WASHINGTON, September 1, 2026 — Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O'Connor, today announced the addition of Rodney Whitlock, Debbie Curtis, Katie Waldo, and Maddie News to the firm's federal health policy practice in Washington, D.C.
September 8, 2026
Last week, Mayor Mamdani signed several executive orders, including Executive Order 20, which established the Mayor’s Office of Worker Power and directed agencies to strengthen coordination and enforcement of worker protection laws; Executive Order 21, which designated September 11 as an annual Citywide Day of Remembrance and Service; and Executive Order 22, which created a new citywide continuity and mission assurance framework to help ensure essential government services remain operational during emergencies and other disruptions.
Mayor Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for students in 2-K through 8th grade during the 2026-27 school year, along with new screen time guidelines and a review of educational technology tools. The policy also establishes limited AI pilot programs for up to 50,000 high school students, twice-yearly AI literacy modules for all high school students, and a coalition to assess the policy’s impact and make recommendations for future school years.
Mayor Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice released New York City’s first Citywide Racial Equity Plan, a government-wide framework establishing eight goals through 2034 to address disparities in housing, education, employment, maternal health, transportation, broadband access, and the justice system. The plan, developed with input from New Yorkers and 45 city agencies, includes citywide benchmarks, agency-level commitments, and biennial progress reports to track implementation and outcomes.
Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Health Department announced new measures to strengthen the City’s response to Legionnaires’ disease following the Upper East Side cluster earlier this summer, including enhanced cooling tower registration and tracking, a new public mapping tool for registered cooling towers, accelerated enforcement procedures, expanded testing capabilities, and the creation of a scientific advisory panel to evaluate emerging cooling technologies and prevention strategies.
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.
September 9, 2026
September 8, 2026
September 3, 2026
