When our cities got robbed (a blast from the past)

Map fans like you must be excited to learn of the looming 2010 census.

But our cities are still paying for the botched 2000 census. And the 1990 census.

A 1999 Kentucky Post article says the city of Covington lost millions of dollars in federal funds because of undercounts in 1990. These errors resulted when the elder Bush vetoed a bill that would have made the census more accurate. This veto in turn was politically motivated - by Bush's desire to reduce funding and congressional representation for Democratic areas.

Covington votes Democratic, like other central cities. Most of the city's recent policies are not left-leaning, but the city's voters support more liberal candidates and causes than their suburban counterparts.

Regarding the 1990 undercount and robbery, Covington's fire chief said in 1999, "Covington lost over $13 million in federal and state funds during the 1990s.'' He was quoted as saying, "If the 2000 census maintains the same inaccuracies, it's estimated the city will lose $22.7 million in the next decade.''

In the '90s, the neighboring city of Newport lost $300,000 because of blatant census inaccuracies.

And I'm still waiting to receive my 2000 census form.

The cities pay more than their fair share in taxes - yet get back precious little in return, because the census skips so many people. Where does the cities' tax money go? It goes directly to affluent exurban communities that need it the least - and where few were skipped by the census.

(Source: Kentucky Post 12/23/99)