California cities threaten to challenge census, which shows little growth
Some Southern California cities might challenge the U.S. Census after data showed their communities saw little growth in the last decade -- or actually lost residents.
The census shows that the population in Santa Ana declined 4% from 2000 to 2010. As a result, Santa Ana lost its ranking as Orange County's largest city to neighboring Anaheim, which recorded a population of 336,265, up 2.5% over the last decade.
But Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido believes the city is still growing and thinks that many Santa Ana residents who are immigrants refused to participate in the census for fear of deportation or other factors.
"We didn't shrink, and these numbers indicate that we shrank," Pulido said. "In June, we're going to file a protest with the Census Bureau."
Some in Long Beach were shocked to learn that from 2000 to 2010 the state's seventh-largest city added only 735 residents -- a growth rate of 0.2% and far below the national average of 9.7%.
Long Beach is considering a challenge, along with San Jose.
City officials in San Jose, who expected the count to show a population of more than 1 million but were disappointed when it fell short by more than 50,000, said they were starting to meet with lobbyists to discuss the data because funding was at stake.
"That could be a huge impact for the funds that are due to the city of San Jose and to special public agencies," Deputy City Manager Deanna Santana said, noting that grants and other funding were often doled out based on population counts. "The worry is to make sure San Jose gets its fair share based on its population," she said.
-- Ari Bloomekatz
Photo: The Long Beach skyline is reflected in the Los Angeles River. According to the latest census, Long Beach grew at a rate of only 0.2% in the last decade. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
GET YOUR SNOUT OUTTA OUR POCKETS!!!!!
Posted by: Robert NO longer in LA | April 24, 2011 at 03:35 PM
How could immigrants be deported?? "Immigrants", by definition would be U.S. citizens, meaning you forgot (deliberately) to include one important descriptive adjective: ILLEGAL immigrants.
Posted by: Thurman Reed | April 24, 2011 at 03:54 PM
See, the rats are abandoning ship.
Posted by: ojaijr | April 24, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Anyone who came to the US illegally is not an "immigrant". They are an illegal invader and ..sheesh...I have no idea why the governments of this "greatest country in the world" seem unable to do something about these illegals.
Posted by: Al | April 24, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Does anyone really think everyone was actually counted or estimated properly especially here in SoCal? I know a lot of people who didn't even fill out a census form either because they failed to receive one in the mail or didn't make the effort to secure one on their own time. Were ALL the undocumented accounted for? Illegal immigration affects a lot more than just the obvious.
Posted by: mansterEZ | April 24, 2011 at 05:14 PM
Sorry, but us productive people have left and taken jobs with us. Tax us no more.
Posted by: Steven M. | April 24, 2011 at 05:18 PM
So, those who "refused to participate in the census for fear of deportation or other factors," are going to come forward now to help the cities who claim an undercount. Of course the cities mentioned won't turn in those who now step up to0 help them.
Posted by: Erwin | April 24, 2011 at 05:59 PM
RIGHT ON AL!!!!!!!!
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Posted by: retro jordans | April 24, 2011 at 06:24 PM
People who break into our country and are here illegally should not be counted. They should be deported.
Posted by: Slang | April 24, 2011 at 07:27 PM
"But Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido believes the city is still growing and thinks that many Santa Ana residents who are immigrants refused to participate in the census for fear of deportation or other factors." I remember that illegal immigrants were encouraged to fill out the census and assured that they would not be deported if they did. Maybe it's time we recognized having so many people here who do not belong here has created a huge problem for the country.
Posted by: Louweegie272 | April 24, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Funny how our population has shrunk, but our freeways are more crowded.
Posted by: Juan Seguin | April 24, 2011 at 08:09 PM
Was involved in the Census. The folks who were against responding to the Census questions were mostly middle-aged, white males. Since the material provided to the enumerators was protected and could not be used for anything but the Census, seems unlikely that folks tried to avoid the Census.
Posted by: Peter Gordon | April 24, 2011 at 08:19 PM
If your residents refused to participate than it is on you not the census. The census is voluntary and you cannot blame them for your faults.
Posted by: arty | April 25, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Keep in mind illegals on the deportation list cannot be counted
Posted by: HappyJack | April 25, 2011 at 07:58 PM