WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced that Sean Clerget has joined as senior principal in its Washington, D.C., office.
February 2, 2026
Last week, the New York City Council voted to override 17 mayoral vetoes issued by former Mayor Eric Adams. The overridden legislation addresses worker protections; housing affordability and homeownership; accountability for gender‑motivated violence; expanding licensing and resources for street vendors; preventing wrongful deactivations of app‑based drivers and delivery workers; establishing wage, paid leave, and benefit standards for private‑sector security guards; prioritizing affordability in housing and homeownership programs; increasing transparency in cooperative housing sales; enacting lien‑sale reforms; and strengthening safeguards against conflicts of interest and misconduct in city contracting, among other initiatives. Three vetoes were not overridden and will remain in effect. These include the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), which would have given certain nonprofits and housing preservation groups the first opportunity to purchase distressed apartment buildings; legislation that would have required a minimum percentage of newly built, city‑financed affordable housing units to include two‑ or three‑bedroom apartments; and a bill that would have granted the Civilian Complaint Review Board direct access to police body‑worn camera footage rather than requiring the Board to obtain such footage through the New York City Police Department.
On Thursday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed Executive Order 12, requiring each city agency to designate an existing senior employee as a Chief Savings Officer reporting directly to the agency head. The order directs Chief Savings Officers to evaluate agency spending, analyze major cost drivers, identify high‑performing programs with clear and measurable outcomes, and recommend process improvements to reduce waste. The initiative emphasizes recurring savings and sustainable efficiencies rather than one‑time accounting measures. Chief Savings Officers will have 45 days to complete an initial comprehensive assessment and will submit updated evaluations every six months to track progress and identify additional opportunities for savings and efficiency.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced several commissioner appointments across city government over the past week, including leadership changes at key agencies. Lisa Garcia was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, bringing prior experience as Regional Administrator for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 and in senior roles at New York State environmental agencies, and will oversee the city’s environmental protection and water infrastructure. Dr. Alister Martin was named Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and will oversee the city’s public health system, including disease monitoring and response. Yume Kitasei was appointed Commissioner of the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and will oversee the city’s workforce, assets, properties, and procurement operations following prior service in senior mayoral roles. Sandra Escamilla‑Davies was named Commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and will oversee afterschool programs, the Summer Youth Employment Program, and other youth and community‑based services. For more information on all appointments announced in the past week, see here, here, and here.
Mayor Mamdani also announced the creation of a new World Cup Czar position to coordinate city agencies, mayoral offices, and private‑sector partners as New York City prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Maya Handa was appointed to the new role. Handa previously served as a political advisor during Mayor Mamdani’s general election campaign, as a member of the Mamdani transition team, and as campaign manager for Zellnor for NYC.
Co-Chair, New York Practice
Co-Chair, New York Practice
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.
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.
February 23, 2026
February 23, 2026
February 23, 2026
