Few in senior housing unit receive Census forms

Most residents of Leisure Village, a 1,500-unit housing development for seniors in Ridge, have not received census forms, possibly because they were inaccurately addressed.

While a U.S. Census Bureau official would not confirm the situation at Leisure Village - citing confidentiality rules - he said addresses that don't receive census forms will be visited by census takers when the bureau's field operation begins next month.

"If we don't get the questionnaire back - whether the postal system didn't deliver it or it was lost - then we'll visit," said David Kraiker, coordinator of geography at the Census Bureau's New York regional office.

Kraiker said residents who didn't receive a census form may also pick one up at a census Questionnaire Assistance Center. He added they may still be visited by a census taker.

Nancy Dybus, a Leisure Village resident, contacted Newsday Thursday saying she had not received the census form. "I only know a few people here who received the census," Dybus said, "and we have 1,500 units."

Kraiker said it's "very commendable that people out there are asking for their census questionnaires."

Charles Sagar, president of Leisure Village's board of directors, said, "to the best of my knowledge, no one has received anything" from the Census Bureau.

It was unclear why census forms were not delivered to the complex for "active adults" aged 55 and older. Ann Langella, an administrative assistant at the village, said there was talk of a problem with the way census forms slated for delivery to village residents were addressed and that they may have been sent back by the post office. But Langella said that could not be confirmed.

Tom Gaynor, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, would say only that postal officials "followed the instructions of the Census Bureau" and referred inquiries to the bureau.