Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA)
Model Letter to U.S. Census Bureau and/or Senate and Congressional Representatives
As I’m sure you are aware Census taking in the US is done almost entirely by mail. The Census Bureau develops a complete list of addresses using the Postal Service and other sources. This list is called the Master Address File (MAF) and while every effort is made to have a complete file, many residential addresses are still missed. Only with local assistance can the hardest to find addresses be included in the Census 2010 Master Address File.
When the LUCA program was done in Monroe County for the 2000 Census, 28,000 additional households that were not on the Census Master Address File at the time, were found. The Master Address File was revised to include those addresses. Those 28,000 households then received a 2000 Census form and were counted.
All across New York State, including this region, we are working with municipalities to complete the revision of the Census Master Address file through the LUCA program. In parts of New York State, such as the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, where the LUCA program is being done county or region-wide, this is a massive, but extremely important undertaking.
The initial LUCA schedule had invitation letters going out to municipalities in July 2007. Municipalities could then register to update the Master Address File for the Census Bureau and the Census Bureau would send these Master Address Files to registered municipalities in August of 2007. All revised Master Address files were required to be back to the Census Bureau by the end of March 2008.
As it turned out the Census Bureau did not get the Invitation Letters out until August 2007. Our Liaison (Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC)) returned the Registration Forms for several of our counties at that point. We now come to find out that although the Master Address File data was supposed to be mailed back to G/FLRPC for revision in August or September for the first counties registered, two were received in early to mid December 2007 and the other seven were not received until January 2008.
G/FLRPC contacted the Director of the Census Bureau in early October and requested that the date for final submittal of revised Master Address Files be pushed back as well (presumably for the same amount of time it takes for the Census Bureau to mail back the Master Address File – at this point that appears to be approximately 4 months). Therefore, we believe final submittal of revised Master Address Files should not be due until July 2008 (as opposed to April 2008).
It should also be pointed out that the Census Bureau indicated that all registrations that were returned by November 19, 2007 would have the full 120 days for revision. Given the current final date for submittal of revised MAFs is April 30, 2008, seven of our nine counties would not even have the full 120 days as promised.
We understand the the Census Bureau must meet overall deadlines associated with the 2010 Census but municipalities and liaisons that agreed to do these revisions should not be penalized. We feel that the Census Bureau should be forced to have its timeline squeezed after the municipal LUCA period is over. We would appreciate any assistance you can provide, especially given the importance of an accurate Census 2010 count to New York. Thank you.
50
West Main Street, Suite 8107
Rochester, New York 14614
tel:
585.454.0190
fax: 585.454.0191
Last Modified: March 05, 2008