Citizens' Group Uses 'Outreach' Grant For Lawsuit

"It is a classic David and Goliath tale, the ragtag neighborhood group versus the deep-pocketed developers. But in this case David has its own deep-pocketed ally in its corner, just out of sight." This group, founded to promote debate about development issues in Somerville, Massachusetts, has sued the City to stop redevelopment of a former mall site into a mixed use complex. They say that the inclusion of large-scale retail in that development will ruin it. The City believes that they have struck a good compromise between the public, the developer, and existing leases on the site. "The opponents deserve much credit for pushing Somerville to think beyond only big-box retailers and more about balanced development. But they have not shown they know anything about compromise. Instead, having lost the political battle, they have pressed their case in a narrow lawsuit." This lawsuit is funded by money they received from a foundation. In their application to the foundation, they stated that "We would not apply these funds to cover cost incurred by our legal actions." Do the ends justify the means?

Thanks to Jeff Levine