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Counting the Numbers

Section: Community

Sam D.

Challenging new figures from the U.S. Census the City of New Orleans says the Census Bureau population numbers are significantly lower than previous estimates. Census numbers show that New Orleans grew from 223,000 people in July 2006 to 252,000 people in July, 2007. However, despite the considerable lower number in 2007 the city estimated that the number was 281,000. Mayor Nagin and several other city officials denounced the numbers with a member of the city council calling the estimates “erroneous information.” You may be asking why this is important to them; well the numbers are important because it determines how much funding an area can get from a government or non-profit agency. The city says that could cost as much as $56 million in federal aid and could also affect the perception, and that it is important for the world to know the truth about New Orleans. “The city is coming back, but we need to make sure the rest of the country hears the right story,” said City Council President Arnie Fielkow. Jackie Clarkson member –at-large said the numbers affect private venture capitol, and that some businesses use the numbers as an indicator of whether to invest in the city. Studies done by local group GCR and Associates showed the current population just over 300,000. Rigamer of GCR said “We’re tracking information on an address and block level basis, and we’re a little bit closer to the situation than a formula that is applied on a uniform basis throughout the U.S. Last year 59 cities successfully challenged the census figures.

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