Cities lag in preparations for high-stakes census

[October 13, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- With the 2010 census looming, major U.S. cities whose residents are at high risk of being missed are struggling with a shortage of money and manpower to prepare for an accurate count.

A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, released Monday, examined preparation efforts in 11 major cities. It found only five cities had committed public funds to census outreach -- Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Phoenix and Baltimore.

When cities had allotted funds, most were at significantly lower levels compared to 2000. City officials expressed concern about a possible poor turnout in the high-stakes count that begins April 1. They cited difficulties of finding residents due to home foreclosures and skittish immigrants wary of filling out government forms.

[Associated Press; By HOPE YEN]

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