Rep. Maloney statement on release of Decennial Census numbers for New York City

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), today issued the following statement on publication of the results of the 2010 Decennial Census.

“I along with many in New York are concerned that the results of the 2010 decennial census may not reflect the growth in the City that many of us believe occurred over the last ten years.  I am particularly concerned by the difference between the results of the Decennial Census in many of New York City’s communities and the estimates the Census Bureau made last year as to the City’s current population, as well as the difference between the 7.8% vacancy rate measured by the Census Bureau and the 2.7% vacancy rate found in the 2008 New York Housing and Vacancy Survey.

“I fully expect the City’s Department of Planning, that has done such a fantastic job over the years in working with the Census Bureau and preparing for the count in New York through several Decennials will review the results and determine whether there are concerns that warrant deeper investigation.

“In order to resolve questions as to the results of the Census,  the Census Bureau itself conducts a national ‘coverage measurement’ survey every decennial after the main census.  If there are accuracy issues with the census, the survey should uncover them. It is the only way we will know if, in fact, there was an undercount of a population in the Decennial Census.  The results of that quality survey will be released next year, and we will be able to determine whether our concerns about the decennial count in parts of New York have any merit.

“Nationally the growth rate in the last ten years was one of the lowest of the last century, and many cities have lost population.   New Yorkers concerned about receiving our fair share of federal dollars can take some comfort that the Census does report that our city did increase in population since 2000, although less than our increasingly crowded schools, rising housing prices and oversubscribed social service programs may have led us to expect.”