Broad Street Brief: Building Workers Rally; I-95 Project Begins

September 1, 2023

City Hall

Councilmember Johnson Running for Council President

District 2 City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson announced his candidacy for city council president in February, making him one of five members running to succeed Council President Darrell Clarke. If the youthful and popular councilmember is elected by his peers, Johnson could have an impact on the city’s policies for decades.

City Releases Updated Gun Violence Resource Guide

The city of Philadelphia has released an updated guide with resources intended to help residents address gun violence in their communities. The guide is a one-stop shop for information on housing, education, employment, health, and victim’s services.

Election Update

Democratic Mayoral Nominee Parker Speaks at Building Workers March, Rally

On Tuesday, Democratic mayoral nominee Cherelle Parker joined members of Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ) — which represents the city’s cleaners, janitors, custodians, and window cleaners — for a march and rally in Center City in favor of wage increases and health care benefit improvements. The union will be negotiating its contracts in October.

Around Town

SEPTA to Expand Key Advantage Program to City Employees, Low-Income Residents

On Friday, nearly all city of Philadelphia employees and thousands of residents living at or near the federal poverty level will be given access to SEPTA’s Key Advantage program, which provides free fare passes to participants. The move represents the program’s largest expansion to date.

Project to Cap I-95 to Break Ground Next Week; I-95 Repair Project Ongoing

The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation will break ground next week on a revolutionary $329 million project over a portion of I-95, developing a new park that reconnects Center City to the waterfront. In other interstate-related news, work crews are installing beams to replace the section of the interstate that collapsed in Northeast Philadelphia earlier this summer.

New Residential Developments Transforming Formerly Industrial Part of Kensington

A section of Kensington, north of Lehigh Avenue, is experiencing a development renaissance with approximately 1,600 new apartments proposed, under construction, or completed.

Drexel Piloting New Cell, Gene Therapy Program

Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems is piloting a new minor focused on cell and gene therapy. The new curriculum — funded by New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb — is geared toward building a technical workforce in the greater Philadelphia region to support the rapidly growing industry.

Philadelphia Students to Return to Classrooms After Labor Day Weekend

Philadelphia students return to classrooms next week amid challenges with the school district’s building conditions, and educator and bus driver staffing shortages. Here is everything that parents and guardians should know about the upcoming academic year.

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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