Money and clout is at stake for California in the 2010 Census. The count doesn’t begin until next year, but the state is already focusing on San Diego County because it’s ranked as one of the hardest places in the country to count.
Political consulting firm Election Data Services said California is at risk of losing a congressional seat if the Census count is low. Billions of federal dollars are also at stake. A group compiling US Census Bureau data ranks San Diego County as the 11th hardest place to count in the country. Ditas Katague, the director of the California Complete Count Committee, said the ranking means people here are less likely to return the Census forms they receive in the mail.
“San Diego County has a diverse population. We have a large influx of immigrants. We also have many folks who may not speak English at home. That puts them at risk for not responding to the Census,” she said.
Katague said her committee is working with community groups to promote the Census among different populations.
