Bradley Challenges Accuracy of Census

Mayor Tom Bradley on Wednesday challenged the accuracy of a preliminary U.S. census counting 3.42 million Los Angeles residents and urged President Bush, the secretary of commerce and the census director to take corrective measures.

“While Los Angeles has seemingly fared well in the census process, I cannot wholeheartedly endorse Census Bureau figures, especially in light of the disastrous undercount reported in other cities across the country,” Bradley said in a statement.

The mayor called specifically for reassessment of homeless and minority populations, which he contended have been significantly undercounted.

The net population figures are important to Los Angeles and other urban areas because several state and federal programs are funded through formulas based on city populations.