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.
Note to Readers: This will be the final newsletter of 2025. We will resume publication the week of January 5, 2026.
On Thursday, December 11th, the City Council unanimously passed legislation to launch PhillySaves, a program modeled on state-facilitated “auto-IRA” initiatives that let workers invest via payroll deductions at no cost to employers. Voters will have to approve the creation of an investment management board through a May primary election ballot measure.
On Thursday, December 11th, the City Council approved legislation to expand outdoor dining in the city by easing the permitting process. The Council also voted to ban third-party businesses that secure and resell restaurant reservations without authorization from the establishment. Both measures were passed unanimously and now head to the desk of Mayor Cherelle Parker.
On Wednesday, December 17th, SEPTA’s largest workers union, Transport Workers Union Local 234 voted to ratify its new contract with the Philadelphia-based transit agency. The contract passed with 96% of TWU Local 234’s members voting in favor of it. The two‑year agreement includes annual wage increases, improved benefits for new employees, and the first boost to night‑shift differential pay in nearly three decades.
During the Goals and Guardrails special action meeting hosted by the Philadelphia School Board on Thursday, December 11th, in a 6-2 vote, the board allowed the district to consider transferring vacant school buildings to the city. The board heard from registered speakers, including representatives from West Oak Lane Charter School, who expressed interest in purchasing the vacant Ada Lewis Middle School building. Board members Crystal Cubbage and ChauWing Lam voted against the measure.
The city will institute a second trash pickup day for North Philadelphia, beginning January 5th, 2026. Building off of Mayor Parker’s $11.9 million initiative to bring twice-weekly trash collection to Center City and South Philadelphia as a key component of making the city clean and green, the program will now roll out in North Philadelphia following an additional $7 million investment in trash trucks. The initiative will cover Vine Street to Hunting Park Avenue, Broad Street to the Schuylkill, Vince Street to Glenwood Avenue, and Broad Street to the Delaware River.
On Monday, December 15th, The University of Pennsylvania launched a fund called StartUP, backed by $10 million from the university to make seed investments in companies funded by Penn researchers. Each company will get an investment of up to $250,000. The university’s office of the chief innovation officer will manage the fund and evaluate applications with the help of external advisers.
Philadelphia-based Janney Montgomery Scott LLC decided to shift from the investment banking business to focus exclusively on developing their wealth advisory business under their private-equity owner KKR. The firm made this “strategic decision” to sell the rest of their bond and investment banking units, including staff in Philadelphia. Janney officials hope to close the deal in early 2026.
SEPTA officials revealed their Wissahickon Transportation Center in Manayunk, now six times the size of the previous bus station and expected to serve 5,000 bus riders a day. Construction began in 2023 and was revealed Monday, December 16th. The improvements include weather-protected waiting areas, better lighting, signs, security cameras, improved crosswalks, and more. The new center is part of the city’s larger Wissahickon Gateway Plan to grow and improve the area where the Schuylkill and Wissahickon Creek meet at Ridge Avenue and Main Street.
All 17 of Philadelphia’s City Council members have indicated they will pursue reelection in 2027. As of now, no current members are expected to vacate their seats for other offices until after 2027, meaning that if they follow through, this could mark the first time in modern history that the entire Council seeks new four-year terms. The 2027 primary is still 18 months away, unexpected developments could reshape the race.
For the second year in a row, the Delaware County Council approved a double-digit property tax increase. In a 4-1 vote on Wednesday, December 10th, the board approved a $340 million budget that will raise the property taxes 19%. The new increase will take effect next month.
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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 18, 2025
December 18, 2025
December 17, 2025
