CITY PLANS LAWSUIT, CALLS CENSUS UNDERCOUNT COSTLY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Facing a loss of millions of dollars of federal aid, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday authorized legal action to try to force the Census Bureau to scientifically adjust its figures.

At the same time, the council called on Gov. Gray Davis and the state Legislature to join in the lawsuit to force an adjustment in the census figures that will be used to determine not only federal allocation of money but political boundaries.

If the numbers are not changed, the city of Los Angeles could miss $375 million and the county would see a loss of $1.8 billion, officials said.

``What we have to remind people is that if this doesn't change, it doesn't mean the people aren't here,'' Councilman Nate Holden said. ``We will still have to provide the programs. The only difference is the cost will come from local and state taxpayers.''

U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans last week agreed with the recommendation from the Census Bureau to go with the raw figures and not allow for any adjustment to deal with any potential undercount.

``We are going to make a full frontal assault on this decision,'' said Brian Curry, an attorney from O'Melveny and Myers, who is working with the city on the census issue. ``We are asking the courts to ask the decision be reversed and have adjusted data used.''

Deputy City Attorney Jessica Heinz said preliminary estimates are that the city might be undercounted by as many as 154,000 people, resulting in the loss of $37.5 million in federal money for each of the next 10 years.

City Attorney James Hahn said officials from several other cities are expected to join Los Angeles in the legal action.

``Residents of Los Angeles need to know that the fight to make sure everyone is counted will continue,'' Hahn said.