ADVISORY/Brian Currey - O'Melveny & Myers LLP Partner and National Representative of Plaintiffs - Able to Provide Insight and Commentary on Tomorrow's 2000 Census Hearing.

Business, Political and Legal Reporters

ADVISORY ... for Friday (March 30)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

MEDIA ALERT

March 29, 2001

A Decision Against Adjusting the 2000 Figures Will Lead to a Loss

of Federal Funding and Underrepresentation for Many Areas

Arguments Being Heard Tomorrow On Whether or Not to Order the

Commerce Department to Release Adjusted 2000 Census Data

Background

On March 6, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans announced that he would not adjust the 2000 census to correct the disproportionate undercounting of millions of minorities, children, recent immigrants, and the poor. Unless the census data are adjusted to correct this undercount, urban areas across the country each stand to lose millions of dollars in federal funds. Also, because the census is used for congressional, state, and local redistricting, people living within these cities and counties will be underrepresented.

More than a dozen cities and counties, as well as elected officials from across the country, have filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles requesting the release of adjusted census data. The hearing will be heard tomorrow, March 30th, at 1:30 p.m. (PST), at the United States District Court, Royal Federal Building, Courtroom 740, 255 East Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

Source:

Brian Currey, a partner in O'Melveny & Myers LLP's' Los Angeles office, is representing the plaintiffs across the nation.

Possible Discussion Topics for Mr. Currey:

- The ramifications of the court's decision and what these cities stand to lose
should raw data be used

- The standards that should be used when deciding which data to use

- The basic civil rights issues at stake

- How cities and counties can get involved in the fight for adjusted numbers

Contacts:

If you would like to arrange an interview with Mr. Currey, please contact: