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NY Census Figures Released; Bloomberg Says They Don't 'Make Any Sense'

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Census 2010 figures for New York state show minimal growth in New York City over the past decade and population losses in the largest upstate cities.

Census officials say New York City grew by 167,000 people to 8.2 million. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he believes census workers missed many immigrants and undercounted.

1010 WINS' Stan Brooks with more on Bloomberg's reaction to the Census numbers

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After citing a Census statistic that showed the population of Queens increased only by 1,300 people over 10 years, Bloomberg said "it doesn't make any sense."

WCBS 880's Rich Lamb has more on the mayor's miscount concerns

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Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was equally miffed.

"I gotta tell you I'm flabbergasted by these numbers, mayor. I think they made a big, big mistake," Markowitz said.

Buffalo lost 10.7 percent of its population, Rochester lost 4.2 percent and Syracuse lost 1.5 percent of its population.

The 2010 numbers released Thursday will be used to guide officials drawing New York's congressional and state legislative districts for the next decade. New York's current 29-member House delegation will drop to 27, its lowest level since 1823.

The U.S. Census Bureau in December reported that the state's population grew slightly in the past decade to 19.4 million.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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