Broad Street Brief: A Look Forward to City Council in the Fall; Kensington Sweep Results in 175 Arrests

June 30, 2023

City Hall

City Council is Out for the Summer; What Will Fall Bring?

City Council is officially on summer recess, but there are plenty of high-profile issues that are sure to be front and center when the legislative body reconvenes in the fall, including continued discussions about policies to address violence and improve public safety, potential decisions regarding the fate of the proposed Center City Sixers arena, and the race for council president.

Around Town

Philadelphia Police Execute Warrant Sweep Resulting in 175 Arrests for Drug Use, Gun Possession

Last week, Philadelphia police conducted a targeted sweep of the city’s Kensington neighborhood that resulted in 175 arrests for illegal gun and drug possession. The operation was, according to Mayor Jim Kenney, a “necessary step for accountability.”

DA Krasner Announces $175,000 in Funding for Local Anti-Violence Programs

On Monday, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced a new round of $175,000 in funding for Philadelphia violence prevention programs. The most recent funding — as well as previous rounds of funding distributed and audited by the Philadelphia Foundation and totaling more than a million dollars — is money that has been seized through asset forfeiture.

FTA Awards SEPTA $80 Million for Bus Facilities Upgrades

On Monday, SEPTA CEO Leslie Richards — along with several Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and local and federal elected officials — announced that the transit authority had been awarded $80 million to support upgrades to its bus facilities. SEPTA will be using the federal dollars to advance its goal of a zero-emission fleet.

As Moms for Liberty Meets in Philadelphia This Week, Historian Groups Speak Out

Moms for Liberty — an organization behind many recent book bans and parental rights movements that has been deemed “antigovernment” and “extremist” by the Southern Poverty Law Center — is hosting its annual summit in Philadelphia this week, which will feature guests like former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The group has drummed up controversy in the leadup to the event, with several historian affinity groups among the most recent to denounce an upcoming welcome dinner to be hosted at the Museum of the American Revolution.

Philadelphia Less Impacted by Trend of Remote Workers Leaving Major Cities

Despite a national trend that saw remote workers leaving major cities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent analysis of Census Bureau American Community Survey data by the New York Times shows that Philadelphia was impacted comparatively little, due in part to its lower cost of living.

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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