ABSTRACT
The problem comes when planners and public officials try to serve the interests of the minority in the face of a citizen participation process that may be heavily weighted to protect the interests of the majority. This chapter identifies citizen participation issues for the 1990s and beyond, particularly those involving equity. It summarizes some of the innovative forms of structured involvement that have emerged in the past five years, drawing upon examples that show promise for protecting the interests of low-income and minority neighborhoods and other traditionally underrepresented populations. The design and execution of effective programs to involve citizenry at all stages of the community development process have been subjects of interest to planners for some time. The ability to animate alternative futures and to create images of hypothetical forms and patterns of development should have very positive implications for citizen participation.
