Broad Street Brief: Police Commissioner Resigns; SEPTA Route Redesign

September 8, 2023

City Hall

Commissioner Outlaw Resigns from PPD for New Job

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw announced yesterday that she will be resigning at the end of this month to accept a position as deputy security chief at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She became the first Black woman to hold this position when she was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney in 2019 and has led the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) through the COVID-19 pandemic, social justice protests, record levels of gun violence, and severe departmental staffing shortages. First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford will temporarily fill the position while the department and the city’s next mayor search for a replacement.

Around Town

Chinatown Stitch Concept Stage Nearly Complete

On Tuesday, city officials unveiled three design concepts for the planned cap over the Vine Street Expressway colloquially known as the “Chinatown Stitch.” The project will reconnect the historic neighborhood at 10th and 13th streets and will combine green spaces, public plazas, and traffic-calming measures.

SEPTA Releases Finalized “Bus Revolution” Plan

After six years of planning and public engagement, SEPTA completed the bus route system’s redesign,  dubbed “Bus Revolution.” As the agency’s largest endeavor since the 1960s, the redesign will modernize the lines, increase service, and decrease wait times.

Philadelphia Schools Close Early Due to Extreme Heat

With temperatures soaring to the mid-90s and the heat index reaching 101 degrees, 86 schools in the Philadelphia School District closed early during students’ first week back due to inadequate air conditioning in the school buildings.

Philadelphia’s “Hot Labor Summer”

This summer thousands of workers across Philadelphia, including Teamster drivers, coffee shop workers, and educators and employees of arts and culture institutions, organized strikes, rallies, and marches and negotiated contracts with employers, making the city an epicenter of the nation’s rising trend in labor union activity.

PHL Breaks Ground on Next Phase of Bathroom Renovation Project

On Tuesday, city officials and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) leadership broke ground on the next phase of its airport-wide bathroom renovation project, this time tackling Terminal A-East. As the project moves to phase five of nine, it will focus on new lactation rooms and pet relief areas. It is expected to be complete by 2028.

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.

Explore Articles and News

See All News