[StBernard] Millions at stake in census, but most have yet to turn them in

[Westley Annis]

Millions at stake in census, but most have yet to turn them in 

by Bill Capo / Eyewitness News

Posted on April 1, 2010 at 5:25 PM

Updated Thursday, Apr 1 at 5:26 PM 

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NEW ORLEANS -- At Stewart's Diner in the 9th Ward, on National Census Day,
they are still waiting to receive their census forms.

"I never got the census at my house that I live at," said owner Calvin
Stewart, "but I got them at some empty houses that I'm working on."

"I haven't received my census," said Chef Taravia Woods, "but the block that
I live in, the house across the street is abandoned and empty, and there is
a census on the door."

The national average at this point for mailing back census forms is 52
percent, but the return rate in Orleans Parish is only 27 percent.

"For every form completed, appriximately $1300 is returned to the city per
year for the next 10 years," said state Rep. Jared Brossett from New Orleans
East.

"That means St. Bernard Parish stands to get $55.9 million dollars returned
to our parish in federal taxpayer dollars each year for the next 10 years,"
said Karen Turni Bazile of St. Bernard Parish government.

In St. Bernard Parish, a third of the census forms have been returned.

"I get calls every day from people who say, 'where's my form?'" Bazile
added.

37 percent of the census forms sent to Plaquemines Parish have been sent
back.

"It is absolutely critical that if we are to continue the recovery that is
necessary in order to bring our parish back," said Plaquemines Parish
spokesman Benny Puckett.

And in rural St. Helena parish, the return rate is 30 percent.

"A lot of people are moving to the country for better living, and to try to
get away from the Katrinas and the Ritas, and all this thing, so we are
growing, and we don't have a good count," said St. Helena Police Juror Major
Coleman.

Census leaders are trying to reach every population group.

Next month census workers will make another attempt, going door to door in
person to the addresses that haven't responded, trying to get as many people
counted as possible.

"I'm definitely sending mine in because I know that money is coming to New
Orleans, and we need that money. In fact, I need that money to stay in
business, I need a loan," concluded Calvin Stewart.