Broad Street Brief: One-Month Election Countdown

October 6, 2023

City Hall

Upcoming Committee Hearings

Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar year, watch here.

  • The Committee on Children & Youth hearing on Tuesday, October 10 at 2 p.m. at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 West Cheltenham Avenue examines Philadelphia’s response to human trafficking.
  • The Committee on Transportation & Public Utilities hearing on Wednesday, October 11 at 11 p.m. examines the impacts of and potential funding alternatives for the Broad Street Line extension, which would provide service to the underserved Northeast along Roosevelt Boulevard.

Former Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez Returns to City Hall

Former Councilmember Maria Quiñones Sánchez (District 7) has temporarily returned to City Hall as director of strategic initiatives. In her role, she will communicate the City Council’s priorities to the new mayor.

Election Update

Cherelle Parker Appears on “Battleground Politics” to Discuss the Public Health, Safety, Proposed Sixers Arena

In the most recent episode of NBC10 reporter Lauren Mayk’s “Battleground Politics,” Democratic mayoral nominee Cherelle Parker discussed her stance on a wide range of issues, including the search for a new police commissioner, the police-involved shooting of Eddie Irizarry, the proposed Center City Sixers arena, and the city’s opioid crisis.

Republican Councilmember O’Neill Faces Serious Challenge From Democrat Gary Masino

For the first time in decades, the 11-term incumbent and sole Republican on the City Council, Councilmember Brian O’Neill (District 10), is facing his first serious challenge from Democrat and union leader Gary Masino.

Around Town

Overdose Deaths Rose 11% Overall, Nearly 20% Among Black Philadelphians in 2022

According to data released by the city’s Department of Public Health, Black Philadelphians are increasingly being impacted by the opioid epidemic. In 2022, the city saw a 20% increase in unintentional deaths among Black residents, breaking the 2021 record of an 11% increase.

Penn mRNA Researchers Win Nobel Prize

University of Pennsylvania researchers, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking mRNA research, which paved the way for the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccines. This news further reinforces Philadelphia’s status as a booming center for biomedical research.

Drexel Receives $20 Million ComPASS Grant to Coordinate Health Inequity Research

Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health received a $20 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society program (ComPASS) to coordinate health inequity research. Dornsife will oversee projects by 25 community organizations nationwide focused on addressing systemic racism, lack of access to healthy foods, and other barriers to adequate health care.

Many Police Officers Return to Work Following Investigation Into Heart & Lung Benefit Abuse

Following the Philadelphia Inquirer’s investigation and a subsequent 2021 city audit into a police disability program, the city saw a 46% decrease in the number of police officers participating in the program. Compared to other major cities, Philadelphia’s percentage of missing police officers in 2021 was staggeringly high, which many have attributed to abuse of Pennsylvania’s the Heart and Lung benefit.

Suburban Spotlight

Meet Sean Kilkenny, One of Philadelphia Suburbs’ Most Influential Democrats

Last year, lawyer Sean Kilkenny was put on the map after being featured in one of U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s campaign ads, where Kilkenny defended Fetterman’s record with the state Board of Pardons. Now, the lawyer’s client list includes local Democrat-led government entities across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, and he is currently being featured in campaign ads for the upcoming Pennsylvania Supreme Court election.

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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