| Mercedes Olivera: Will census numbers add up to progress? 12/30/2000 By / The Dallas Morning News States with large Hispanic population gains came out the big winners in the latest census report released Thursday.
National Hispanic leaders said educational outreach by Hispanic organizations, Spanish-language TV networks and the Census Bureau helped sensitize Latinos to the importance of being included in this year's head count.
Texas, Arizona, Florida and Georgia saw overall population increases ranging from 23 percent to 40 percent in the 1990s. They each will gain two seats in the House of Representatives.
Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina will gain one seat apiece.
The question now: Will the numbers translate into enhanced political and educational progress?
Dr. Steve Murdock, director of the Strategic Policies Research Group at Texas A&M University, said he wasn't surprised by the results.
His research and population estimates through 1999 showed that Hispanic population growth was "a national phenomenon" and not unique to Texas.
His estimates showed that 58 percent of the net increase in state populations across the country was due to Hispanic growth.
But the numbers can be either ominous or fortuitous, depending on which path state leaders choose to take.
"Clearly, Texas will be poorer and less competitive if we choose not to increase access to educational and skills opportunities to all ethnic groups with limited educational skills," Dr. Murdock said.
"But this should be seen as a potential opportunity, not as a potential problem."
Texas could be in an advantageous position with a more ethnically diverse and younger workforce prepared to compete in the global marketplace, he said.
"It's not a small task to do, but it has to be done."
But state leaders may become too focused on another task in the next two years: redistricting based on the new census data.
Latino leaders said it must be done in a fair manner to give Latinos the political representation they deserve.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for Latinos," said Larry González, director of the Washington, D.C., office of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).
He said Latinos can "further their political empowerment by creating those districts that will give them a chance to elect a candidate of their choice."
The big decision will be the use of statistical sampling – a contentious issue for Republicans, who oppose it.
They see it as advantageous to Democrats because it could show population gains in areas where Latinos and other ethnic groups – who tend to vote Democratic – predominate.
Mr. González said NALEO is waiting to see which side President-elect George W. Bush will take. He has not taken a stand on the release of statistical sampling figures.
But Mr. González said the new census figures will still indicate a large undercount of Hispanics that statistical sampling could help remedy.
"This is a large civil-rights issue for Latinos," he said. "Will lawmakers apply a double standard and use it to get federal funds but not use it for redistricting?"
Mercedes Olivera can be reached at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265.
|
