Entire neighborhood left out of Census count

Posted: Apr 16, 2010 8:41 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Apr 16, 2010 8:41 PM

An entire neighborhood in Paso Robles is wondering why it hasn't received census forms.

Residents living in the Traditions at River Oaks gated community say no one in their neighborhood has received a questionnaire.

They're concerned the city and county will lose money if they're not included. The U.S. Census Bureau says it's reviewing the situation.

"We feel like saying, 'Hey, what's about us?'"

Joan Miller is just one of hundreds of residents in this Paso Robles gated community wondering why they haven't received census questionnaires.

"We get our mail. We get our tax bills. We get ballot information. We have no problem with any of that," Miller said.

At first, she thought her form was lost.

"I contacted another people in the neighborhood and no one got a form," Miller said.

There are more than 200 homes in this subdivision behind me and not only are residents frustrated, they're concerned the government's mistake could end up costing tax payers.

Mailing the form costs around 42 cents. Waiting for a census worker to come by costs the government about $60 dollars.

"We can't see the waste of having someone go door to door. That seems like a foolish step. We're all right here," Miller said.

"How do we know this is the only development this has happened to," asked another resident.

Turns out. . it's not. Just down the street, at least two people in the Wedgewood community have no forms either.

"I thought maybe it was working it's way through the country," said Meg Ketchum of Paso Robles.

Residents say when they tried to contact the local bureau, they got nowhere and they didn't have an answer for us either.

"We'll have to check specifically on that community," said Priscilla Handley with the U.S. Census Bureau.

While the 2010 Census campaign pushes accuracy, right now, this community isn't counting on it.

The Traditions at River Oaks is five-years old. The census office says residents can still pick up forms from the Paso Robles Library or the Live Oak Christian Church.

If you do have a census form, you can still mail it in. Census workers will begin going door to door May 1.