Friday, February 11, 2000
Blackwell champions census
He urges cooperation by everyone
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
UNION TOWNSHIP — The nation's upcoming census count is a “family photo” that must include every member of America's family, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell said Thursday at the opening of a Butler County census office.
“This is one of the most important human mobilization efforts of this nation. We must count our people — all our people — because all our people count,” said Mr. Blackwell, who also is a co-chair of the national Census Monitoring Board.
Mr. Blackwell was among more than a dozen local U.S. Census Bureau officials, local politicians and census workers who will use the new office off Princeton-Glendale Road to recruit census workers and coordinate their efforts in Butler, Warren, Preble and Clermont counties.
Census forms should arrive by mail March 16 and must be returned by April 1. By mid-April, census workers will start knocking on doors of those who haven't turned in their forms.
In what's being billed as the federal government's largest peacetime initiative, the U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting 2.8 million workers and conducting a $164 million advertising campaign.
At stake is more than $180 billion in federal funds, and even more money from state governments, that affects every local municipality, school district and eventually every resident in America.
But Mr. Blackwell said the 1990 national census missed counting 1.8 percent of the population — or more than 5 million people. Most, he said, were minorities, the poor and children.
Apathy, suspicion of the federal government and concerns about the confidentiality of collected census data keep many in the country from participating in the national count conducted each decade.
“We have to make sure we break down all the barriers of participation,” he said.
Moreover, local census efforts have so far mirrored the national problems in recruit ing enough census workers to canvass neighborhoods interviewing those who either don't receive a mailed census form or don't respond.
Sharon Hughes, recruiter manager of the Butler County census office, said they have hired only about one-fourth of the 7,000 temporary census workers needed to collect data in Butler, Warren, Preble and Clermont counties.
“We have a lot of competition right now for workers because of the good economy,” said Ms. Hughes.
Throughout the Tristate, about 25,000 applicants will be needed to ensure that there are enough part-time workers to conduct a complete count.
Hamilton City Councilwoman Kathy Becker, chairwoman for the Coalition for the Homeless of Butler County, was encouraged by Mr. Blackwell's emphasis on including all people in the upcoming census.
“The money that comes from this can be used to help people with special needs. This is very important,” said Ms. Becker.
For information regarding census employment, call (888) 325-7733.
Housing group made deals with insiders, relatives
Genesis established to give West End residents a voice
Police work to stem rise in auto thefts
Victims push for more clout in court
Insurer deaf to ear device
OKI looks at plan for new bridge
Hamilton man charged in girl's death years after shaking injury
Hat sellers battle city's ouster order
Hospitals improve performance
Hotel tax hike finds a local foe
Jail staff addresses needs of next Kenton facility
MRDD overpaid for two houses, county says
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
BockFest poster gets an artful goat
CSO youngsters shine
For love, she gave up her life in Mexico
GET TO IT
100+ years in business: These firms do it right
8 violations in wall collapse, injuries
Blackwell champions census
Hamilton Co. park district to hold jobs fair
Kids help raise renovation cash
Nuclear parts stored at plant
Ohio near pact on tobacco windfall
Safety week focus: car seats
Suspicious ballots topic of hearing
TRISTATE DIGEST
Vote on sewer bill delayed
