By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-960047.mp3
Albany, NY – New census figures show Hispanics making great strides nationally and statewide, as we hear in this report from Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas.
Figures recently released by the Associated Press based on 2010 Census Bureau data show Hispanics accounted for more than half of the U.S. population increase over the past 10 years, crossing a new census population milestone by reaching 50 million -- that's 1 in 6 Americans.
The Hispanic population in New York State has also experienced substantial growth. Assemblyman Peter Rivera is the longest-serving Hispanic lawmaker in New York - he notes the number of Hispanics is the state has grown from 2.8 million to 3.4 million, representing 17.6% of the total population. Douglas Gurack is a Sociology Professor at Cornell: he says New York would have been losing population if it hadn't been for immigration. 2010 Census data shows Hispanic populations doubled in many smaller New York cities, and tripled in Little Falls and Rensselaer.
The state's overall population has grown by 2 per cent to over 19-million people over the 10-year period. Those numbers mean New York is poised to lose two seats in congress, bringing the state's delegation down to 27. The New York City metro area and western New York each could lose a seat under redistricting. Peter Rivera says its time for the Hispanic community to make a demand on the political process. Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group suggests that any shift in political power, fueled by demographic changes, could be erased by "political mapmaking."
Not everyone accepts census figures at face value: Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New York City will challenge its 2010 U.S. Census count. Bloomberg tells the New York daily News he believes census takers couldn't get in touch with immigrants and "simply recorded their homes as 'vacant.'"