Tuesday, September 5, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Nation
Section A · Page 5
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
Census data under scrutiny
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Let the number crunching begin.
With a survey of 314,000 households near completion, the Census Bureau's focus now shifts from urging people to return questionnaires and tracking down recalcitrant households, to weaving together the statistical portrait of America it produces once a decade.
Statisticians will sift through data to check its accuracy, while demographers analyze the numbers to search for trends. Are people still fleeing cities for the suburbs? Will the minority population continue to grow?
The answers will tell new stories about the American population, determine the redistribution of federal dollars and decide political power among and within the states.
One of the bigger story lines is the nation's racial and ethnic makeup. Estimates released last week showed that growth in the country's minority population outpaced that of non-Hispanic whites in the 1990s, especially Asians (up 43 percent) and Hispanics (up 38 percent).
The non-Hispanic white population, mean while, grew 7 percent during the decade.
Census 2000 data is expected to back up those estimates with actual numbers for the first time in 10 years.
"It's a very dramatic change in the makeup of the country," said Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt. "I think Census 2000 is going
"It's a very dramatic change in the
makeup of the country. I think
a mirror to itself."
makeup of the country Census 2000 is going to be extremely important as this country holds up a mirror to itself"
Kenneth Prewitt Census Bureau director
to be extremely important as this country holds in a mirror to itself."
The first results to be released — the actual head count of the nation's population — must land on President Clinton's desk by Dec. 31. The Supreme Court last year ruled those figures must be used to reportion the 435 seats in the House.
Population figures, adjusted by using a statistical method known as sampling, are scheduled for release by April 1. That second population total will be based on the survey of 314,000 households.
Sampling has and will continue to face political scrutiny in the months to come, analysts said.
Supporters of sampling said it helped account for people missed in prior counts, especially the poor, minorities and inner-city residents — segments of the population that tended to vote
ON THE NET
http://www.census.gov
democratic.
The Supreme Court ruling left open for states to decide whether to use sampled data as the basis for drawing new political boundaries. GOP leaders fear sampled numbers could lead to districts with higher concentrations of Democrats.
About 80 million, or 68 percent, of the country's 120 million households returned census forms, reversing a decades-long decline in participation.
Critics, most vocally House census subcommittee chairman Rep. Dan Miller, R-Fla., have questioned whether procedural errors in 15 offices may have affected the accuracy of data collected. And a handful of former census employees have said they felt rushed to complete their task of gathering answers from some of the 40 million nonresponding households.
Most recently, Miller has complained of the agency's lack of cooperation with congressional overseers, and called for investigations after several census workers in Los Angeles participated in an event — tied to the Democratic National Convention — designed to mobilize black voters.
The criticism "is a necessary price the Census Bureau has to pay to prove it is a transparent census and is a transparent issue." Prewitt said.
Public safety an issue in Westport
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Westport entertainment district is a big draw for the young crowd around Kansas City, with bars, clubs and restaurants in abundance.
It's also a big concern for police officers and area businesses. So they're trying to find a way to control the crowds and keep the district safe, without targeting certain groups.
On weekends during the summer, they walk the streets in the early hours of the day, monitoring the crowds. They're business owners, City Council members, civil rights leaders, neighborhood activists and officials from the mayor's office.
Police said they were most concerned about public safety. They have a new line of defense ready — turning away cars if crowds grow too large.
Every Saturday night, young people seeking the bar scene flock to the area. They pack the streets and sidewalks, forming a mass of up to 3,000 people by 3 a.m. that can tie up traffic — for pedestrians and drivers — and create a mob mentality, where panic and danger can result from the inappropriate actions of a few.
"We really have too many people down there than we can effectively handle," said police Mai, Anthony G. Ell.
Those involved agree that the Westport problem has no easy answers.
Some say police actions restrict individuals' freedom. Business owners worry about profits if Westport's image suffers. And young adults say there's a lack of nightlife options.
Last weekend a handful of people threw bottles and rocks at police for about two minutes. A waitress was punched in the crowd, her purse stolen and her car blocked. Several women in a car were physically accosted by a group of men, and police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd so an officer could reach the women.
Still, police said that for an entertainment district drawing such crowds, Westport didn't have a high crime rate. Most citations are traffic violations. This summer, nine people were caught in the area with guns.
In July, a man fired shots from a semiautomatic handgun. No one was hurt.
Some, including the American Civil Liberties Union, ask whether African Americans are treated more harshly by police. The group questions the practice of herding people — many African-American — from the streets, forcing them to move west down Westport Road.
"We have to cut down on the number of people in Westport, and I don't care if they are red, yellow, blue, green or orange — this is for everyone," said Ell, who is African American.
Tim Knight lives in the Westport area and has operated his business, Precision Optics, there since 1972.
His customers are concerned. One longtime
customer from the suburbs called to ask whether it was safe to pick up her glasses.
