http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-866504.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Missouri officials are getting ready for the 2010 U.S. Census. And one of their main concerns is that some residents are afraid or apathetic when it comes to filling out census forms.
The state Office of Administration will chair the public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging Missourians to take part in the census. O.A. Commissioner Kelvin Simmons says no one should be afraid to fill out a census form:
Simmons: "There are some people that don't exactly know what kind of information is being gathered, who they're gathering it on, and why it's important, and so it's our job to tell people that they should not be fearful."
Simmons says an undercount could result in the loss of a congressional seat, which in turn could mean the loss of millions of dollars in federal aid for Missouri residents
Dennis Johnson is Regional Director for the U.S. Census office in Kansas City, Kansas:
Johnson: "It doesn't matter what agency comes to us, what individual comes to us, we will not release that information it's strictly for purposes of representation and distribution of money no one needs to worry about responding to the census and finding out that it may come back to harm them in some way."
Johnson also says the U.S. Census Bureau is not affiliated in any way with ACORN, despite being partnered with the controversial group in the past on public information campaigns.