Broad Street Brief: Short-Term Rentals; Calder Gardens 2025; Philadelphia Heat

July 27, 2023

City Hall

Upcoming Committee Hearings

Philadelphia City Council holds several public hearings throughout the legislative calendar. Watch the hearings here.

  • The Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 2 at 11 a.m. to investigate the potential use of an independent authority to bond and manage school facilities modernization.

Election Update

Republican Mayoral Candidate David Oh Running as a “Reformer”

While Democratic mayoral nominee Cherelle Parker enjoys an 7-1 voter registration advantage over her Republican opponent, Parker’s former City Council colleague David Oh joins the 100th mayoral race as a “reformer.”

Around Town

District Attorney’s Office Pledges Help to Victims of Elder Abuse

In response to rising rates of elder abuse, an 86% increase from 2021 to 2022, the Office of the District Attorney established a special division to investigate caretakers who may be taking advantage of their patients. The program will also help victims find a new caretaker if they choose to take legal action against a current caretaker.

Woman Shot by Deputy LTO in March Files Historic Lawsuit

Angel Davis, who was shot in the head during a home eviction by a deputy landlord-tenant officer, filed a historic lawsuit Tuesday against the shooter, the rental company, and the city’s court-appointed landlord-tenant officer. The move challenges the city’s for-profit eviction system, which has come under fire following recent and multiple incidents.

City Takes Aim at Unlicensed Short-Term Rentals

The city’s Department of Licenses & Inspections has begun to crack down on unlicensed Airbnb, VRBO, and other short-term rental listings in Philadelphia. The move comes several months after the city passed industry regulations.

Calder Gardens to Open on Benjamin Franklin Parkway by Late 2024, Early 2025

Philadelphia’s own Alexander Calder, best known for his innovative and colorful kinetic sculptures, will soon be honored with his own cultural institution situated on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway across from the Barnes Foundation. Lead funding from the Neubauer Family Foundation made the $70 million Calder Gardens possible. Construction began last month and is slated to wrap up by late 2024 or early 2025.

Measuring Philadelphia’s Hottest Neighborhoods

Like many cities across the nation, Philadelphia is experiencing extreme summer heat, though some neighborhoods are hotter than others due to the “urban heat-island effect.” Utilizing data from satellite imagery, building footprints, census tract population data, and more, nonprofit Climate Central has created a model to analyze the temperature variations among neighborhoods.

University of Pennsylvania, Penn Museum Spearhead Community Archaeology Project

The University of Pennsylvania and Penn Museum are embarking on a community archaeology project to unearth the history of Philadelphia’s historic Black Bottom neighborhood. Today locals know the neighborhood as ‘University City’ based on its proximity to Penn and Drexel campuses. The excavation will begin at the 3500 block of Lancaster Avenue in August and continue through the fall.

Former City Councilmember, Community Leader Ramos Dies at 71

Former City Councilmember Juan F. Ramos Jr. passed away last weekend at 71. A long-time community leader, Ramos was only the second Latino elected official in Philadelphia history, and provided a much-needed voice for his community in City Hall.

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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