"The perceptions do roll over into my and everyone else's business." he said.
Michael McMillian has walked the late-night streets of Westport. He has also sat through several long meetings as officials haggled about what to do about the throngs of young people.
McMillian, 22 and African-American, has sensed the stepped-up enforcement by police. He has been caught in the sweeps where police usher everyone toward Mill Street.
"The police are in a more combative manner than they were last year," McMillian said.
McMillian said the problem was there were few clubs for young adults.
In recent years, many clubs outside Westport that catered to young African Americans have closed. The reasons vary — pressure by neighborhood activists, police concerns with crowds outside clubs and liquor control violations. Many remaining clubs have age limits of 25 or even 30 and above.
Darryck Dean, also African-American, is associate executive director of Kansas City Harmony, a diversity group that participated in the monthly meetings of the Westport Community Task Force.
"I hope everyone can just see this as a public safety issue," he said. "I feel like the police have been fair and have treated everyone equally regardless of age, race or gender."
944 Mass.
832-8228
638 MASS. 832-CAFE
BEDS • DESKS
CHEST OF DRAWERS
BOOK CASES
unclaimed freight &
damaged merchandise
936 Mass.
Expresso Cafe
Gourmet Coffee & Tea
Red Lyon Tavern
*Not required. Additional hours are available for trips.
TIGI products
20% off
expires 9/10/00
23rd & Louisiana 841-5885
1 The Art Of War **1** (1:05) 4:05, 7:30, 10:95
2 Coyote Ugly **1** (1:05) 4:05, 7:30, 10:95
3 Matthijs Profetje: The Klimps **1** (1:55) 4:25, 7:25, 9:55
4 Highlander: Richard Wagner **1** (1:55) 3:05, 7:10, 9:40
5 Space Cowboy **1** (1:00) 4:00, 7:55, 9:55
6 Saving Grace **1** (1:00, 1:20, 3:20) 7:40, 9:40
7 Bring It On **1** (1:00, 3:10) 7:40, 9:40
8 The Cell **1** (1:00) 3:10, 7:40, 10:90
9 The Beneath **1** (1:10) 7:40, 10:10, 10:90
10 The Replacement **1** (1:15) 7:20, 9:25, 10:95
11 Dineaut **1** (1:30, 3:00) 4:15 ——————————————— 7:95, 9:30
also... gone in 50 Seconds **2** (1:35, 3:10) 5:10, 7:15, 9:25
12 The Crow **3** (1:35, 3:10) 5:10, 7:15, 9:25
Sat & Sun Daily
1 Godzilla 2000™ (1:55 4:40) 7:10, 9:40
2 Chicken Run³ (2:00 4:35) 7:00, 9:35
3 Hollow Man (1:45 4:30) 7:00, 9:30
4 Autumn In New York® (1:50 4:30) 7:10, 9:40
5 Whipped (1:554.45) 7:15, 9:45
6 Sunset Boulevard™ (1:45 4:30) 7:15, 9:45
- NO VIRP DASSE + SUPERAWERS
+ SWIMMES JEGER ONLY.
SOUTHWIND 12
Hollywood Theaters
LIBERTY HALL 544-1025
749-1025
BARGAIN MATINEES INDICATED BY ()
STADIUM SEATING - ALL DIGITAL
VOTED THE BEST Authentic Indian Cuisine All you can eat buffet $6.95 M-F 11:30-2:15 Sat-Sun 11:30-2:45 129 E. 10th Street • Law
- One of the NATION'S TOP 6
over 5 years
- Serving Johnson County for
Indian restaurants
-Tagat 99
- A "Best Meal Deal"
- Zagat 99
- One of the NATION'S TOP 6 Indian restaurants
- -Zagat 99
- **** Kansas City Star and The Sun
BEST TARTAROON CHICKEN
1999 Menu of Menus
29 E. 10th Street • Lawrence • 331-4300 Dine In • Carry Out
September 8th
JIMMY LEWIN & THE KINGTONES
9th & IOWA Hillcrest Shopping Center 785-749-1666
*ENTERTAINMENT*
EXTREME
- Birthdays
Male Stripper for the Ladies
- Bachlorette
- Divorce
- Any Occasion
(816) 440-6423
Kansas City
(785) 766-7700
Lawrence
(785) 880-2679
Topeka
Topeka *Fun and Affordable*
When was the last time you "PULLED AN ALL - NIGHTER?"
If you can spare just one night, you could participate in a clinical research study Involving an investigational serum.
You may qualify if you're:
- A healthy 18-32 year-old adult
- No more than 20 lbs overweight
- Taking no medications (Hormonal birth control is permissible)
- Available for a 1 night/2 day stay &9 brief out patient visits
QUINTILES
Study participants could earn up to $1200!
Call for details!
(913) 894-5533
(913) 292-5533
Join the Search for Better Health!
JOINA