Planning With Neighborhoods by William M. Rohe & Lauren B. Gates

Author:William M. Rohe & Lauren B. Gates [Rohe, William M. & Gates, Lauren B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780807816387
Google: U0G7AAAAIAAJ
Goodreads: 40885730
Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Published: 1985-01-15T12:11:31+00:00

Improved Citizen-Government Relations

Although survey respondents did not freely offer improved citizen-government relations as a program accomplishment in response to the open-ended question, when directly asked if citizen-government relations had improved as a result of the neighborhood planning program, over 80 percent of the survey respondents judged the relationship between citizens and government to have moderately or greatly improved. These re-suits are presented in Table 5.5.

Many case study respondents mentioned improved citizen-government relations in response to an open-ended question on program accomplishments. This response was particularly common in Cincinnati, St. Paul, and Raleigh. Respondents emphasized the programs’ positive influence on the citizens’ perceptions of the cooperation and responsiveness shown by city officials. A citizen representative from St. Paul commented: “I believe there is a little more trust in government. Less conflict. Less of an advisory role or position. Citizens understand and are more supportive of city government.” In Wilmington the planning director identified a new attitude among city officials. “City government has been more responsive to citizen needs and viewpoints. For example, the director of public works now asks if an idea has been checked out with the neighborhoods. That never happened five years ago.” In Cincinnati citizen representatives and the program director agreed that the program had facilitated a cooperative attitude and involved citizens in more directive rather than reactive action. This, they suggested, was well received by the city council.

The responses of case study respondents to a direct question on the programs’ influence on citizen-government relations, however, were more mixed. In fact, the majority of respondents in Atlanta felt that the program had worsened relations between the citizens and government. Some suggested that the heightened expectations created by the program were being frustrated by government officials who, after asking for citizen input on decisions, were not giving it serious weight. Others felt that the government was incapable of helping them with some of the more serious problems like housing deterioration. In Cincinnati, St. Paul, and Wilmington the responses were decidedly mixed. Some citizen representatives in Cincinnati, for example, felt the program “caused more people to complain.” In St. Paul the typical response was a qualified yes. One citizen representative commented that the relationship between citizens and government is “considerably better than what it was. Yet, there is still a feeling of suspicion.” Moreover, a neighborhood planner answered, “Yes and no; the program has allowed people to understand [the government process], but every now and then the program reinforces the negative feelings between the citizens and government.” Similarly, in Wilmington a citizen representative commented that, “to a certain extent, citizens are still afraid or do not want to be bothered because they think the council will not listen.” A neighborhood planner felt that “the relations between citizens and government are the same or have improved a little. Citizens still doubt government or anyone who works for government.” In Houston and Raleigh, however, a clear majority felt that citizen-government relations had improved as a result of the program.

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