Cozen Cities – April 16, 2025

April 16, 2025

Technology & Gig Economy

BALTIMORE—City Files Lawsuit Against DraftKings, FanDuel

The City of Baltimore filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel, alleging that the sports betting companies exploit vulnerable gamblers through promotional tactics.

CHICAGO—Drones, AI Among Proposals for New Gunshot Detection Tech

The City of Chicago is reviewing proposals submitted by various companies for new gunshot detection technology, including drones and AI systems, aiming to enhance public safety and improve emergency response times.

NEW YORK—City Council Passes NYPD Surveillance Legislation

The New York City Council passed three bills last week requiring the New York Police Department (NYPD) to disclose more about its use of surveillance technology, including facial recognition and drones, aiming to increase transparency, accountability, and oversight.

PHILADELPHIA—AI Cameras Deployed to Catch Illegal Bus Lane Parking

SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority will use AI-equipped cameras on more than 150 buses and trolleys to identify and ticket vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes, designed to improve traffic flow and safety.

Housing & Real Estate

BALTIMORE—City, State to Invest $50M in Vacant Home Rehabilitation

City and state officials announced a $50 million initiative to rehabilitate vacant homes in Baltimore, aiming to improve neighborhoods and attract new residents.

CHICAGO—Panel Reviews Mayor Johnson’s Affordable Housing Proposal

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) proposal to create a City-owned nonprofit housing developer to address Chicago’s affordable housing shortfall faced skepticism from a joint session of the City Council’s Housing and Finance Committees, which delayed a vote on the matter.

PHILADELPHIA—City Council Considers “Safe Healthy Homes Act”

The Philadelphia City Council is considering passing the “Safe Healthy Homes Act,” a bill package aimed at enhancing tenant protections, including establishing a relocation fund for displaced tenants and stricter enforcement of property maintenance codes.

RICHMOND—Mayor Avula Revises Funding for Mobile Home Repairs

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula (D) walked back his commitment to allocate $800,000 for mobile home repairs, leaving some residents concerned about ongoing issues like leaks, mold, and decay.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Council Advances Eviction Reform

The D.C. Council advanced a bill to expedite eviction proceedings for tenants with large unpaid rent balances, seeking to address the nearly $150 million in unpaid rent citywide while ensuring qualified tenants can stay in their homes.

Labor & Employment

BALTIMORE—City Council Reconsiders Tipped Worker Wage Increase

The Baltimore City Council is debating a bill to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers from $3.63 to $15 per hour over five years. Restaurant owners argue that this could lead to fewer jobs and higher costs in the long run.

Policy & Politics

NEW YORK—Mayor Adams Campaigns as Independent for Mayor

Following the dismissal of a federal corruption case against him, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced that he will skip the Democratic primary and run for reelection as an Independent, hoping to build support among unaffiliated voters and ethnic minorities.

Public Health & Safety

RICHMOND—City Council Considering Environmental Measures

The Richmond City Council is considering new sustainability measures, including a five-cent plastic bag tax, a ban on balloon releases, and a polystyrene ban for food retailers, to reduce waste and protect the environment.

Taxes & Spending

BALTIMORE—Mayor Scott Unveils Plan to Address $85M Deficit

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) unveiled his $4.6 billion budget plan to close the City’s $85 million deficit by increasing fees and cutting costs across agencies without raising property taxes.

BOSTON—Mayor Wu Releases $4.8B Proposed Budget

Mayor Michelle Wu (D) released her $4.8 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year, focusing on protections for essential workers, services, and public health programs, and emphasizing the need to prepare for federal funding uncertainty.

DETROIT—City Council Adopts FY26 Budget in Last-Minute Vote

The Detroit City Council approved the $3 billion fiscal year 2025-26 budget, allocating funds to various departments and initiatives, including transportation, museums, eviction defense, and homelessness, while addressing the City’s unique financial challenges.

NEW YORK—Nearly 2,000 Tickets Issued in First Week of Compost Crackdown

New York City issued nearly 2,000 tickets to property owners in the first week of enforcing a mandate to separate organic waste, meant to boost participation in curbside composting and improve waste management.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—City Utilizes 2009 Law to Address Budget Shortfall

D.C. officials plan to rely on a 2009 law to cover more than half of a $1.1 billion budget gap following Congress’ failure to pass the 2025 budget appropriation, but they must still cut $410 million in spending before the fiscal year ends.

Transportation & Mobility

CHICAGO—Transit Agencies Face $700M Fiscal Cliff as Federal Grants Expire

Chicago-based transit agencies are facing a fiscal cliff of over $700 million as they run out of federal COVID-19 grants, which will lead to drastic cuts in service across the CTA, Metra, Pace, and RTA agencies if not addressed. Currently, two bills aiming to address the deficit are being reviewed by state legislators.

LOS ANGELES—L.A. Metro Breaks Ground on G Line Enhancements Project

L.A. Metro broke ground on the Metro G Line Improvements Project, which includes bus rapid transit enhancements, safety features, and bike lockers, aiming to reduce travel times and improve connectivity ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

NEW YORK—Congestion Pricing Likely to Remain Until Fall

The federal government and New York transit officials have agreed to continue the congestion pricing program until midsummer, possibly into the fall. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation may apply pressure to end it sooner, with an April 20 deadline.

PHILADELPHIA—SEPTA Highlights Urgent Funding Needs

SEPTA unveiled its new budget proposal, emphasizing an urgent need for state and federal funding to prevent severe service reductions and fare increases to address a $213 million deficit. In related news, Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) announced plans to continue the popular Zero Fare program.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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