HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 99:352No. 99-352
Date of Adoption November 4,1999
MUNICIPAL RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CENSUS BUREAU'S
PLAN FOR THE CENSUS 2000
WHEREAS, there is a need for a full and fair census given the fact that the 1990
census undercounted 8.4 million persons and double-counted 4.4 million others;
and
WHEREAS, it is important that there be an accurate census count for the proper
allocation of critical federal and state funding for programs based on population;
and
WHEREAS, it is necessary Carteret have an accurate census in order to comply
with redistricting requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act and to be
properly reflected in congressional and state legislative redistricting plans; and
WHEREAS, in February 1999, the United States Census Bureau unveiled a
Census 2000 plan to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a provision of
the Census Act prohibits using scientific methods to calculate the total population
of each State for the purposes of congressional apportionment; and
WHEREAS, the Census Bureau will make every effort to obtain an accurate
count of the population for purposes of apportionment without statistical methods;
and
WHEREAS, the Bureau and independent experts believe that the initial count of
the population based only on old counting methods will leave out millions of
people, many of them living in America's cities; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau will address the persistent problem of undercounting, as
well as an anticipated overcount, with an Accuracy and Coverage Evaluation
(ACE) program designed to use modem statistical techniques; and
WHEREAS, all experts who have carefully studied the census have concluded
that the Census 2000 plan incorporates a set of complex and time-sensitive
operations designed to produce the most accurate results possible within legal
deadlines in order to reduce the historic, disproportionate undercount of people of
color and the poor by combining old counting methods and new scientific
methods; and
WHEREAS, any significant modifications to the Bureau's plan at this stage of
preparations could adversely affect the timing and effectiveness of census
operations, resulting in higher levels of error and less accurate data; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau has taken steps to ensure a comprehensive database of
housing units before the census starts, allowing local governments to review and
correct address lists for their jurisdictions and to add newly constructed units
through Census Day; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau has determined that pre-census local review activities
will be more effective than a 1990-style post census local review in ensuring a
comprehensive Master Address File and accurate jurisdictional boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the Census Bureau's determination as to which set of operations
will produce the most accurate census possible and reduce the historic undercount
should be given great deference by Congress; and
NO. 99-352
PAOE 2
WHEREAS, the 1990 federal decennial census undercounted more than 44,000
residents from the state of New Jersey, including an estimated 27 from the
city of Carteret; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that a disproportionate number of the undercounted
residents from the state of New Jersey were minorities - 5.4% of African-
Americans were missed; 5% of Hispanic origin were missed; 1.7% persons of
Asian heritage were missed; and 1% of Native Americans were missed;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Borough of Carteret
supports the Census 2000 plan, which supplements old counting methods with
new modem statistical methods with statistical sampling to produce the most
accurate census possible for purposes other than congressional apportionment;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that the Borough of Carteret urges Congress to
refrain from imposing additional requirements on the Census Bureau that may, in
the opinion of the Bureau and independent experts, disrupt the timely collection
of the most accurate data possible;
BE 1T FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough of Carteret urges the Congress
to fully fund the Census 2000 plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Borough of Carteret urges the U.S.
Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities to support the Census
2000 plan.
Adopted this 4th day of November, 1999
and certified as a true copy of the original
on November 5, 1999.
KATEILEEN M. BARNEY,
Municipal Clerk
IH~CORI) OF COUNCIl, VOTE
OCOUNCILIVlAN -- ~ --~0 . N~V__ A.B. COUNCIl,MAN
CR ILLEY ____ MANCU SO
FAZEKAS_ 0 ' BRIEN
GUT~OWSKI QUINONES
X - Indicllie Vole AB - Absenl
NV - Not Voting XOR - lmlicmes Vole to Overrule Velo S j
Adopled at a meeting of ~l~e Municipul Council
November 4, 1999