The City of Burien will be conducting a special census of the newly-annexed southern portion of the North Highline area between March 12th and April 25th.

This area, which contains approximately 14,100 residents, officially becomes part of Burien April 1st. Residents approved annexation during the August 18, 2009 election.

As part of the annexation process, the City is required to conduct a special census of all housing units. Households in the annexation area will be visited by a census worker wearing a fluorescent vest and a City of Burien identification badge between March 12 and April 25, 2010.

The only information required in this census is the names of all individuals residing in a household. Annexation residents may also provide this census information directly, at any time after March 12th, by calling the Burien Census Hotline (available 24 hours a day) at 1-800-635-6594.

From what we understand, this work is actually being contracted through a company called Calm River, which, according to their website:

Calm River Demographics focuses on providing comprehensive census, demographic and mapping solutions for cities, counties, non-profits, universities, libraries, healthcare and human service organizations.

According to the city:

Any information provided will be held confidential. Cooperating with this special annexation census ensures that the City of Burien receives a full share of state funds allotted for essential public services.

This special annexation census is in addition to the U.S. Census conducted by the federal Census Bureau later this spring in which residents will receive a 10-question census form in the mail. More information about the federal census is available at http://2010.census.gov.

Residents should be aware that neither census will require them to provide their social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account information or pay any fees. Residents should not provide such details to anyone who claims to be a census worker and asks for this kind of information. Legitimate census workers will have identification badges with a phone number that residents can call if they would like to verify their identities.

Residents may contact the City at (206) 241-4647 with questions or concerns.

According to a press release, nearby school South Seattle Community College is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to “help achieve a complete and accurate count of the nation’s growing population.”

The release says:

By supporting the 2010 Census, the college hopes to raise awareness of this important initiative and work to increase the overall response rate of historically hard-to-count college and university students.

The partnership will involve sharing information about the census on the college website, www.southseattle.edu, and encouraging students to complete and return their 2010 Census forms. Off-campus sites NewHolly and Georgetown will also participate in outreach activities.

In addition, a Question Assistance Center (QAC) will be established on the main campus in Cascade Court room 123 (former site of Bernie’s Bakery), where staff will answer questions from students and members of the community.  The QAC will be staffed from 11 am to 7 pm on the following dates:

• Tuesday, March 16
• Wednesday, March 17
• Tuesday, April 6
• Wednesday, April 7
• Tuesday, April 13

South Seattle Community College is located at 6000-16th Ave. SW, in West Seattle. Driving directions: www.southseattle.edu/campus/map.htm#sscc.

For more information about the 2010 Census, visit 2010census.gov.

Wednesday, April 14

According to a recent King County Public Health report, local Pacific Islanders are more likely than other ethnic groups to smoke, have premature and unhealthy babies, to be obese and poor, and to die young.

This is the first study of the county’s 15,000 Pacific Islanders; previously they were grouped with Asians and that is why a lot of these statistics got buried or overlooked.

The goal of the study’s release is to encourage the community to help improve health behaviors, garner further research, and create better support.

In comparison to other ethnicities, adult Pacific Islanders are one-and-one-half more likely to smoke and twice as likely to be obese. Also, P.I. children are twice as likely to live in poverty, be overweight or smoke.

The death rate for P.I.s is also 60 percent higher than others, according to the report.

As of the 2000 census, Pacific Islanders, who were still grouped with Asians, made up 23.7% of White Center’s population.

The full report can be downloaded here (PDF file).

So…are you a Pacific Islander?

Does this information make you want to change any behaviors?

Please comment below…