Citizens of New London, Connecticut have expressed their displeasure over Pfizer’s plan to leave the city.  Eight years ago, when the city of New London looked to bolster its floundering economy, Pfizer stepped in and purchased a 26 acre plot under a deal with the city government that it would pay just one-fifth of its property taxes for the first decade.  Part of this move was spurred on by the New London Development Corporation, which the city had originally set up to forcibly purchase nine acres of residential property using eminent domain laws in an attempt to commercialize the town.  City residents, outraged, sued the town to keep their land all the way up to the Supreme Court level, where they lost in highly contested 5-4 decision that helped to rewrite the power of land use laws in this nation.

Now the residents have lost their homes, and Pfizer has left the city, taking 1400 jobs with it.  Though Pfizer had little to do with this seized land, residents are outraged as the city’s plan to bring in funding has now left them with double-failings: loss of home and work.  Pfizer says that the move was calculated to bring them better earnings and that most of the jobs will be moved to nearby Groton, Connecticut, but this is little consolation to the residents.  The acquired land is now barren with no developers to build the proposed condominiums, hotels, and stores, and the empty Pfizer complex stands as an empty eyesore, with no bids for a replacement company.

The study of law can often be a confusing and difficult undertaking, and as a result is often confined to those who are trained in the field of law to understand.  Blogs, however, can be a great way for information to disseminate, and at a much more palatable level.  With the rise of the “Green Movement”, the thirst for environmental law knowledge is growing, and thus the need for blogs that can share this information in an interesting and understandable way has grown.  The following blogs have sprung up to fill this need, and have excelled in their efforts to do so, becoming valuable, important resources.  Note that they are in no particular order, and are all equally valuable.

1. Law of the Land

This blog is run by the Albany Law School Associate Dean and Professor, Patricia Salkin, and discusses court decisions, current laws, policies, and governmental actions that guide or impact land use and community development

2. Land Use Prof Blog

This blog is managed by a number of law professors around the country and discusses land use and environmental law topics.

3. Green Building Law

This blog is run by Shari Shapiro, an attorney, who focuses on laws affecting green building and sustainable building designs, as well as land use laws.

4. Abbott & Kindermann Land Use Law Blogs

This law blog is run by the members of the firm Abbot & Kinderman and discusses land use law in California.