• Redistricting state legislative districts
  
• Municipal infrastructure planning
  
• Per capita funding allocation
  
• Transportation planning
  
• Health care planning
  
• And many other decisions based on population and socio-economic characteristics

In the 2000 Census, New York State was undercut by roughly 830,000 people and consequentially lost congressional seats. This year, NYS is projected to loss another 2 seats. Participation in the LUCA process is the only way to ensure complete enumeration. An accurate decennial census ensures that communities in our region receive entitlements and that NYS keeps its congressional seats. Only with local assistance can the hardest to find addresses be included in the 2010 Census.

Examples of addresses missing from previous Census counts:

• Multi-unit buildings
  
• Former single family homes that have converted basement, attic, and garage apartments
  
• Mailing addresses that do not reflect the actual physical location of a home
  
• Remote areas that are difficult to get to
  
• Units used for seasonal purposes
  
• Group quarters facilities (retirement homes, children homes, etc.)

If an address is not in the Census Bureau's MAF, a questionnaire will not be delivered there and the people living there will not be counted. Part of New York's 2010 Plan is to train communities across the State on how to improve the MAF. Southern Tier West will be assisting the local governments of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties who choose to participate in LUCA as they complete their own census review and address submissions. Southern Tier West is under contract with New York State to function as a liaison to the southern tier's local governments in the LUCA process. We will be arranging and conducting technical training sessions for all communities and on-going technical assistance after the training sessions. Southern Tier West will be contacting all local governments to determine and/or advise them on option selection. We encourage you to get in touch with us if you have any questions about participation. Please contact

John Buzzard, jbuzzard@southerntierwest.org, (716) 945-5301 or
Brian Paschen, bpaschen@southerntierwest.org, (716) 945-5301

Here are some basic things to know about the LUCA process.

1. Your municipality can participate in one of three ways. These options differ in both their level of commitment and accessible resources.

Option 1 - The first LUCA option allows municipalities to review the entire Census Bureau Address List for their jurisdiction and update (add, delete, and correct) all city-style addresses. City-style addresses include housing units and group quarters that have a house number and street name (e.g. 123 W. Main Street). With this option, you can decide to challenge the Census Bureau's count of addresses for any census block in your jurisdiction and update the Census Bureau's maps for your municipality. The first option involves the greatest commitment, but also provides the most resources for an accurate census review.

Option 2 - The second LUCA participation option varies only slightly from the first. Municipalities review the Census Bureau's Address List and Address Count List and then submit their own local address list of city-style addresses in a Census Bureau predefined computer-readable format. With this option, you can still identify corrections to the Census Bureau's maps and appeal address counts by census block through an independent LUCA Appeals Office, however, you cannot comment on the Census Bureau's Address List. This option allows you to use the Census Address List as a reference only and has the Census Bureau doing the actual comparing.

*Note: Both Option 1 and Option 2 require all LUCA liaisons, reviewers, and anyone with access to Title 13 materials to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. Title 13 provides for the confidential treatment of sensitive census-related information.

Option 3 - The final option for LUCA participation is a non-title 13 local address list submission. You are able to review the Census Address Count List but not the Census Address List. Your municipality would simply submit your local address list (city-style addresses only) in a Census Bureau predefined computer-readable format. You cannot challenge the count of address in your jurisdiction; however, you can still update your municipal maps.

2. Small jurisdictions may request materials in paper and submit their changes on paper rather than electronically. This option is limited to local governments with 6,000 addresses or less.

3. Address lists (or changes to the Census address list) must be submitted in a pre-defined format.

4. Formal invitations for the program will be sent to local officials in August 2007. You may sign up to participate in the program anytime between receiving the letter and December 31, 2007.

5. Upon receiving files from the Census Bureau, you have 120 days to review the materials and submit your changes back to the Bureau.

• Even though this is a longer timeframe than in the last census, it is still a very short amount of time, given how busy local governments are.
  
• STW training sessions will include information on the most effective ways of completing the process.
  
  
  • Compiling your address list before your receive census files
    
  • Focusing on the most problematic addresses
    
  • Checking your roads and boundaries
    
  • Pooling your resources

6. The Census Bureau has developed software combining the address list, address counts and digital maps in order to make updates easier for some communities. Southern Tier West will provide the training sessions and follow-up assistance to help your municipality through the technicalities of the process.

The following link provides additional information about the LUCA process:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/luca2010/luca.html