Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Martin K. Johnson as principal in its Richmond office.
The Philadelphia City Council moved forward with the first-year budget for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s (D) Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative increasing spending to $277 million and directing most funds to households earning 60% of area median income or less. The amendment will likely delay the issuance of $400 million in bonds needed to finance the program. A final vote is scheduled for December 11.
City Councilmember Mike Driscoll (D-District 6) introduced legislation to exempt sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs from Philadelphia’s business income tax, aiming to ease financial burdens after the city eliminated a previous exemption earlier this year.
City Councilmember Mark Squilla’s (D-District 1) proposed legislation would give property owners more notice before historic nominations and add new provisions to the city’s preservation ordinance. Supporters call it a transparency measure, while critics warn it could enable demolitions and weaken protections for historic properties.
Philadelphia released its updated Vision Zero Action Plan, outlining strategies to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030 through targeted safety improvements on high-risk streets, expanded bike infrastructure, and proposed state-level measures for speed enforcement and traffic camera authority.
District Attorney Larry Krasner (D) asked the City Council for additional funding to prevent staff turnover and expand investigations into organized criminal operations. The Finance Committee did not commit to his request during the mid-year budget hearing.
The Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year, which can be streamed here.
Philadelphia native Quinta Brunson partnered with the School District of Philadelphia to create a fund that will provide grants for field trips twice a year, seeking to remove financial barriers and expand enrichment opportunities for public school students.
The district is expanding autistic support classes to reduce disruptive transitions for students with disabilities. At the same time, a facilities plan that could close schools has raised concerns about continuity and additional disruptions for these students.
The city began work on a project to install new sidewalks and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps around Logan Square to prepare for major 2026 events, including Semiquincentennial events.
Philadelphia will open a new PhilaPort terminal next spring under a deal with Norwegian Cruise Line, marking the city’s first cruises in over a decade with 41 voyages planned in the next two years.
Only 1.8% of homes in the Philadelphia metro changed hands in the first nine months of 2025, consistent with a nationwide slowdown as high costs and economic uncertainty keep homeowners from selling.
Daniel H. Weiss, former head of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and past president of Haverford and Lafayette Colleges, was named the new director and CEO of the Philadelphia Art Museum, bringing experience in financial stabilization and strategic planning.
Despite rising costs and reduced state and federal resources, Chester County officials project no property tax increase in 2026, distinguishing the county from other Philadelphia suburbs planning hikes.
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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.
December 29, 2025
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