 census. Each participating mayor will be required to designate a LUCA Liaison who will be responsible for reviewing the address list and providing input on individual addresses on the list and missing addresses that should be added.

The Bureau will then verify this input during the Address Canvassing Operation and provide feedback to mayors on the results. Mayors will be given the opportunity to appeal final decisions of the Census Bureau. An independent agency will be responsible for reviewing and deciding on all appeals prior to Census Day, April 1, 2010.

To drive home the point on the question—why does the 2010 Census matter to cities? Franz reminded mayors that the “Census results directly influence the share of federal and state grant money that comes to your city.” She further explained that “Following the 2000 Census, $388 million in federal grants shifted to states with the biggest estimated population increases based on the census.”

Patricia Perry, a senior planner for the Association of Bay Area Governments, urged mayors to take an active role in the census to help ensure that everyone gets counted. She reminded them that different subgroups of the population have been undercounted in the past. She said minorities, children, and renters tend to be undercounted at higher rates than others. The result, she explained, is less political representation for minorities and less funding for distressed communities. Between 1990 and 2000, Perry said the national census response rate increased from 65 percent to 70 percent, which meant that 1.2 million more people in California were counted than previously expected. However, California still registered an estimated net undercount of 509,012 persons, which will cost the state $1.5 billion in federal funds over the decade. She urged mayors to make a special effort to reach out to minorities and other groups that have traditionally been undercounted and get them involved to help ensure a more accurate count.

to minorities and other groups that have traditionally been undercounted and get them involved to help ensure a more accurate count.