Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA)
LUCA was the only opportunity for local governments to enhance the accuracy of the census by providing the Census Bureau with an updated list of residential addresses. An updated mailing list ensures that census mailings will reach as many households as possible.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
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Population counts determine:
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Reapportionment of Congressional seats (New York State lost two Congressional seats in 2000, the second one by 50,000 people and is projected to lose another two after the 2010 Census)
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Redistricting of State Legislative Districts
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Municipal infrastructure planning
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Per Capita funding allocation, Federal and State grant allocation
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Transportation planning
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Health care planning
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Many other decisions based on population and socio-economic characteristics
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Census taking in the U.S. is done almost entirely by mail. The Census Bureau develops a complete list of addresses using the Postal Service and other sources. This list is called the Master Address File (MAF) and while every effort is made to have a complete file, many residential addresses are still missed. Only with local assistance can the hardest to find addresses be included in the Census 2010 Master Address File.
The most important phase of the LUCA process is complete. We started in 2006 with an assessment of local, regional and statewide address databases. In the first half of 2007 we did county and municipal outreach and address database acquisition. In the second half of 2007 we concentrated on address database processing in order to produce “local” master address files. Finally, from December 2007 through May 2008 we revised our nine county Census Master Address Files (MAFs) and submitted them to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The window for receiving and submitting revised MAFs was cut from more then eight months to four months by the U.S. Census Bureau. Therefore, all revisions to the Census MAFs for the region were submitted by county starting in early April and ending in early May 2008, based on when the MAFs were received from the U.S Census Bureau.
It is important to note that revisions to the MAFs are additional address units that were found that were not on the original Census MAF. The Census Bureau will review the submitted revisions to the MAFs. The Census Bureau will then send G/FLRPC an initial report and ultimately a list of the additional addresses that they do not accept. We will then have the opportunity to appeal. This process will probably require some help from the counties and communities of these addresses.
At this point we would like to thank all of the counties, municipalities, agencies and organizations that assisted in this initiative. If you have any questions about the LUCA process please contact us at
gflrpc@gflrpc.org or 585-454-0190.For information on past LUCA Information Sessions visit Information Sessions.
For information on how Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council served as your LUCA Liaison and did the LUCA program on behalf of counties and municipalities in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region visit Liaison.
As of the first of December 2007 the Census Bureau had not made the Master Address Files available for revision (they were supposed to be made available in August 2007). If you would like a template of a letter that was sent to the U.S. Census Bureau and senate and congressional representatives requesting additional time for revision of Master Address Files please visit LUCA Letter.
For more information on the U.S. Census Bureau LUCA program visit:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/luca2010/luca.html
50
West Main Street, Suite 8107
Rochester, New York 14614
tel:
585.454.0190
fax: 585.454.0191
Last Modified: September 14, 2008